November 2020
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Baas h kaado di n G i i z i s / ( Fr eez ing M oon) LAW ENFORCEMENT
PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATES
COVID-19 Public Health Frequently Asked Questions Updated 10/28/20 What is COVID-19? COVID-19 is caused by a new respiratory virus. In December 2019, the virus began circulating in humans. It is important to take action because: - There is no approved vaccine or medication to treat COVID-19 patients. - Isolation and quarantine efforts seem to have reduced new COVID-19 transmission in other countries. - Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. I have COVID-19 and have been isolating. When is it safe for me to leave home? Stay in isolation until you meet all the criteria below: - It has been ten days since your positive test result or ten days since you began showing symptoms.* - You have been fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication. - Other symptoms have improved (including cough or shortness of breath). *People with conditions that weaken their immune system might need to stay home longer than 10 days. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information. What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Symptoms may appear in 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Common symptoms are: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19, get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include: Trouble breathing Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion or inability to arouse Bluish lips or face This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Should I get tested for COVID-19? Expanded testing is available across the state as Michigan continues to reopen. To avoid bringing COVID-19 home or spreading it to others in the community, it is especially important you get tested if any of the following is true: - You feel sick - Someone close to you feels sick. - You work outside the home. Find a testing site at Michigan.gov/CoronavirusTest or call the COVID-19 hotline at 888-535-6136 for help finding a site near you. Should I get tested if I don’t have symptoms of COVID-19? Expanded testing is available across the state as Michigan continues to reopen. To avoid bringing the virus home or spreading it to others in the community, it is especially important that you get tested if you feel sick, someone close to you feels sick or you work outside the home, even if you don’t have symptoms. You may also want to talk with your health care provider and think about getting tested for COVID-19 if: - You are entering or already in a group living or congregate care setting (like a nursing home, shelter or other group living home), even if you don’t have symptoms - You are going to the hospital for a surgical procedure, even if you don’t have symptoms If I have had COVID-19, can I get it again? If you have had COVID-19, we don’t know how quickly after you recover you might be able to get it again. With viruses similar to COVID-19, typically, people who have had the virus are unlikely to be re-infected shortly after they recover – but we don’t know yet if the same is true for COVID-19. Are some people at greater risk for getting the virus? COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Based on what we know now, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 are: - People aged 65 years and older - People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including: How do I monitor myself for symptoms? - People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe Screen yourself for symptoms of respiratory illness such as asthma cough, fever, and shortness of breath. - People who have serious heart conditions If you develop symptoms and are concerned about your - People who are immunocompromised health, contact your healthcare provider or get tested. If you - Many conditions can cause a person to be are under an isolation or quarantine order, you will need to immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, report your symptoms to the local health department. bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, - If your local health department or healthcare provider poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of has instructed you to quarantine, stay home and away from corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications others to the extent possible. - People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 - If the local health department has instructed you to or higher) isolate, you are required to stay home. - People with diabetes The MI Symptoms App can help you track your symptoms and - People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis keep an eye on your health – while you have symptoms or - People with liver disease are healthy. It is important to remember that stigma and discrimination occur when people associate an
