What if I Think I Have COVID-19?

(OSCEOLA, IA – MAY 8, 2020) The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Clarke County Public Health have identified 2 additional cases of COVID-19 in the county.

COVID-19 is a new virus and many Clarke County residents aren’t sure how to know if they have been infected, and if they have, what they should do about it. With so much information available on the internet, and not all of it accurate, Clarke County Public Health reminds residents the statewide COVID-19 information line is available at 2-1-1 to answer these kinds of questions.

“We are learning more about COVID-19 each day,” said Clarke County Public Health Director Mackenzie Nelson. “We want to provide the most accurate information we have to help slow the spread of the virus in our county and protect our most vulnerable residents.”

Here are some of the most frequent questions public health has received:

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

• The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. These symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to another infected individual.

What should I do if I have these symptoms?

• It’s important to know that 80% of people who get COVID-19 will have mild to moderate illness – similar to a bad cold. If this is how you feel, take these steps:
  • Stay home. People who are mildly ill are able to recover at home.
    • Treat your symptoms as you would any respiratory virus. Drink fluids, rest and treat your cough with over-the-counter medication.
  • Call your health care provider before you go into the office. Your provider will determine if you should be tested.
  • Separate yourself from others in your home. You can spread the illness, even when you’re mildly ill, so to protect others in your household, try to stay away from others as much as possible.

Who is at most risk for serious complications of COVID-19?

• People who may be at higher risk for getting very sick include:
  • Older adults
  • People who have underlying medical conditions like:
    • Heart disease
    • Diabetes
    • Lung disease

If you have additional questions, call the 2-1-1 COVID-19 information line. For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the IDPH webpage at https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus and follow the department on Facebook at @IowaDepartmentOfPublicHealth and on Twitter at @IAPublicHealth.

Clarke County Public Health – 641-342-3724

Clarke County Hospital – 641-342-2184