How to Care for COVID-19 at Home

While some people need to be hospitalized for treatment of their COVID-19 symptoms, the majority of cases are mild and can be handled at home. Whether you are sick or are caring for someone who has COVID-19, here's what you need to know about recovering while isolated at home.

Common Symptoms

The symptoms of COVID-19 are not to be taken lightly, but for the most part, they can be managed at home.

They often include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Muscle aches
• Fever over 100.4°F
• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath

Other symptoms that have been reported include a sore throat, stuffy nose, loss of taste and smell, and gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea or nausea.

When to Seek Medical Attention

You should call your doctor or seek immediate medical attention if you or the person you're caring for begin to experience:

• Shortness of breath that affects your ability to speak or walk
• Ongoing pain or pressure in your chest
• A blueish tone to the lips or face
• New confusion or unresponsiveness

At-Home Treatment

There are some treatment options for COVID-19. If you have the infection, you might need treatment if you have symptoms or if you're at risk of becoming severely ill from the infection. Most infections will only require supportive care.

Supportive care includes:

• Rest
• Staying well-hydrated
• Over-the-counter symptom control, like acetaminophen to lower fevers

Using a humidifier may be helpful for some people, though it is not routinely needed.

Antibiotics are not recommended for general use with COVID-19 infections. Although there has been concern about the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in people with COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says there is no evidence connecting any NSAIDs—like ibuprofen—to worsening COVID-19 symptoms.

Protect Yourself and Others

Whether you are the person who is sick or you are taking care of someone who is sick, public health officials have a long list of precautions to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If You Are Sick

• Stay home.
• Separate yourself from other members of your household. Stay in a separate room away from other people and pets, and use a separate bathroom if possible.
• Wear a facial covering if you need to interact with someone in your household, or if you absolutely must go out (to the doctor, for example).
• Monitor your symptoms, but don't go to the hospital unless your symptoms become severe, or unless your doctor instructs you to do so. If you go to the doctor or emergency room, call ahead.
• Don't share personal household items like utensils, cups, towels, or bedding.
• Cover coughs and sneezes and wash your hands often.
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, nose, and face.

If You're Caring for Someone Who Is Sick

• Monitor their symptoms: Know their healthcare provider's contact information, and reach out to that provider if they get sicker.
• Isolate the person in one room: Have them use a separate bathroom from other members of your household, if possible.
• Have them wear a facial covering: They should use a mask whenever interacting with other people is necessary (whether at home, in the car, or at a doctor's office).
• Wear a facial covering yourself: Wash your hands before putting it on and taking it off, which you should do by the straps only. Try to avoid touching the front of the facial covering.
• Wash your hands frequently: Using soap and water is best, but hand sanitizer works, too.
  
• Thoroughly wash utensils, cups, towels, bedding, and other items: Don't share items used by the person who is sick.
• If you need to clean and disinfect a sick person’s bedroom or bathroom: They are encouraged to do that themselves, so you should only do so on an as-needed basis. Wear a facial covering and gloves. For bathroom and bedroom cleanings, wait as long as possible after the sick person has used the room.

Ending Isolation

Most people can end home isolation after 5 days (with day 0 being the day of onset of symptoms or positive test) if they have been without fever for 24 hours and symptoms are improving. They also need to wear a mask for 5 more days when around other people in their home or outside.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.