With more positive cases of COVID-19 announced each day, a question a lot of people don’t understand is: What is COVID-19 actually?
This coronavirus is different than from other viruses in its family as this one has never been seen in humans before. While scientists are learning more and more about it each day, it has already affected more than 1.3 million people globally and currently there are more than 350,000 cases nationwide.
On the news a person sees or reads so much about it, that it can almost appear to be a death sentence. It is definitely overwhelming. Thankfully, the majority of the cases are not fatal at all. The virus is very serious but just like with the flu, there are mild and severe cases. In fact, the symptoms are very similar, one could easily get the illnesses confused.
A health care worker in Marion County, who asked their identify not be revealed, has initially tested positive for COVID-19. When this person sought medical treatment, the belief was it was a bad cold or a mild case of the flu. The health care worker decided as a precaution to go ahead and be tested and said they were glad they did. The symptoms included a minor cough, aches, shortness of breath but only mild with activity and a low grade fever of 99.5 degrees. Symptoms for the flu also include cough, aches and fever. Regarding coronavirus, it has been said a fever of 100.4, but for this health care worker it wasn’t a high fever just a simple low grade one that in the end meant the same thing: COVID-19.
For the person it appears their case is a mild case. Speaking with the person, they said they were on day six of quarantine of 14 days. To go back to work, the person has to go three days without a fever and without having to take acetaminophen. The entire family is quarantined but so far the health care worker is the only one with the virus.
From what the health care worker understands, the sickness can take up to two weeks if not longer to run its course though not as long for milder cases. For the more severe cases, it is usually five to seven days into the sickness before needing hospitalization.
The best thing to do if you feel sick is to contact your medical provider. The symptoms are too similar to other sicknesses. It definitely pays to err on the side of caution in this case.
