To date (November 2020), there are no specific vaccines or medicines for COVID-19. Treatments are under investigation, and are being tested through clinical trials.
Self-care:
If you feel sick you should rest, drink plenty of fluid, and eat nutritious food. Stay in a separate room from other family members, and use a dedicated bathroom if possible. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Everyone should keep a healthy lifestyle at home. Maintain a healthy diet, sleep, stay active, and make social contact with loved ones through the phone or internet. Children need extra love and attention from adults during difficult times. Keep to regular routines and schedules as much as possible. It is normal to feel sad, stressed, or confused during a crisis. Talking to people you trust, such as friends and family, can help. If you feel overwhelmed, talk to a health worker or counsellor.
If you feel sick or require medical attention, please call or text the clinic to speak with a doctor over the phone to best advise you.
Information provided from Health Canada:
At this time, the current plans and medications provided to patients with COVID who are hospitalized, as from canada.ca;
People who are hospitalized with COVID-19 and need breathing assistance may be treated with dexamethasone (dexamethasone 6 mg IV for 10 days (or until discharge if earlier) or equivalent glucocorticoid dose).
Remdesivir (brand name Veklury) is currently the only drug authorized with conditions to treat COVID-19 in those who are hospitalized with severe symptoms. The drug can be used with adults and youth (aged 12 years and older).
Certain medications can also help to ease symptoms like fever and cough.
Future Drugs:
There are several drugs being developed, for example Donald Trump in early October 2020 received multiple treatments;
- remdesivir
- steroid dexamethasone
- antibody cocktail produced by Regeneron
Donald Trump was later discharged from the hospital within a few days.
Caring for Covid
Caring for someone with COVID-19 can be difficult. It is stressful and it is important to keep everyone safe and ensure they follow the recommendations for social distancing, isolation or quarantine as advised by the healthcare professionals.
For care; provide support, and ensure the person who is affected with COVID follows the doctor's instruction, and seeks medication, drinks fluid and rests well. You can help by doing grocery shopping, filling prescriptions or getting other items they may need, and drop off or deliver at the door. If they have dependents, if you are able to care for them or their pets while they are isolated, that can ease their burden.
Check up on the person regularly and incase of worsening symptoms, advise to seek medical attention right away or contact emergency care if they are unable to.
If you are in the same household, stay separated, have the person who is sick eat in their room, and wash dishes, utensils with gloves and hot water. Do not share personal items such as glassware, bedding or electronics.
Remember to clean and wash your hands and surfaces often. Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth.
Pets and COVID-19:
Is not much evidence that pets can get sick or carry disease, only few reports out of thousands of cases worldwide, however to be safe, it is best to avoid contact if you are infected or believe the pet has come into contact with an infected
Some tips for caring for pets:
- If you are sick, see if someone else can take care of pet for you at home, if no one else is at home to take care, keep the pet at home, and try not to take them out
- Isolate pets to other parts of home to minimize contact with people
