Novel Coronavirus COVID-19
 

Next Steps If You Have Symptoms or Have Been Exposed to COVID-19


On this page:

 


 

What to do if you have symptoms that may be COVID-19

Assess your symptoms

Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19. Some of the more commonly reported symptoms include:

  • Fever/chills
  • Muscle aches
  • Cough
  • Fatigue
  • Sore throat/hoarse voice
  • Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Headache
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Skin rash of unknown cause
  • Vomiting, diarrhea for more than 24 hours
  • Nausea or loss of appetite
  • Runny nose
  • Poor feeding in an infant

Call 911 if your symptoms are severe (i.e. new or severe chest pain, trouble breathing, bluish lips or face, sudden confusion, symptoms of stroke such as leg or arm weakness, numbness, slurred speech or facial drooping). It is important to seek medical attention early to get the care you need.

Call your health care provider or Health Links - Info Santé (204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257) if you have questions about your symptoms.

 

Determine if treatment is recommended for you

Treatments are available for COVID-19 and influenza to help prevent severe illness in individuals who are at higher risk of severe disease. To be effective, you need to begin treatment within days of your symptoms starting. People who are more likely to develop severe illness include older adults, people with certain medical conditions, people who are pregnant, and people who are unvaccinated. People who are vaccinated and not vaccinated can receive treatment.

Don’t delay - contact a healthcare provider to get tested right away if treatment may be recommended for you, even if your symptoms are mild right now. COVID-19 treatments must be prescribed by a health care provider and require a positive test from a PCR or rapid antigen test. More information on treatment for COVID-19 is available here Province of Manitoba | Treatment. More information on influenza is available here: Seasonal Flu Factsheets | Health | Province of Manitoba (gov.mb.ca).

 

Determine if you should be tested

Testing is recommended when a positive or negative result will inform decisions about treatment or care. If you are experiencing symptoms and are at risk of more severe disease, you are encouraged to get tested to determine if treatment is recommended for you.

If testing is not recommended for you, you should follow public health guidance staying home and away from others until you feel well enough to return to regular activities. You may use a rapid antigen test if you wish, which are still available at many locations.

If you have had a previous COVID-19 infection, it is possible to have COVID-19 again, but it is uncommon to get COVID-19 again within three to six months of your last infection. However, if you are at high risk of severe disease, health care providers may recommend testing regardless of the time since your previous infection.

Go to the Testing Advice and Guidance page for more detailed information.

 

Follow public health guidance if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection:

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection or test positive for any respiratory infection:

  • Stay home and away from others until your symptoms have improved, you feel well enough to resume normal activities, you are free of fever for around 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (e.g. acetaminophen or ibuprofen).
  • Avoid close contact with others, especially people at higher risk of severe illness or complications from a respiratory infection.
  • Avoid non-essential visits to high risk settings (e.g. personal care homes, health care facilities).
  • Clean your hands regularly – wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes.
  • If appropriate, open windows to encourage airflow.
  • If you cannot avoid close contact with others, take other prevention measures such as wearing a mask in indoor settings.

By staying home and staying away from others, you are helping to limit further spread of respiratory infections.

 

Monitor your symptoms and seek care as needed

Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of a respiratory infection or test positive for any respiratory infection should also be monitoring their health for any new or worsening symptoms, including fever, cough, headache or breathing difficulties. If you start to feel worse, call your health care provider or Health Links - Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257.

Call 911 if your symptoms are severe (i.e. new or severe chest pain, trouble breathing, bluish lips or face, sudden confusion, symptoms of stroke such as leg or arm weakness, numbness, slurred speech or facial drooping). It is important to seek medical attention early to get the care you need.

 

Advice if you work in a high risk setting

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection or have tested positive for any respiratory infection and work in a high-risk setting (such as a hospital, a long-term care home, or another congregate setting), you should speak with your employer and follow your workplace guidance for return to work.

 


 

What to do if you have been exposed to COVID-19

Whether notified of a COVID-19 exposure or not, everyone should routinely monitor for symptoms of a respiratory infection and stay home if you develop symptoms.

Who should self-monitor?

With the spread of the more transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19, there has been an increase in COVID-19 in our communities and many people will be exposed to COVID-19. Whether notified of a COVID-19 exposure or not, everyone should routinely monitor for symptoms of respiratory infections and stay home and away from others if you develop symptoms.

Close contacts do not need to self-isolate. Self-isolation (quarantine) after exposure to someone with COVID-19 in the community is no longer routinely recommended by public health. Individuals who are staying in a high risk setting, such as a hospital, should follow facility guidance.

You should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 even if you have been recently vaccinated or infected.

If you develop symptoms of a respiratory infection, follow public health guidance for people who have symptoms of a respiratory infection, and stay home and away from others.

 


 

Self-monitoring after travel

Everyone should routinely monitor for symptoms of respiratory infections, including after travel, and stay home and away from others if you develop symptoms.

Anyone travelling to other countries should check their destination's public health information for any travel requirements and COVID-19 guidancee.