COVID-19 rates are spiking across the nation and, unfortunately, this means that the risk of getting the virus is about as high as ever.

If you have recently contracted the virus, it’s natural to wonder what happens next or how sick you will actually get. Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Knoxville provides some helpful information about the novel coronavirus.

How Sick Will I Get If I Get COVID-19?

COVID-19 is such a tricky virus because its symptoms and effects vary in every case. Many people are asymptomatic, many have a mild case, many have a severe case but recover, and many have died from the virus. Scientists and medical experts alike are simply still unable to consistently predict its effects.

Generally, though, the CDC has stated that most people who get COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and can fully recover at home without requiring special treatment.

Common COVID-19 Symptoms

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

What Should I Do If I Get Sick?

If you have or think you might have COVID-19, it is important to stay home and away from other people, as staying away from others helps stop the spread of COVID-19.

If you have officially tested positive for the virus, the CDC asks you to stay away from others for the first 10 days after your symptoms have first appeared and 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. To lower your risk of getting the virus and having to deal with all of this, we’ve listed some helpful health-safety precautions below

Ways to Lower COVID-19 Risk

• Avoid large gatherings.
• Avoid close contact with others who aren’t in your immediate household.
• Wear a face mask over your nose and mouth in public.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often using soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time.

It’s tough out there right now, but AFC Urgent Care Knoxville is here for you now and always! Visit us if you have any general health concerns.