COVID-19 Treatment

If you test positive, even if you do not feel sick, you should immediately isolate yourself in a room/bathroom of your home away from anyone else you live with.  Follow your healthcare provider’s advice and take all hygiene and disinfectant precautions to prevent anyone else from getting sick.  See the Quarantine and Isolation guidance for details.

NSAIDs can be useful to control a fever and are a frequent at-home treatment for COVID-19. 

Neither the World Health Organization or FDA has warned about the use of NSAIDs for COVID-19.   Common over the counter NSAIDs include:

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
• Naproxen (Aleve)

Source: WHO, FDA

Most people with COVID-19 will have mild symptoms and should stay at home. They should isolate themselves in a separate room/bathroom for at least 7 days after the first symptoms AND at least 3 days after they are fever free (without fever-reducing medicine), AND respiratory symptoms (like cough and shortness of breath) improve. 

Care at home incudes bed rest, fluids, and over the counter fever reducing medicine.

If the person develops emergency warning signs for COVID-19, get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include*:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

While anyone in the home has, or thinks they may have, COVID-19, everyone in the home should quarantine and ensure rigorous cleaning and disinfection steps are taken every day.

For more information please read Marin County’s:

• At Home Quarantine & Isolation Safety guidance

Source: Marin HHS

Marin County Public Health does not recommend testing asymptomatic patients at this time.  Testing resources remain limited.  If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please contact your health care provider who may refer you for testing. Please note that testing is prioritized for symptomatic older adults or adults with chronic conditions at risk for severe illness and health care workers / first responders. 

The majority of people will have mild illness that is best treated at home.  However, those with serious illness will be treated regardless of insurance status.  Advisors will work with uninsured patients to find the best options for coverage.

Some resources for uninsured people include:

• Check with your local community health center or hospital to see if fees for testing can be waived.
• See if you’re eligible for Medi-Cal.
• See if you’re eligible for Covered California.
• See if you are eligible for care at a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center.

Source: Marin HHS

If you test positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms, you may discontinue isolation if the following conditions are met:

• at least 3 days (72 hrs.) have passed without fever (without the use of fever-reducing meds) AND
• improvement in respiratory symptoms (like cough, shortness of breath) AND
• at least 7 days have passed since the symptoms first appeared

If you have no symptoms but are COVID-19 positive, you may discontinue isolation once 7 days have passed since the date of your first positive test, if you remain symptom-free. After the 7 days have passed, you should stay 6 feet away from others and wear a face mask for an additional 3 days.

Please read Marin County’s At Home Quarantine & Isolation Safety guidance document for important information and practical tips.

Source: Marin HHS

Most people will have minor symptoms and should:

• call their healthcare provider for advice
• stay at home
• isolate from others, including household members

If you develop emergency warning signs, such as difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face, seek medical attention immediately.

Source:  Marin HHS

Marin County COVID-19 Guidance for  isolation and quarantine:

Isolation is when a person with COVID-19 stays away from everyone, including the people he/she lives with, in order to avoid getting others sick. A person must isolate for at least 7 days after the first symptoms AND at least 3 days fever free (without fever-reducing medicine), and other symptoms improve.

Quarantine is when people who have come in contact with someone sick COVID-19, stay at home until they know if they are sick. A person must quarantine 14 days after the last contact with an infected person. If you are not able to avoid contact with a person with COVID-19, you must stay in quarantine until 14 days from when the person with COVID-19 completes their isolation period. Your isolation period is likely to be at least 21 days total.

Please read Marin County’s At Home Quarantine & Isolation Safety guidance document for important information and practical tips.

Source:  CDC, Marin HHS