Oak Valley Health’s patient education pages share the skills, knowledge, and habits patients and families need to know to cope with a daily health issue. We hope this information can influence patient behaviour to improve health outcomes and provide you with a sense of control and autonomy.
Learn more about the risks, causes, and treatment of COVID-19
COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus can be spread from person to person through large respiratory droplets and/or smaller droplets called aerosols. These droplets can be transmitted if you:
Are near an infected person and inhale the droplets/aerosols released from the infected person when they breathe, talk, cough, sneeze, or shout.
Touch something that has the virus on it and then touch your mouth, eyes, or nose with unwashed hands.
Those at a higher risk of developing severe outcomes from a COVID-19 infection include:
Older adults
Pregnant women
People that have not received all the recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses
People who have a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease, etc.
People who are immunocompromised (weakened immune system)
People living with obesity
Wear a well-fitted mask
Maintain physical distancing
Wash your hands and/or use alcohol-based hand rub frequently
Be outdoors or in a well-ventilated indoor space
Do not visit other people when feeling unwell
Getting vaccinated and staying up to date with booster doses is the best way to protect yourself against severe outcomes of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. Vaccines are available to everyone six months and older in Ontario.
Some people with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic (do not develop any symptoms) but can still spread the virus to others. For people that develop symptoms, symptoms may appear within seven days after exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. COVID-19 symptoms vary from person to person (depending on age and the COVID-19 variant) and can range from mild, like those of the flu, to severe.
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Sneezing
New or worsening cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fever (temperature equal to or greater than 38◦C)
Chills
Fatigue or weakness
Muscle aches or joint pain
New loss of smell or taste
Headache
Abdominal pain
Gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, particularly in children less than 18 years old
Complications of COVID-19 include pneumonia or death.
If you are experiencing mild or severe symptoms of COVID-19, or believe that you have been exposed to a person with COVID-19, talk to your health care provider. Health care providers can determine if you have COVID-19 by assessing your symptoms and ordering a PCR test or a rapid antigen test.
Most people with COVID-19 experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover at home without needing any special treatment. Your health care provider may recommend over-the-counter medications to reduce and/or relieve certain symptoms, like fever and cough.
Health care providers may prescribe COVID-19 antiviral medications to treat eligible adults that are at a higher risk of progressing to severe disease, including older adults, people with chronic medical conditions, or people that haven’t been vaccinated.
Difficulty breathing or severe shortness of breath
Persistent pressure or pain in chest
Difficulty waking up or staying awake
New onset of confusion
Pale, gray, or blue-coloured lips, skin, or nail beds
