Coronavirus disease treatment

As of April 2, 2021, remdesivir (generic Veklury) is the only medication approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19. It is given intravenously to those who are hospitalized and diagnosed with severe COVID-19. . Although there is no treatment for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, the best way to protect yourself and your family is to get vaccinated.

There are currently 3 companies that produce COVID-19 vaccines in the United States: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen). The FDA has vetted all three of these vaccines to be safe and effective in preventing the spread of major COVID-19 strains. Whether or not these vaccines remain effective against COVID-19 will depend on whether or not the virus will mutate to a form that the vaccine is no longer able to recognize.

Every state in the US is currently rolling out its vaccination program as safely and quickly as possible. Depending on your state, some states will offer the vaccine earlier to the elderly and high-risk groups. To find out if you are eligible to receive a vaccine now, check out your city or state’s health department website for more information.

For mild and moderate cases of COVID-19, the following medications may provide some symptomatic relief:

• Albuterol (Proair HFA, Proventil HFA, Ventolin HFA)
• Acetaminophen
• Ibuprofen
• Dextromethorphan
• Benzonatate
• Guaifenesin

How to avoid the coronavirus

It is important to know that you are not considered completely vaccinated until 2 weeks after your second shot. The WHO and CDC agree that even after receiving a vaccine, the best way to avoid getting or spreading COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The best way to do so is to continue wearing a mask and continue best practices for social distancing¹³ and self-quarantine if needed.¹⁴

There are several ways you can avoid getting COVID-19, including:

Wear a face mask when in public or outside your home

In March 2021, the CDC updated its recommendations and announced that people should wear 2 masks: a cloth face mask over a disposable mask when outside their home to limit the spread of COVID-19. The CDC stated that the virus can spread between people interacting close together, and many individuals could be asymptomatic and unaware they are contagious. It's important to wear a face mask in public settings. Best practices for face mask wearing also include wearing a mask with multiple layers of fabric, as well as making sure it fits snugly over your nose and chin.¹⁵

Practice social distancing

Since COVID-19 is mainly spread via person-to-person contact, avoid touching or coming into contact with people unless you know for certain that neither of you has the virus. This applies to everyone in your life. If it’s possible, you should absolutely work from home.

Avoid public transportation and large crowds

COVID-19 can be transmitted through the air, which means that the more people there are near you, the more likely you are to be exposed to an infected person who coughed or sneezed within 6 feet of you. Although less likely, it can also be transmitted through touch and shared surfaces, such as touching a contaminated elevator button. If you have to commute, avoid public transportation and drive, take a cab, or bike instead.

Wash your hands often and thoroughly

One of the most repeated preventative measures is to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You should wash your hands before you eat or drink and after you change locations (e.g., getting home from work or vice-versa).

You should also wash your hands if you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose. If soap isn’t available, use a hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% alcohol.l.¹⁶

Clean and disinfect your home and workplace regularly

Similarly, you should wipe down any surfaces you regularly touch, such as door knobs/handles, electronics, light switches, and your mobile device and desktop/laptop. The CDC advises using cleaning solutions that are at least 70% alcohol if they contain alcohol, as well as EPA-registered household disinfectants.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

Of course, none of these precautions will be that effective if you are constantly touching your face. If you have SARS-CoV-2 on your hands or gloves and you rub your eyes, scratch your nose, or even put on lip balm before washing your hands, you may become infected.

Because COVID-19 is spread through person-to-person transmission¹⁷, your eyes, mouth, and nose are all potential points of entry for the virus.

How to avoid spreading COVID-19

In the instance that you do get COVID-19 (the disease), you want to ensure that you don’t spread it to your coworkers, friends, or family.

If you’ve tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus) or worry that you might test positive based on a recent exposure, the best way to avoid spreading the coronavirus is by staying at home and completely isolating yourself from other people. This is called self-quarantine.

Since COVID-19 symptoms can appear in infected individuals within 2–14 days, some experts suggest a 2-week self-quarantine if you are worried you may have been infected with the coronavirus.