What should I do if I have symptoms of covid-19?

The covid-19 coronavirus has already infected thousands across Catalonia, while thousands more patients are likely to be confirmed in the coming days and weeks.

The disease manifests itself with symptoms similar to the seasonal flu, with a fever, cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue being some of the most common. 

These similarities could lead some to feel they’re not in danger of spreading the ultra-contagious covid-19 among society, while they experience only light symptoms of an ailment they may think is not as serious as it actually is. 

However, the majority of people who contract the novel coronavirus will only experience light symptoms, giving the disease a good chance of spreading through a great deal of society relatively undetected. 

It’s imperative that everybody stays at home at all times, and only leaves their house or apartment for reasons absolutely essential, such as buying food or healthcare products. The world is doing this in order to minimize the spread of the disease, which gives healthcare workers the best possible chance at providing care to all who need it. 

What should I do if I feel some of these very common symptoms of covid-19? 

If you do feel symptoms, download Stop Covid-19 Cat, the application of the Catalan health department to monitor people’s symptoms. 

You’ll be asked to insert some personal data, such as age, sex, and indicate whether you have any underlying conditions. This is to determine how at-risk a potential patient of covid-19 you are. 

The app will then ask you questions about the severity of your symptoms. Fill these out and at the end you’ll be given some recommendations on what to do. 

If you are an otherwise relatively healthy person and not likely to be one of the most at-risk patients, your tips and recommendations will probably tell you to stay at home, rest, and drink lots of fluids. 

What should I do if my symptoms are more severe?

If your symptoms are strong and you’re feeling very unwell, call the health information services number 061, explain your situation, and professionals will tell you what to do next. 

What should I do in case of an emergency? 

For emergencies, ring the number 112.