Viral Infection
Home Care Instructions
Emergency Medical Services evaluated you today for an apparent viral respiratory infection (e.g., influenza, COVID-19, and other common respiratory viruses). At this time your illness does not require you to go to an emergency department. Your vital signs are within acceptable ranges, including your heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and oxygen level.
It is important that you continue to treat your symptoms, monitor your own condition, and take steps to prevent spreading the infection to others.
You should follow the steps below:
• Stay home except to get medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay very well-hydrated. Drink non-carbonated fluids. Avoid alcohol.
• Take ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) as needed for fever or body aches, unless you have previously been told not to use these medicines. For adults, the recommended dose for ibuprofen is 400 or 600 mg every 6 hours, and for acetaminophen the dose is 650 mg every 4 hours. For children, consult medication packaging for appropriate weight-based dosing.
• Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home.
▪ As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Use a separate bathroom, if available.
• If you need follow-up care, call your healthcare provider before going there. Call your healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have the flu, COVID-19, or similar respiratory illness. Advise your healthcare provider that you called 911 and were screened by EMS and told at that time that you may remain at home. Your health care provider may arrange a follow-up visit with you in person or via telehealth. Alerting your health care provider in this way will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
• Wear a facemask, if you have one, when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean your hands often. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• Avoid sharing personal household items, such as dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils towels, or bedding with other people or pets. After using, wash them thoroughly.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Monitor your symptoms
If you are in any way worsening, please seek care by contacting your doctor, going to an urgent care center, or going to your nearest emergency department for further evaluation and treatment of your condition. This could include, but is not limited to:
• High or persistent fevers, vomiting, trouble breathing or shortness of breath, coughing up blood, severe headaches, neck pain/stiffness, or any new or worsening symptoms or concerns.
• If you unable to walk or you are experiencing shortness of breath that limits your ability to go by private car, please call 9-1-1.
Before seeking care, call your healthcare provider, if possible, and tell them that you have a respiratory infection. Put on a facemask before you enter the facility.
If you have a medical emergency and need to call 9-1-1, notify the operator that you have a respiratory infection and EMS has responded once to you regarding your symptoms. They advised to call back if my condition worsened. If possible, put on a facemask before EMS arrives.
Discontinuing home isolation
If your doctor or local health department advises you to remain on home isolation precautions, please contact them for advice for when it is appropriate to discontinue this and resume normal daily activities.
If you have not been advised about home isolation precautions by your doctor or local health department, please stay home when you are sick and until there is no fever for a minimum of 24 hours without medicine like Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil.
If you have any other concerns or questions about your condition you may contact one of the following agencies:
Meritus Medical Center COVID Care Line @ (301) 790-9170
This line is monitored 24 hours a day by a licensed Registered Nurse.
Washington County Health Department
(240) 313-3210 (8am to 5pm Monday through Friday)
(240) 313-3200 (After hours and on weekends)
If you have access to the following Telehealth Resources, you may contact them:
a. LiveHealth Online https://livehealthonline.com/ (Blue Cross)
b. Teladoc https://www.aetna.com/services/telehealth.html (Aetna)
c. KPNow https://my.kp.org/shbp/kp-now-telemedicine-appointment/ (Kaiser)
d. Cigna Telehealth https://www.cigna.com/individuals-families/member-resources/telehealth connection-program (Cigna)
Recommendations related to coronavirus may change over time. Please check the CDC website for updates on home quarantine, preventing disease spread, and treatment: