Do I have COVID-19?
A person can develop symptoms of Coronavirus within 2-14 days after being exposed to the virus. One of the reasons that this virus is hard to detect is because the infected person initially exhibits symptoms that can be easily mistaken for common flu. Some of these symptoms include:
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Tiredness
- Aches
- Runny nose
- Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age
- Loss of taste and smell
Some of the emergency signs include the following:
- Shortness of breath/trouble breathing
- Chest pain
- Persistent feeling of pressure in the chest
- Bluish lips or face
- No expressive vocabulary by 16 months
- No meaningful two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating) by 24 months
- Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age
- Does not respond to name by 12 months
If you or someone you know is exhibiting emergency signs, then immediately contact the government's corona helpline at 1166.
It is not necessary that an infected person shows all of the listed symptoms. Some people might not even show any symptoms, while for some having coronavirus can be equivalent of getting a common cold. However, the severity of the disease can become fatal in people with already compromised health and immune system. This is why mortality rate because of the virus is high for old people and people who have medical conditions such as diabetes, blood pressure, chronic heart conditions or lung disease.
This, however, does not mean that young people cannot die from coronavirus. It is almost impossible to predict how the virus would affect a person. Hence, all preventative measures should be taken by every member of the society.
If you have been around anyone who was tested positive within 14 days of being in contact with you, or are showing symptoms of the virus, then immediately contact government’s corona helpline at: 1166 (national) or 0300-1112101 (Punjab).
I have symptoms of Coronavirus, what should I do?
No need to panic. There are certain steps that you can take to ensure your safety, along with the safety of people around you. These steps include:
Step 1: Isolate yourself
If you live with your family or anyone else, then your first step should be to isolate yourself in a room. Avoid any type of physical contact with the people around you.
Step 2: Call the helpline
Government of Pakistan has introduced a dedicated helpline for coronavirus. If you are using a landline then just dial 1166. If you are using your mobile, then first enter your city code, followed by the helpline number. For example, if you are situated in Lahore and using your mobile, you would dial 042-1166.
Step 3: Getting tested
After contacting the helpline, if your symptoms match the symptoms of coronavirus, you’ll be advised about which hospitals you can visit to get tested. If it’s a government hospital, you can walk in and get yourself tested for free.
Step 4: Waiting for the results
It might take time for your results to arrive. As you wait for your results, you should keep following the rules of social distancing and isolation inside your house.
If your results come out positive, your doctor will advice you on your next step, according to the severity of your condition.
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