COVID-19 Self-Care Guide

COVID-19

Call 911 if you are seriously ill and need medical help right away. Tell them that you may have COVID-19.

Only book a COVID-19 test if you meet the eligibility criteria. Please do not attend the Emergency Department or Urgent Care for COVID-19 testing. Book an appointment for a test at an AHS assessment centre only if you are eligible.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 you can use an at-home rapid test if you have access to one. Rapid antigen tests are available for free at a participating pharmacy. Find a pharmacy near you.

Self-Care

Managing COVID-19 Symptoms at Home

Important: If you are sick, stay home. If your symptoms get worse you can call Health Link at 811 for further advice, or speak to your healthcare provider. If you have a medical emergency and need help right away call 911.

Most people recover from COVID-19 without special treatment and can manage mild symptoms at home.

More: What To Do If You Have Symptoms | Self-Care Resources

Symptoms

Isolation Requirements

Assessment & Testing

Vaccine / Immunization

What To Do If You Have Symptoms

  • See more tips on managing symptoms
  • If you have access, use an at-home rapid test.
  • If you don’t get tested, stay home and away from other people until your symptoms get better.
  • If you test negative on an at-home rapid test but you still have symptoms, stay home and away from other people until you feel better, even if you have multiple negative at-home rapid tests.

Self-Care Resources

Resources are available to help you manage mild symptoms at home and take care of someone who has COVID-19:

Self-Care

Caring for Someone with COVID-19 at Home

If you are caring for a person who has COVID-19 at home, designate one healthy person to be their caregiver.

  • Try to ensure the sick person has their own bedroom and bathroom, if possible.
  • Maintain physical distance from the sick person, as much as possible.
  • Avoid sharing household and personal items.
  • Wear a mask when within 2 metres of the sick person.
  • Keep the environment clean and disinfect high touch surfaces.

More: Information for Children & Families | How to Isolate & Quarantine

Self-Care Videos

Getting Healthy After COVID-19

COVID-19 infection can result in long lasting symptoms. Your recovery and rehabilitation can be challenging, but there are resources to help:

Learn More About Omicron

  • Omicron is the dominant variant strain of COVID in Alberta.
  • The symptoms of the variant strains of COVID-19 are similar to the original strain.
  • Early data suggests Omicron is more infectious than the other COVID-19 variants and may result in milder symptoms, however evidence is still emerging.
  • There may be an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, so people who have been previously infected with COVID-19 could be re-infected more easily.