6 dúlives on the cure for coronavírus (COVID-19)

1. When is the person considered cured?
2. Can the "cured" person transmit the disease?
3. Is being discharged the same as being "cured"?
4. Is it possible to catch COVID-19 more than once?
5. Is it possible to transmit the disease even without symptoms?
6. Are there long-term sequelae of infection?
What to do in case of COVID-19

2023 Author: Benjamin Dyson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 01:37

Most people infected with the new coronavirus (COVID-19) are able to achieve a cure and fully recover, as the immune system is able to eliminate the virus from the body. However, the time that can pass from the time the person presents the first symptoms, until the person is considered cured can vary from case to case, ranging from 5 days to several weeks.

After the person is considered cured, it is important that care is maintained, such as the use of masks, social distance and hand hygiene and disinfection, because despite having an initial protection, it is possible to be infected by SARS -CoV-2 more than once, in addition to the probability of transmission of the virus even if there are no signs or symptoms of infection.

1. When is the person considered cured?

People who have had a mild to moderate COVID-19 infection, that is, who have been treated at home and who did not need to receive oxygen in the hospital, are considered "cured" after 7 days, provided that:

Have not had a fever for 24 hours, without having used fever medication;
Do not have respiratory symptoms,such as coughing, sneezing or runny nose.

If these symptoms are present, the person is not considered "cured" and must maintain isolation, at least, until the 10th day. If after 10 days there are still respiratory symptoms or fever, isolation should be maintained until the symptoms disappear. See in more detail how long isolation should last.

Although the isolation time for mild to moderate cases of COVID is 7 days, this period can be shortened if, after 5 days, the person:

Have not had a fever for 24 hours, without having used fever medication;
No respiratory symptoms,such as coughing, sneezing or runny nose;
Results negative on a rapid antigen test.

If the test gives a positive result, isolation must be maintained for up to 10 days, and the person is only considered cured after the 10th day.

People who have severe symptoms of COVID-19, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, and who had to stay in hospital should follow the doctor's instructions.

2. Can the "cured" person transmit the disease?

The person cured of COVID-19 is considered to have a very low risk of transmitting the virus to others, as the highest rate of transmission appears to occur early in the infection. Thus, and although the cured person may have some viral load for several weeks, the CDC considers that the amount of virus released is extremely low, and there is no risk of contagion.

In addition, the person also stops coughing and sneezing, which are the main form of transmission of the new coronavirus.

Nevertheless, it is important to maintain basic precautions to prevent COVID-19, such as washing your hands frequently, wearing a protective mask and avoiding closed public places.

3. Is being discharged the same as being "cured"?

Discharged from the hospital does not always mean that the person is cured. This is because, in many cases, the person can be discharged when their symptoms improve and they no longer need to be under continuous observation in the hospital.

In these situations, the person must remain in isolation in a room at home, until the symptoms disappear and they are considered cured in one of the ways indicated above.

4. Is it possible to catch COVID-19 more than once?

After infection with SARS-CoV-2, the body develops antibodies, of the IgG and IgM type, which seem to guarantee protection against a new infection. In addition, according to the CDC, after infection, a person is able to develop immunity for about 90 days, decreasing the risk of reinfection.

However, after this period, it is possible for the person to develop SARS-CoV-2 infection, so it is important that even after the symptoms disappear and the cure is confirmed through exams, the person maintains all measures that help prevent re-infection, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and hand washing.

Furthermore, due to the existence of variants of COVID-19, it is possible for personnel to be infected with different types of SARS-CoV-2, and may develop the disease.

5. Is it possible to transmit the disease even without symptoms?

Yes, that's because the virus can remain in the nasopharyngeal mucosa, multiplying without causing any signs or symptoms of infection. In some cases, the person may not show any signs or symptoms at all, while others may show symptoms about 5 days after viral replication begins.

During this replication period, the virus can be transmitted to other people when the asymptomatic infected person talks, for example. Therefore, it is important to wear protective masks, wash your hands well with soap and water regularly and use gel alcohol.

6. Are there long-term sequelae of infection?

In the case of more serious COVID-19 infections, in which the person develops pneumonia, permanent sequelae may arise, such as decreased lung capacity, which can cause shortness of breath in simple activities, such as walking fast or climbing stairs. Even so, this type of sequel is related to the lung scars left by the pneumonia and not by the coronavirus infection.

Other sequelae may also appear in people who are hospitalized in the ICU, but in these cases, they vary according to age and the presence of other chronic diseases, such as heart problems or diabetes, for example.

According to some reports, there are patients cured of COVID-19 who seem to have excessive tiredness, muscle pain and difficulty sleeping, even after having eliminated the coronavirus from their body, which has been given the designation of post-COVID syndrome. See more about the possible consequences of COVID-19.

What to do in case of COVID-19

If you have a positive COVID test, have symptoms suggestive of the infection or are in contact with someone infected, please enter your details to know what to do:

option=b, @block-A1"' > I tested positive for COVID-19.
option=c, @block-A1"' > I have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
option=d, @block-A1"' > I've been in contact with positive case.
option=f, @block-F1"' > I've had COVID-19, but I still have symptoms.
option=e, @block-A1"' > I want to know more information.
country=en, @block-B1"}, {"condition":"option=c", "action":">country=en, @block-C1"}, {"condition":"option=d", "action":">country=en, @block-D2"}, {"condition":"option=e", "action":">country=en, @block-E1"}]' > Portugal
country=br, @block-B1"}, {"condition":"option=c", "action":">country=br, @block-C1"}, {"condition":"option=d", "action":">country=br, @block-D1"}, {"condition":"option=e", "action":">country=br, @block-E1"}]' >
Self-test.
Rapid antigen test.
RT-PCR.

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I have no symptoms.
I only have mild symptoms (fever, cough, tiredness, headache, sore throat, loss of taste…).
I have moderate symptoms (very intense cough, some shortness of breath, excessive tiredness…).
I'm really short of breath.

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No.
I did a self-test
I did a rapid antigen test.
I did RT-PCR test.

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COVID-19 rapid test: how it is done, where to do it and results

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RT-PCR for COVID-19: when to do it and results

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test=0"' > Negative
test=1"' > Positive

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It is possible that your symptoms are a sign of another infection, such as the flu or H3N2, for example. Still, we advise you to repeat the COVID-19 test within the next 3 days. Check out the differences between flu, COVID-19 and a cold.

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risk=1, @block-D5"' > I live with the person who tested positive.
I have been in direct contact with the positive person (less than 2 meters) for more than 15 minutes and I am a he alth professional or work in an institution for the elderly.
risk=0"' > The person who tests positive does not live with me.

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Yes.
No.

Your contact is considered high risk. You do not need to isolate yourself, but you must maintain all personal protective measures for 14 days, be aware of the appearance of symptoms and perform a COVID test as soon as possible (rapid test or RT-PCR). If the result of the 1st test is negative, you must repeat the test between the 3rd and 5th day after contact with the positive person.

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Restart

Your contact is considered low risk. For this reason, you don't need to do isolation, or perform COVID test. However, you must maintain all individual protection measures (such as wearing a mask and avoiding unnecessary travel) and be aware of the appearance of symptoms in the next 14 days.