County provides tips with recent COVID-19 surge

Courtesy of San Benito County:

As we experience a surge of COVID-19 infections in the community, please remember it is also flu and cold season. If you are experiencing cold, flu or COVID-19 like symptoms such as:
 
Congestion or runny nose                Sore throat
Cough                                                 New loss of taste or smell
Headache                                           Nausea
Diarrhea                                             Muscle or body aches
Fever or chills                                    Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
 
ASSUME YOU HAVE COVID-19 AND SELF ISOLATE.
Consider getting tested and follow these C-O-V-I-D steps:
 
C – CONTACT YOUR JOB. Tell them you are sick – Do not go to work or leave your home.
Most employers are required to provide sick leave benefits.
 
O – OBSERVE YOUR SYMPTOMS. Note when they start and end. Monitor your symptoms daily.  Fever, chills, worsening cough, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell? Seek medical help if worsening symptoms.
 
V – VISIT YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEBSITE for more information https://hhsa.cosb.us/public-health/covid-19/ and https://valleycovidhelp.com/
 
I – ISOLATE FROM OTHERS including those in your household.  Isolation is one of the most important things you can do as soon as you have any symptoms. This means separating yourself from others in your home. If you cannot/do not get tested and are unsure about your illness, a COVID-19 infection is usually no longer contagious: 10 days after symptoms started, and no fever for 24 hours, and symptoms are going away, and you are feeling better.
 
D – DETERMINE YOUR CLOSE CONTACTS. A close contact is anyone who was within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes total starting 48 hours before the person began feeling sick until the time the patient was isolated.  This may include co-workers, family members or friends. Tell them to quarantine for 14 days, monitor for symptoms and consider getting tested.
 
For updates on COVID-19, check the San Benito County Health and Human Services Agency website and/or www.COVID19.ca.gov. You can also visit https://valleycovidhelp.com/