If you are experiencing symptoms or were exposed, get tested. If you test positive, stay home and talk to your healthcare provider about treatment.
Isolate right away if you have symptoms. Stay home until you have no fever for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medicine and other COVID-19 symptoms are getting better.
How Long Does COVID Last? COVID-19 lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Once symptoms (if you have them) clear up, it usually means that COVID-19 isn't in your body anymore. Some people may develop long COVID — a wide range of symptoms that last weeks, months, or years after COVID-19 illness.
Paxlovid and Lagevrio are available in pharmacies throughout NYC. Visit the federal COVID-19 Treatment Locator to find the nearest location, including pharmacies participating in the Pfizer Paxcess Patient Assistance program.
Updated Guidance: The updated Respiratory Virus Guidance recommends that people stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both their symptoms are getting better overall, and they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
Manage Symptoms Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home. You can treat symptoms with over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to help feel better.
That said, you are contagious with COVID for an average of eight days (although this varies based upon the severity of illness) and you should take precautions to prevent others from getting it during this time frame.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must isolate. You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both of the following are true: Your symptoms are getting better overall, AND. You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
PAXLOVID is only available by prescription and must be started within the first 5 days of COVID‑19 symptoms. Here are some key steps for working with your healthcare professional to determine if PAXLOVID may be right for you.
Treatments TreatmentWho (Among people who are at high risk of getting sick)When Veklury (remdesivir) Antiviral Adults and children Start as soon as possible; must begin within 7 days of when symptoms start Molnupiravir (Lagevrio) Antiviral Adults Start as soon as possible; must begin within 5 days of when symptoms start1 more row •