The year of 2020 has all but come to a stop, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The spread of the virus has severely affected several aspects of our life, from the financial to the social. Without an effective vaccine, the large majority of us are placed into a very precarious situation.
At the moment, the picture is as grim as it was during the initial outbreak. However, guidelines, such as physical distancing and wearing a mask, can protect us from being infected. If you do feel like you have been affected by the virus, help is not inaccessible.
You should conduct a COVID self check, which can be done in the following ways:
1. Assess Your Health
Many public health agencies are pleading with the public to do their best in staying healthy. This means that many of the aforementioned guidelines should be vehemently followed. As long as you take the necessary precautions, you should stay in relatively good shape.
Sometimes, there are seasonal flu symptoms that we may think have been brought upon by the virus. As such, if you are beginning to feel a fever, or persistent dry cough, you should take immediate action. The only way to then determine if you have COVID-19 is to do a self-assessment.
2. Public Health Agency
The next step for conducting a COVID-19 self-check is by reaching out to your particular public health agency. Depending on where you live, these departments can be easy to locate through an internet search. For example, in Canada, public health agencies are set up regionally. You should have no issue finding yours through a simple Google search.
After determining where your particular public health agency is, navigate their home website. Here, you will find all pertinent information related to the virus, from common symptoms to virus data. The self-assessment tool should be relatively easy to find as well; it is generally right on the home page.
3. Answer Questions
The self-check tool, depending on which agency website you are on, is comprised of a series of questions. These COVID screening questions are short and to the point, so you should have no issue answering each one. Most self-check assessments can range from anywhere between five to ten questions.
You should expect to see COVID screening questions based on your personal circumstances. For example, do you have any symptoms that are brought on by the virus? If you answer yes, you will immediately be advised to contact your healthcare provider.
4. Question Depth
Although most of the questions in self-check tools are rudimentary, you should think about your responses. Even though most of the questions can be answered in a yes or no fashion, you should be honest. If you have been in contact with an infected family member, for instance, it should not be glossed over.
Distance, in regards to the spread of the virus, can be very tricky to accurately answer. You may feel as if you haven’t been close to an infected loved one, for example. If you even think that you are a potential carrier of the virus, it is best to respond with a yes. COVID-19 is nothing to tread lightly around after all.
5. In-Person Test
After your self-check test, there may be times where you still don’t feel confident with the result. Should this be the case, it is in your best interest to get an in-person COVID-19 test. Your nearest assessment centre will provide on-the-spot tests; all you have to do is find one.
Since the virus has increased in its spread lately, you may not be able to do a walk-in test like before. That is why it is vital to check the assessment centre’s instructions first. You’ll either have to set an appointment beforehand, or even receive a referral before heading in. However, you should get one, if your self-check result doesn’t check out.
6. Staying Safe
No matter what your self-check result is, you’ll now have to employ even more vigilance. At the moment, it is recommended to quarantine for a period of time, if your test result is positive. If it isn’t, continue practicing your agency’s recommended guidelines. This includes washing your hands, in addition to wearing a mask.
With the winter season approaching, the potential for infection increases substantially. Therefore, whenever a noted symptom arises, a self-check assessment will be your best friend. Remember, these tools are here to help you; you are always better safe than sorry!
COVID-19 has turned our world upside down, and it seems as if its impact has no end in sight. However, as long as you practice safety in your day-to-day life, you should be just fine. If anything else, taking a self-check test can provide you with a great amount of reassurance!
