The Philippines is dealt again with a heavy surge of COVID cases. As of writing, that’s over 20k cases per day with the Omicron variant present. Here are the differences in symptoms compared to the Delta variant.
Compared to the other variants, Omicron is highly transmissible because it stays in the upper respiratory system, which is your nose to the throat area.
The incubation variant is as early as 2 days and as long as 14 days.
Some may say it is a mild strain because it doesn’t affect our lungs that much. That’s far from the truth. It is not that mild that you dismiss it as the common flu. It’s just “milder,” but it still warrants our caution, especially for the unvaccinated.
So what do you do then? What if you suspect that you have COVID or your family member has COVID? Here’s how to take care of yourself and/or your family if you have suspected COVID.
Assume You Have COVID
When you or your family member experiences symptoms, assume that you guys have COVID already. Please follow general protocol.
Isolate yourself from your other family members and the general public. Wear a mask and do not share personal belongings with them. Wash your hands. Also, you need to sanitize high contact surfaces like doorknobs and comfort rooms.
How to Medicate
With an interview in ANC, Health expert Tony Leachon gave some guidelines on what to take when you get symptoms.
Take note, though, that if you’re experiencing severe symptoms, please go to a doctor. But if you have milder symptoms, you can treat them by doing the following.
For fever, you can take together the following:
- Paracetamol – 500mg every 4 to 6 hours (Brands like Biogesic and Tylenol)
- Naproxen – For 3 Days with the paracetamol (Brands like Skelan and Flanax)
For Cough, you can take together the following:
- Antitussive to stop Coughing (Brands like Sinecod and Robitussin)
- Mucolytic to take out phlegm and irritants (Brands like Solmux and Exflem)
You can also take natural remedies like:
- Warm lemon water mixed with honey
- Gargle with Salt Water
- Drink 3 liters of water per day
- Eat fruits and vegetables
If you are still coughing after three days, the mucus is colored yellow and green, you can take antibiotics:
- Azithromycin (like Zithromax) – 1 Tab per day for 3 to 5 Days
Although, you need a prescription for it.
For some people with difficulty in sleeping, you can take:
- Melatonin – 2 tablets (6 mg each)
These are the medicines you need in your Covid kit to be ready.
Stay at Home and Rest
Yes, more of us are working from home because of the pandemic. But then, if you have COVID, you might be tempted to work still. Take sickness as it is. You should rest. After all, the faster you recover, the more time you can work on your dreams.
Get Boosted and Vaccinated
As you can see, most infections are just mild compared to before. And vaccination plays a big part. It’s definitely safe. And you can have the peace of mind your family deserves.
But your vaccination doesn’t mean that you won’t get the COVID. It just makes the virus weaker than before. Imagine getting COVID, and just experiencing symptoms like flu. It’s much more manageable than the risk of getting intubated from severe infections.
But the Omicron variant has some resistance to the vaccines. But still, it’s our best defense against COVID. And we can have booster shots to make it more effective. For those with COVID, you can take booster shots 2 weeks after recovery.
Conclusion
The pandemic wouldn’t end anytime soon. Let’s do our part in protecting ourselves and our family from the COVID. We can get through this!
