Covid-19 exposure recommendations
- Remove yourself from the exposure. The most common variant circulating right now is the Omicron BQ-1 variant. The Omicron BQ-1 variant is the most contagious of the covid variants that we have seen. It does not appear to cause more severe illness than other Omicron covid variants. Usually, symptoms develop 3 days after exposure. If you develop symptoms, you need to be tested for covid. Initially, a lot of people think that they have allergy symptoms. If you have any symptoms that resemble flu, sinus infection, or allergies, you need to be tested. You cannot know that you do not have covid unless you test. Currently, the quarantine guidelines vary according to vaccine booster status.
- Fully vaccinated and received booster dose: (Received 2 doses of Moderna or Pfizer plus a booster dose OR a dose of Johnson and Johnson plus a booster): You do not have to quarantine. It is recommended that you wear a mask for 10 days following exposure. The risk that you will get the Omicron variant is around 25%. If you develop any symptoms, you need to get tested for covid.
- Unvaccinated OR more than 6 months out from your 2nd dose of Moderna or Pfizer OR more than 2 months out from 1 dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine: You should quarantine for 5 days and then strictly use a mask for 5 days. The risk of having a breakthrough infection if you’ve had the vaccination without a booster is about 65%. Prior infection with covid does not appear to offer protection from the Omicron variant. If you are unvaccinated, you are at an extremely high risk to get this variant. If you develop symptoms, you need to get tested for covid. There is now a new booster dose that has the Omicron variants in it to help offer better protection against infection with covid.
- The most common symptoms with the Omicron variant are fever, cough, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, scratchy throat, fatigue, headache, night sweats, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Everyone does not have a fever, especially with the Omicron strains. If you have symptoms that make you think you have a sinus infection, allergies, or the flu, you need to be tested for covid.
- To protect you and others, the best mask to wear is a KN95 or an N95 mask.
- We do think some vitamins may offer protection, both for people who have been diagnosed with Covid and for people who have been exposed.
- Vitamin C – 1000 mg daily
- Vitamin D – 5000 IU daily
- Zinc – 50 mg daily (or 60 mg, if that’s what you have)
- Melatonin – 5 mg daily
Note that some forms of zinc are sulfates. These would be safe even if you have a sulfonamide allergy (sulfa allergy). Sulfonamide allergies only are a problem with antibiotics that contain sulfonamide (Bactrim, Septra, dapsone).
- If you are in quarantine from exposure, you are at risk of contracting the disease. Make sure to keep eating a balanced diet, maintain good fluid intake, and rest as much as you can. Do not lie in bed or recline on the couch. Covid is associated with an increase in blood clots and pneumonia. As much as possible, get up and move around every hour. Stay sitting upright so your lungs fully expand.
- Rapid antigen tests, send-out PCR tests, and most over-the-counter antigen tests are all effective tests for detecting covid. However, there can be false negative results. If you have been exposed and are having symptoms, you may need to retest in a couple of days if you initially get a negative result. If you get a positive result, you most likely have covid. There are not usually false positive results.