If you are 65 or older or you have any health condition that puts you at higher risk for getting really sick, please call your doctor. There are medications to prevent severe illness if you’re at high risk.

These medications can be really effective, but they need to be taken within 5 days of your first symptoms. So, don’t wait to check with your doctor.

You can treat the symptoms much like you would the flu (drink lots of water, catch up on your sleep, etc.), if you are:

  • Generally healthy
  • Under 65
  • Have no medical conditions that could impact your immune response (like diabetes, asthma, kidney disease, and more)
  • Have mild symptoms (much like the flu)

Make sure to self-isolate and strictly mask so you don’t infect others.

To reduce the chance you will infect others, the CDC and the Hawai‘i State Department of Health recommend:

  • You isolate for at least 5 days
  • After isolating for 5 days, you can end isolation if:
    • You have no fever for 24 hours without taking any fever-reducing medicines
      AND
    • Your symptoms are improving
  • If you have a fever and/or your symptoms have not improved, please remain in isolation.

For more detailed information, please visit the DOH Isolation and Exposure Guidelines.

If you have concerns specific to your health situation, please consult your doctor.

Sources: : https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine-isolation-background.html (CDC)
https://hawaiicovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Summary-Guidance-for-COVID-19-Cases-and-Contacts.pdf (DOH)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html# (CDC)
https://hawaiicovid19.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/COVID-19-Treatments.pdf (DOH)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/treatments-for-severe-illness.html (CDC)
https://hawaiicovid19.com/covid-19-treatment/ (DOH)

Updated 12/12/2022