Treatment of COVID-19

Most people with mild illness will recover without treatment. However, some over-the-counter medications may be used to help provide comfort and alleviate symptoms of COVID-19. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist before using any new over-the-counter products, especially if you have underlying health conditions.

Many medications to treat COVID-19 are currently being developed and tested. Health Canada has approved several treatments for COVID-19, including remdesivir and bamlanivimab. Some treatments, such as nirmatrelvir and ritonavir together (i.e. PaxlovidTM), can be taken orally at home. The availability and eligibility criteria for COVID-19 treatments may vary between across provinces and territories.

Currently, there are several COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in Canada, including the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty® COVID-19 vaccine and the Moderna Spikevax® COVID-19 vaccine. There are other vaccines currently under review, and Health Canada continues to closely monitor the vaccines that have been approved.

It’s recommended to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to lower your risk of getting infected as well as to lower your risk of other outcomes from severe infection such as hospitalization. Your local public health authority may recommend additional COVID-19 vaccine doses (i.e. booster doses) to provide enhanced protection and to reduce the spread of the virus.

Since COVID-19 can spread from person to person, practising good hand hygiene is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself from being infected. Wear a face mask whenever possible, especially when you’re out in public settings. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands. You should try to minimize your chances of being exposed to the virus by avoiding contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, you should cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2023. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/COVID-19-Overview-Symptoms-Diagnosis-and-Treatment