Main symptoms include:

FEVER (greater than 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit)

COUGH (productive or non-productive)

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

Most people who become symptomatic do so approximately 5 days after exposure to SARS-CoV-2, though the incubation period is thought to be 5.2 - 14 days. The average time of active viral shedding is 20 days.

Milder symptoms include:

  • Muscle aches and fatigue

  • Chills / rigors

  • Runny nose

  • Sneezing

  • Sore throat

  • Headaches

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Loss of Smell (Anosmia)

  • Loss of Taste (Dysgeusia)

Severe symptoms most commonly include:

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Chest pain upon deep breathing

  • Coughing up blood

  • Low blood pressure

  • Rapid heart beat

  • Altered mental status

  • Pneumonia (number one most common severe complication - 79.1%)

  • ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)

  • Multi-organ Failure

  • Septic Shock

  • Confusion

  • Agitation

  • Heightened Tendon Reflexes

  • Stroke. One report showed a seven times higher rate of occurrence of large vessel thrombotic strokes in patients under age 50 who were either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, presumably driven by underlying blood vessel inflammation

The most common causes of death are pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary hemorrhage (internal bleeding of the lungs), and liver injury.

The mortality rate, though varying around the world, is approximately 2% - 3%, but is likely inaccurate as the true total number of cases (which would include undiagnosed persons with mild to asymptomatic disease) is unknown.

Humans develop a strong antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 approximately 20 days after initial infection.

 

Who are the
Most Susceptible?

Even though there have been cases involving the pediatric population, those who have comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, immunocompromised state (cancer patients on chemotherapy), and advanced age (over 65 years old) are far more vulnerable to develop severe disease.

As per US CDC Data utilizing the COVID-19 Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-19-NET) summarizing March 2020 data (which documented 1,482 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 75% of whom were over the age of 50 years old), the most prevalent comorbidities were:

  • Hypertension (High blood Pressure): 49.7%

  • Obesity: 48.3%

  • Chronic Lung Disease: 34.6%

  • Diabetes Mellitus: 28.3%

  • Cardiovascular Disease: 27.8%

What to Do if You Feel Sick?

  • Contact your health care provider prior to going to the office

  • Utilize cdc.gov “self-checker” tool

  • Other resources include:

    • Monterey County Health Department COVID-19 Hotline (Tel: 831-769-8700 or 831-755-4521)

    • Natividad Hotline (7am - 11pm) Tel: 831-772-7365

    • SVMH Coronavirus Hotline (7am - 11pm) Tel: 831-755-0793

    • Montage Health COVID-19 Hotline (Tel: 831-622-8001)

Local Testing Facilities

  • Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP)

  • Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital (SVMH)

  • Natividad Medical Center

  • Planned Parenthood Mar Monte

    • Located at 980 Fremont Street 93940. It is open for free COVID-19 testing to all community members, with or without symptoms. No appointment needed. Open from 9am - 4pm

      Testing for Previous Exposure - By Appointment Only: (Tel: 888-634-1123 or https://Ihi.care/covidtesting)

  • Salinas: Alisal High School (Tuesday - Saturday), 8am - 8pm

    • 777 Williams Road, Salinas, CA, 93905

  • Greenfield: Greenfield Branch Monterey County Library (Tuesday - Saturday), 8am - 8pm

    • 315 El Camino Real, Greenfield, CA, 93927

  • Watsonville: Ramsay Park Family Center (Wednesday - Sunday), 7am - 7pm

    • 1301 Main Street, Watsonville, CA, 95076