What do I do if I feel sick?

Please note that this page may not always reflect the latest information from the CDC. You are encouraged to visit their site for the latest information and more detail. 

If you develop symptoms — such as those listed below —please take the steps listed below.

    • Fever/sweating
    • Chills
    • Repeated shaking with chills
    • Cough
    • Sore throat
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • Chest pain associated with breathing
    • Feelings of exhaustion or weakness
    • Loss of energy
    • General body aches
    • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody mucus
    • Presence of confusion or changes in mental status, such as confusion, loss of alertness, disorientation, defects in judgment, or strange or unusual behaviors
    • Changes in sense of smell or taste
    • Change in appetite
    • Red eyes
    • Headache
    • Muscle pain
    • Dizziness
    • Bluish lips or face
    • Unexplained falls or increase in falls

Step 1:

Call your health provider in advance. Please do not show up at a clinic, urgent care, or other health facility without calling first. Your provider will need to take special measures to protect other people in the clinic. Telemedicine may also be available, enabling you to consult a provider from home.

Step 2:

Check in with the following Era Living contacts for symptom monitoring and tracking of COVID-19-related illness or exposure among Era Living community members.

  • Staff: Notify your supervisor.
  • Residents: Notify your Executive Director or Community Health Director.

The CDC also advises you to:

  • Avoid contact with others and do not travel or take public transportation while sick.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
  • Clean your hands often by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol immediately after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Stay at home except to get medical care.
  • Separate yourself from other people and pets in your home.
  • If you must be around other people, wear a cloth covering over your nose and mouth
  • Avoid sharing personal household items, such as towels, bedding, and dishes.
  • Clean all “high-touch” surfaces everyday.

Read more about CDC recommendations on what to do when you are sick here.

Other steps:

Monitor your symptoms closely. Take your temperature if you believe you have a fever.  Seek medical attention if you experience any of the following emergency warning signs or any other symptom that is severe or concerning to you:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.

Stay home from school and work until at least 72 hours after your fever ends without the use of fever reducing medications. If you must go out of the house or be around others, wear a mask and avoid close contact. If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and you live in an Era Living retirement community, then consult with the Executive Director or Community Health Director regarding when it is safe to exit your apartment or return to work.

Take care of yourself. Rest as much as possible. Drink lots of fluids.

Please note that these pages are not intended to be all-encompassing and should not be considered to be providing medical advice. In all instances, you should consult with a relevant expert for guidance specific to your circumstances.