What to Do When I Have Covid

1. My Covid+ Plan                                                                                Page 1
2. My Covid+ Supplies                                                                        Page 3
3. Covid+ Daily Symptom Tracking                                                                Page 5
4. Dose Schedule                                                                                Page 7
5. Post-Covid Checkup and Bloodwork                                                        Page 9
6. Free and Low Cost Resources                                                                Page 10

Part of responsible citizenship during a pandemic involves avoiding becoming infected (and likely spreading infection) as much as possible. It also involves having a plan in place in case we do get infected. Just like we’re more likely to survive a fire or an earthquake if we’ve planned ahead for it (including gathering supplies, educating ourselves on risks and common mistakes, and developing protocols for ourselves and our families), we’re more likely to have a mild experience with Covid if we plan ahead.

This document is meant to get you thinking about what your Covid+ plan might look like. It is just a starting point – you are encouraged to download this, modify it, check the contents against your own medical history and medications (especially in the case of contraindications), and run it by medical professionals, friends, and family members to get second, third, and fourth opinions. Everything written here is for informational purposes only – it is not medical advice. It is information for you to begin developing your own plan.

You are also encouraged to begin acquiring the supplies that will be needed in the case of Covid infection. Altogether, the items listed in this document are quite expensive and out of reach for many people. This economic precarity is unjust and intertwined with the same capitalist mode of production that has allowed for the pandemic to spread unchecked. I’ve linked to free resources at the end, but they do not cover everything.

If you see something in here that is incorrect or incorrectly cited, or if you would add something to this document, please email emily@cleanairclub.org.

This document is best accessed on a desktop computer. Leer en español aqui (traducida por Juan).

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My Covid+ Plan

Below is a sample Covid+ plan and protocol for what to do within the first hour, day, week, and beyond of testing positive for Covid. There are many things on here that may not apply to you; there are many things not on here that you may want to add. This is a starting point for you to begin building your Covid+ plan.

If I test positive for Covid-19, either on a rapid test or PCR, my plan is to:

1. Within the first hour:

1. Isolate
2. Mask (KN-95 or better)
3. Open windows
4. Turn on air purifiers
5. Notify all household members
6. Begin radical rest^[1]
   

2. Within the first day:

1. Schedule same-day telehealth appointment^[2] (Obtain: prescriptions, letter for time off work or school)
2. Contact tracing: notify all close contacts from prior week
3. Cancel all social plans for the week
4. Zoom chat with household members to discuss isolation plan, who will take on your household and care labor
5. Begin medications^[3] 
6. Arrange time off from work or school
7. Schedule PCR test
8. Turn on humidifier
9. Begin tracking symptoms and test positivity^[4]
   

3. During the First week:

1. Continue radical rest
2. Continue medications and symptom management
3. Frequent rapid test if possible (either on RAT tests or at-home molecular tests^[5])
4. Continue tracking symptoms and test positivity
5. Learn the signs of heart attack and stroke^[6]
   

4. Until negative on PCR or molecular test:

1. Continue radical rest
2. Continue medications and symptom management
3. Weekly molecular  test if possible (e.g. using the Pluslife or Metrix tests)
4. Continue tracking symptoms and test positivity
   

5. After PCR/molecular negative test (for one month or more)

1. Schedule checkup and lab work^[7]
2. Refrain from moderate-to-vigorous exercise
3. Take post-Covid medications for immune support, anti-clotting, and antiviral management
4. Reflect on how the infection was acquired and make changes to covid-cautious strategies going forward^[8]

My Covid+ Supplies

Some of these supplies are easy to find; some are a bit harder. All of them are better obtained before you are positive for Covid. It is important to check the contraindications for everything you put in and on your body – adverse interactions can occur with other medications and pre-existing conditions. The below is a starting point for you to consider and research further in consultation with a medical professional.

1. Tools

1. Vaccination
2. KN-95 Masks or better
3. Air purifier
4. Humidifier^[9]
5. Thermometer
6. Pulse Oximeter
7. Rapid Covid Tests
8. Neti pot and Saline Packets^[10]
   

2. Over the Counter Medications

1. Ibuprofen^[11]
2. Expectorants, Flu meds
3. Cough Drops
4. Cetylpyridinium Chloride Mouthwash^[12]
   

3. Prescription Medications

1. Paxlovid^[13]
2. Metformin^[14]
   

4. Supplements

1. All herbal tinctures listed in Stephen Buhner's herbal protocol for acute covid infection^[15]
2. Melatonin^[16]
3. Lumbrokinase/Nattokinase^[17]
   

5. Other

1. Antiviral nasal spray^[18]
   

6. Other lists to review:

1. https://rthm.com/articles/youve-got-covid/
2. https://pharmd.substack.com/p/i-have-covid-what-should-my-kids 

Covid+ Daily Symptom Tracking

It is very important to track your symptoms and positivity status throughout the infection. It will keep you and your doctors well-informed, it will help you track any Paxlovid rebound, and it will alert you to some emergent situations as early as possible.

Covid+ Daily Symptom Tracking

SAMPLE

Medication Dose Schedule

It can be very hard to keep track of all the medications required during Covid and when to take each one, especially when they are on different dose schedules. A dose schedule, like the one below, is extremely helpful to have (both for yourself and for any caregivers that may be helping you through a covid infection). I’ve included a blank one for you to fill out as well as a sample one to see what a complete one can look like.

SAMPLE Dose Schedule

(This is a sample for informational purposes only; it is NOT your dose schedule.)

Post-COVID Checkup and Bloodwork

Covid infections damage the body. It is extremely important to get a new baseline for your health and to discover any changes to your health that should be addressed. The CDC recommends the following lab tests post-Covid:

In addition to the recommended tests from the CDC, you may consider testing for:

• Cholesterol
• Glucose / Insulin
• Epstein-Barr reactivation

Free and Low Cost Resources

This will be updated as more information comes in.

1. Tests

1. Medicaid continues to cover 8 at-home rapid tests per month, as well as lab testing through Sep. 30, 2024.^[19]
2. The CDC ICATT program will continue to provide free Covid testing for people without insurance. Those testing locations can be found here. You can also search here for community-based testing locations that may offer free tests.
3. The website RTMed occasionally has very affordable tests and masks.
   

2. Vaccines

1. You can get free Covid vaccines through the CDC’s Bridge Access Program (ending August 2024)
   

3. Medical Care

1. Dr.B has $15 virtual appointments available for Covid care. 
2. GoodRx has a 30-day free trial membership which gives you access to $19 telehealth appointments. This can be used to secure needed prescriptions.
3.  Search online for a free clinic in your area. Here is a list of Chicago free clinics.
   

4. Masks

1. There are “Mask Blocs” in various cities around the U.S. that you can contact. Search on social media for your city name or area code  plus “mask bloc” and see what comes up.
2. You can also search the Covid Action Map to find mutual aid organizations and mask blocs in your area.
   

5. Prescriptions

1. If you are able to obtain a prescription for Paxlovid and you are insured, Paxcess can help you get it for free fairly quickly. If you are on Medicare, Medicaid, or uninsured, you can access free Paxlovid through the U.S. Government Patient Access Program (see page 3 for instructions).
2. It’s always worth checking on GoodRx to see if you can get a discount on a prescribed medication.
   

6. Air Purification

1. The cheapest way to improve your indoor air quality is to open the window.
2. The second cheapest is to build your own DIY air purifier. Thousands of people with no prior experience have done this during the pandemic to great success.
3. Many cities and states provide discounts and rebates on air purifiers through their utilities marketplaces. Wherever you pay your power bills, search the website and see if they have a marketplace. Examples:

1. Chicago
2. New Jersey
3. Oregon
   

7. Finances

1. Consider seeking aid for other life expenses so that you have funds available for non-covered medical expenses. This could include local food banks, tenant relief funds, local mutual aid organizations, utilities discounts and waivers, and cash assistance programs.
   
   
   
   

8. Discontinued Programs

1. You can order 6 free Covid tests through the NIH’s “Test to Treat” program if you are uninsured or underinsured. DISCONTINUED 2024
2. The NIH’s “Test to Treat” program offers free telehealth appointments for suspected covid, free Lucira at-home molecular tests,  and Paxlovid for diagnosed covid. DISCONTINUED 2024
3. Illinois households outside of Chicago can order 5 free Covid tests here. PAGE NO LONGER FOUND