April 6, 2020, 11:10 am | Read time: 7 minutes
Increasing numbers of suspected cases, infections, and deaths are causing uncertainty among people. FITBOOK explains how to act if you suspect you have COVID-19. Additionally, a chief hygiene physician dispels some health myths.
Sudden cough, runny nose, sore throat, and body aches? These could be symptoms indicating a coronavirus infection. However, it might just be a common cold or flu. The tricky part: A COVID-19 infection doesn’t always present with clear symptoms. Some people barely notice any physical discomfort, while others develop severe symptoms. As the number of suspected COVID-19 cases rises, so does general uncertainty. Some health myths persist stubbornly.
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It’s crucial to call ahead before visiting a doctor
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has established guidelines for when a justified suspicion of COVID-19 exists and what to do next.
If you’ve had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you should immediately contact the local health department by phone. To find your respective health department, the RKI has provided an online search tool. Simply enter your postal code, and the department’s phone number will be displayed. There, you can get more information on the next steps.
Federal Health Ministry advises staying home
The Federal Health Ministry also advises anyone who has had contact with a COVID-19 patient to contact the local health department immediately, regardless of whether they show symptoms or not. In any case, affected individuals should stay home for the time being.
Important phone numbers and online information about the coronavirus
As an alternative to the health department, you can also consult a doctor or call the medical on-call service hotline if you suspect COVID-19. The number is 116117.
The Federal Health Ministry has also set up a coronavirus hotline. The phone number is (030) 34 64 65 100. Online, the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) answers questions about the coronavirus.
Very important: Before visiting a doctor or emergency room, you should call ahead or contact your primary care physician by phone. This is the only way to avoid infecting others with the virus.
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What if I was in a risk area?
The RKI regularly publishes a list of international COVID-19 risk areas. The institute also lists particularly affected areas in Germany. You can view the current list online.
According to experts, anyone who has been in an RKI-designated risk area should avoid unnecessary contact. If possible, they should stay home. If cough, sneezing, or other cold symptoms occur, affected individuals should only visit a doctor after calling ahead. Additionally, they should sneeze or cough into their elbow or a tissue, not their hand. Hands should be washed regularly, preferably disinfected.
Attention: Travelers from Iran, Italy, Japan, or South Korea in Germany must provide contact information for the next 30 days, as stated by the Federal Health Ministry on its website. Travelers from China to Germany must also provide an extended self-disclosure.
How should I behave if I was in an area where COVID-19 cases occurred, but it’s not a risk area?
A region isn’t automatically classified as an international risk area just because COVID-19 cases have occurred there. If you’ve traveled to a region where infections have been confirmed, you should proceed as follows: If fever, cough, or shortness of breath develop within 14 days after returning from the affected region, you should see a doctor. Again, it’s crucial to call ahead!
Here, too, it’s important to avoid contact with other people as much as possible and stay home.
Also interesting: When is a COVID-19 test worthwhile and who pays for it?
Sick note for COVID-19 suspicion after phone consultation
According to the Federal Health Ministry, patients with mild upper respiratory tract illnesses can receive a certificate of incapacity for work (AU) after consulting with a doctor by phone. Affected individuals do not need to visit the doctor’s office. The certificate is valid for up to seven days.
Do I protect myself by washing my hands properly?
Many media outlets and several health experts claim that washing hands with soap is sufficient to protect against the coronavirus. “Nonsense,” says Professor Dr. Klaus-Dieter Zastrow, chief hygiene physician. “Water and soap are not virucidal; they don’t kill viruses! What really helps is disinfecting your hands, ideally for 30 seconds! And, of course, you should have a limited virucidal disinfectant at home.”
Those who only wash their hands don’t kill any viruses—they even spread them in the sink and on the faucet. “Basically, it’s enough to just disinfect your hands. If you want, you can also wash them afterward, but not before!” explains Zastrow. Why? Because the virus remains active on surfaces for some time. The next person to use the bathroom could become infected.
A different view on handwashing is held by the Federal Center for Health Education, which reports on its website: “That handwashing actually reduces the frequency of infectious diseases has been studied and confirmed in many studies.” And further: “Because thorough handwashing reduces the number of germs on the hands to up to one-thousandth.”
Face masks provide protection in case of COVID-19 suspicion!
The physician dispels another COVID-19 myth circulating in the media. Contrary to the common belief that a face mask offers little protection against the virus, Zastrow explains: “A face mask protects against the virus! The name says it all. For everyday use, a simple and inexpensive face mask is sufficient. The more expensive fine dust mask (FFP2) is typically used in intensive care units because aerosols can be released during the treatment of ventilated patients.”
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Masks and latex gloves protect in buses and trains
Zastrow recommends wearing such a face mask if you must use public transportation, for example, on your way to work, where there’s a lot of coughing and sneezing. Simple latex gloves also offer protection against the virus. After riding the bus or train, you should carefully remove the gloves so that the inside is turned outward. Both the gloves and the face mask can be disposed of in the trash.
If you don’t want to throw away your face mask after just one use, you should ensure that any viruses on the mask are killed. Zastrow: “Simply preheat the oven to 70 degrees and place the face mask inside for 30 minutes.” Then disinfect your hands. Afterward, the viruses will be dead.
How to protect your family from infection if you suspect COVID-19
If you live closely with others and suspect you have COVID-19, you should be especially careful to avoid unintentionally infecting them with the coronavirus. “This includes regular hand disinfection and wearing a face mask at home,” explains Zastrow.
By the way: The virus remains active in human excrement for some time. This means that after using the toilet, it should be thoroughly cleaned. Zastrow: “A standard toilet cleaner is sufficient here.”