Symptoms of Coronavirus Infection & How to Deal With Them?

It’s been more than six months since the novel coronavirus has infected nearly all parts of the globe but numbers are rising. One way to deal with the pandemic is to stay prepared. Gaining access to information related to the symptoms of the coronavirus infection and learning how to manage them will go a long way in staying prepared.

So, what symptoms should you watch for coronavirus?

Not everyone who tests positive for coronavirus necessarily has symptoms, but some could go on to become symptomatic later or infect others in spite of being asymptomatic. However, it is important to keep track of your health.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, some of the common symptoms of coronavirus include:

• Dry cough
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Runny nose and nasal congestion
• Headaches
• Tiredness and body aches
• Loss of smell and taste
• Diarrhoea
• Breathlessness/shortness of breath

According to experts, many people (80 per cent) who do develop symptoms recover without any special treatment. However, the MoHFW states that one out of every six people may become seriously affected and develop trouble with breathing. Also, senior citizens who may already have other medical problems like heart conditions, diabetes or high blood pressure are more likely to be seriously affected by coronavirus xe variant.

How to deal with the symptoms of the coronavirus infection?

If you have been in contact with a Covid-19 positive patient or have experienced any of the symptoms stated above, the first thing you would need to do is get yourself tested. Call the doctor or helpline provided before heading for a test. Many hospitals offer home testing for Covid-19. Stay home if you are feeling unwell. If you have serious symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, follow the instructions of the local health authorities or doctors who will direct you to a hospital.

If you have mild to negligible symptoms, you should still isolate yourself in a separate room at home and not come in contact with the rest of the family. Ensure you maintain high standards of hygiene. Keep yourself hydrated and well-rested apart from following the protocol for usage of mask, glove, and sanitiser/hand wash strictly for 14 days.

In general, always keep track of areas or clusters that have a high concentration of cases and avoid visiting such places.

Get yourself a health insurance plan-

While you learn about symptoms and managing them, you must also pay attention to health insurance. The benefits of buying health insurance for coronavirus cannot be emphasised enough. Insurance will provide adequate financial cover in the unfortunate event of them or you getting the infection. The Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has mandated that all insurance companies need to offer cover for coronavirus-related medical expenses as part of existing health insurance plans.

If you already have a health insurance plan, you know by now that one of the biggest benefits of health insurance plans is the network of hospitals that are covered which also offer cashless hospitalisation. Most health insurance plans in India also offer options for medical check-ups but check with your insurer beforehand if your existing policy covers health check-ups.

One of the most important tips to buy health insurance is to assess your needs. If you are single and have no dependents or responsibilities, one of the individual health insurance plans will serve you well. However, if you are married, have children and dependent senior citizens, you should get yourself one of the family health insurance plans. Also, remember that the younger you are, the lower the premiums you have to pay.

Corona Kavach Health Insurance Plan-

Also, the IRDAI has structured a health insurance policy called Corona Kavach for family and individuals to offer specific coronavirus-related coverage.

Corona Kavach for individual and family provides coverage for hospitalisation (pre and post) in case of any Covid-19 related problems. It also covers ambulance costs up to a limit and under certain conditions mentioned by the insurance firm, apart from drugs, medical diagnostics, room rent, OT charges,  PPE kits, gloves and masks among others.

Corona Kavach  plan even covers home care treatment for those with mild symptoms and any Ayush package a patient might want to opt for.

The Corona Kavach plan is available for a tenure of 3.5, 6.5 and 9.5 months for a cover in the Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh range.

The initial waiting period is an important aspect to consider while buying health insurance, more so with Corona Kavach, which is an indemnity product. Look for an insurer like Niva Bupa who offers a lower initial waiting period, for instance, 15 days instead of the regular 30 days.

You can avail of the plan online or via a phone call so there’s no hassle of physically visiting a place which is really useful in these times. Make sure you speak to your insurance firm and get a plan and ensure that you are in control of the situation and are well-prepared to protect your loved ones.