Updated May 25, 2023Sick African American man calling for medical help

Stay home if you feel sick

If you test positive or have symptoms of COVID-19, assume you are contagious to other people.  

If you have symptoms or feel sick

  • Stay home until 24 hours after fever is gone without use of fever-reducing medicine and other symptoms are improving
  • Wear a mask around others for 10 days after your symptoms start, especially if you can’t stay home
  • Avoid having contact with people at high risk for severe illness.

If you test positive but don’t have symptoms you are not required to stay home or isolate, 

  • It is recommended that you wear a mask around others for 10 days
  • Avoid contact with people who are high risk for severe illness

Staying home when you are sick is important. If you need help, call the COVID Call center at 503.988.8939 and ask about services that might be available to you. Interpreters are available. 

Tell your close contacts right away

Call, email, or text close contacts. 

Tell your contacts to

  1. Watch themselves for symptoms. If they start to feel sick they should stay away from others until they can get tested. 
  2. Consider taking a COVID test. The best time to test is 5 days after they were around you. The test may not work if they get tested too soon.

Taking care of yourself and treatment

Do the things you normally do to feel better: sleep, rest, drink plenty of fluids.

Most people will recover on their own, however you should call your healthcare provider right away. Depending on your age or health conditions, treatment may be available. 

Don’t delay: Treatment must be started within days of when you first develop symptoms to be effective.

If you don't have insurance you may be able to get medicine through a partnership with the Oregon Health Authority and Color Health. Call Color Health at 833-273-6330 for more information. Consultations are available in 17 languages. This program will last through June 30, 2023. 

Some people have problems with their lungs, heart, or thinking after the initial illness is over. Talk to your doctor or clinic about how they will monitor you after the first part of your COVID-19 illness.

Find treatment in Oregon

Learn more about different kinds of COVID-19 Treatments and Medications | CDC 

Emergency Warning Signs

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care (call 911) immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
  • Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

COVID and your job

Should I tell my employer?

We recommend you tell your employer if you test positive for COVID-19 and have been around other people at work. People who were around you will then know to get tested too. 

If your employer requires a doctor’s note to stay home, you can contact your doctor, clinic, or the place where you got tested.

Will my employer tell my coworkers I tested positive?

As of April 3, 2023, employers are not required to notify employees if there has been a work related exposure. See updates to Oregon OSHA rules for employers.