Instructions on treating COVID-19 at home

When you become ill:

• Avoid close contact with others
• Stay at home until your symptoms have lessened significantly and you no longer have a fever.
• If you work in health care or care for the elderly, you should follow the instructions you receive from your employer.
• When you are ill, it is important to rest and drink a sufficient amount of fluids (2.5 litres/day). Alcohol should be avoided.  You can relieve fever and pain with over-the-counter medications.
• Maintain good hand and coughing hygiene.
• Monitor your condition. If your health deteriorates, if necessary call:
  • Your health care clinic
  • Outside of phone hours, please contact us as follows:
    • Adults and other over 16-year-old persons who are ill: call Soite’s common emergency clinic (yhteispäivystys/samjouren) 116 117
    • Under 16-year-old persons who are ill: Soite’s paediatric emergency clinic, phone 06 826 4444. Open around the clock 24/7.

Persons who have been exposed to the coronavirus and persons who live in the same household

If you have been exposed to the coronavirus and are symptom-free, keep an eye on your symptoms and do a home test for COVID-19 if needed.

Please note the following, if you live in the same household with a person who has COVID-19 (home test/verified in a laboratory):

• Persons who live in the same household are no longer ordered into quarantine in accordance with the Communicable Diseases Act.
• You can move freely when your symptoms have lessened clearly and you no longer have a fever.
• Hobbies and visits in the spare time are not recommended.
• You can use an FFP respiratory mask or a surgical face mask outside of the home.
• Work from home if possible. If needed, discuss with your boss.

Informing close contacts who have been exposed to the coronavirus

If you wish, you can tell persons you have been in close contact with about you becoming ill (a close contact is a contact of at least 15 minutes indoors) and advise them to see to good hand hygiene when they meet other people. A person who is infected with the coronavirus can infect other people 48 hours before getting symptoms.

Persons who are symptom-free do not need to go to a coronavirus test or contact the health care services.

Exposure situations in care facilities and nursing homes

In case of a coronavirus exposure, the head of the unit must give the personnel instructions on preventing an epidemic in the unit and must, if needed, contact an infectious diseases nurse, phone 040 804 2781.

When caring for a child who is ill:

The instructions below apply always regardless of the pathogen or underlying disease.

If a child becomes ill and develops any of the following symptoms, seek out medical care as soon as possible: 

• difficulty breathing
• the skin is bluish or grey
• the child does not drink enough fluids
• the child vomits heavily or continuously
• the child does not wake up or react to anything
• the child is so irritable that they do not want to be in your arms
• the symptoms disappear but then return with a fever and a worse cough.

When can one return to work after the disease?

You may return to work when you no longer have a fever and your other symptoms are significantly milder. Changes in the sense of smell or taste or a mild dry cough can continue for a long time even if other symptoms have lessened.