Covid-19 Positive Result FAQ

No one can say exactly how Covid-19 will affect you. However, based on the data we have, we know that the vast majority of people suffer a mild illness.

Those people are likely to recover within a few weeks. .

• 80% of people who test positive have a mild illness
• 14% of people who test positive have a more severe illness
• 6% of people who test positive have a critical illness

You may not need to be admitted to hospital if you have Covid-19. As 80% of cases are mild, they can be successfully managed at home like a regular flu. You can do this by resting, keeping hydrated and taking medication to treat your symptoms.

However, if your symptoms are severe, you should consult your doctor, as you may need to be treated in a hospital.

Anyone who has any Covid-19 symptoms should self-isolate, even if they don’t have the results yet. If you are referred for testing by your GP, and you test positive, you should continue to self-isolate.

To self-isolate, you need to:

• Stay at home. If you live with others, stay in a room with the window open. If possible, you should have a toilet and bathroom that only you use
• Avoid contact with everyone as much as possible, including people who live in your home. Observe social distance recommendations at all times. Ask family or friends to drop off food and supplies outside your door
• You and those you live with should always practice exemplary hand hygiene
• Thoroughly clean any surfaces or items you touch, including those in your bedroom and bathroom. Keep dust levels down as Covid-19 can survive on surfaces for a period of time. Use separate cutlery and delph and wash these yourself in your own bathroom, if possible. Alternatively, use the highest temperature setting on your dishwasher. If someone is washing your dishes, they must ensure all contact surfaces are washed down

Find more detailed guidelines in the HSE self-isolation guide.

If you have tested positive for Covid-19 or have any of the symptoms, don’t go to your pharmacy. Ask a family member to pick up anything you need.

If you need prescription medication, ring ahead to order it and have a family member pick up your medications.

As a laya healthcare member, you can also order your prescription online and this can be delivered to your pharmacy for processing or posted to your home through our CareOnCall prescription service. If you need the medicine sooner, our GP can fax the prescription details to your local pharmacy.

If your child, family member or someone else close to you tests positive for Covid-19, they may need your support.

When you’re caring for someone who has Covid-19, you should do everything you can to keep yourself and others safe. This limits the spread of the virus.

To do this, you should follow the HSE guidelines, which include limiting their movement in the home, , staying away as much as possible and maintaining strict hygiene practices.

Although there is no specific treatment for Covid-19, many of the symptoms can be treated effectively. 

Before taking any medication, it’s important to talk to your healthcare professional. Most people can be treated by:

• Resting
• Drinking water
• Eating healthily
• Not smoking
• Keeping warm

Throughout your illness, you should monitor your symptoms and keep your GP updated by phone.

The medicines you take to treat your Covid-19 illness depend on your symptoms, any medical conditions you may have and other medication you’re already taking.

Before taking any medication, follow advice from healthcare professionals and always read the leaflet in full.

Paracetamol or ibuprofen may help to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains. Paracetamol is usually recommended as the first-line treatment for most people.

If the paracetamol is not working for you, please call you GP who advise on alternatives that will fit in with your individual circumstances.

It’s important to emphasise that antibiotics do not work against Covid-19 or any other virus. They don’t relieve symptoms or speed up recovery.

In an emergency, for example if you have shortness of breath, chest tightness or your lips or fingers go blue, you should call 112 or 999. Make sure you tell them about the Covid-19 infection before they arrive. 

Phone your GP if your symptoms get worse. If deemed medically necessary for you to be treated in hospital, they may rely on treatments like oxygen therapy or medication to lower your fever and empirical drugs may be given in some instances. Extreme cases may need to be treated with respirators or life support.

No, but they do need to restrict their movements. This also applies to anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has the virus.

To stop the spread of Covid-19, they must avoid contact with other people as much as possible. Take a look at the HSE advice on how to do that effectively.

No, your close contacts don’t have to be tested unless they develop Covid-19 symptoms. If they do develop symptoms, they should phone a GP. Then the GP will assess then as to whether they will , if necessary.

The people who live with you and your close contacts need to restrict their movements for five days after you have had no fever AND for 14 days after you first developed symptoms.

If someone else in your household tests positive for Covid-19 during this time, everyone should restrict their movements as they did when the first person got sick.

You can only stop self-isolating when both of these statements apply to you:

• You have no fever for at least 5 days
• You first developed symptoms over 10 days ago

Vaccine

To learn more about the Vaccine go https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/

The flu vaccine does not protect against coronavirus.

Social isolation, feeling sick and a positive diagnosis for Covid-19 can all take a toll on your mental wellbeing. You might find that you are more stressed, worried or anxious than usual.

If you need to talk to a qualified counsellor, you can do so safely, and in confidence, as a laya healthcare member. Simply phone the 24/7 Mental Wellbeing Support Programme to get the help you need, when you need it.

You can also read the HSE’s practical guide to maintaining your mental wellbeing during this time.

The best way to find out about your treatment for Covid-19 is to contact your healthcare professional.

As a laya healthcare member, you can also use your member benefits for advice. Any time of the day or night, you can call GPline or Nurseline. Alternatively, make an appointment via webcam to an Irish-registered doctor with GPlive. Depending on your scheme, you can also talk to a nurse about a clinical issue with Laya Healthcare Concierge Monday to Friday, 08:00 until 17:00.

We’ll also do our best to keep our website up-to-date with the developments on Covid-19 and how it affects people in Ireland.

We rely on the HSE for accurate information on Covid-19 – you can read all the latest information on the HSE Covid-19 site.