Welcome to The Village Doctor’s FAQ page on COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) and the virus which causes this illness, SARS-CoV-2. Note this page is searchable (see below), as is the entire website (see above right).
Please click here to sign up for our weekly, physician curated, newsletter, “CV 🦠News”!
For further information, we also encourage you to read our pages on Coronavirus Information, recent Public Health Advisories, preventive measures for your House and Home, a collection of excellent Coronavirus Resources, and our ever popular gathering of good news and love, Hope and Grace.
Have a Question?
TESTING
- Can you test for COVID-19 at The Village Doctor?
- Update: Where Can I Get Tested Locally for COVID-19?
- Where can kids be tested for COVID-19?
- I’m traveling to a destination (or having a medical procedure) which requires a negative COVID test within 72 hours of arrival, what do I do?
- Are there "home tests" for Coronavirus?
- What is coronavirus “immunity testing”? Should I get tested?
- Update: Am I safe to visit high-risk relatives if I just had a negative COVID-19 nasal swab?
- Which is the best way to diagnose an active COVID-19 infection, the molecular PCR test (nasopharyngeal swab) or the serology test (blood draw)?
- My serology was positive for IgG against SARS-CoV-2. Does this mean I am negative for the virus and protected from re-infection?
- I heard testing done in the community in April showed that more people may have been infected than we realized – does that mean the death rate may be lower than we realized?
- What is the guidance regarding back to work testing?
- If I have had COVID-19, can I donate my plasma to help others?
- I’m told COVID-19 testing should be “free”, is this true?
- What's The Difference Between A "Molecular" COVID Test And A "Antigen" COVID Test, And Does It Matter?
- I Hear COVID Tests Are Hard To Get, Are We Being Too Picky? Show all articles ( 7 )
ILLNESS
- If I get sick, what do I do?
- If I get sick, when do I need to see a doctor?
- If I get sick with coronavirus (COVID-19), what will it be like?
- I hear COVID-19 affects your breathing, can I use my iPhone to measure my oxygen levels?
- What is a pulse oximeter and should I have one at home?
- What Can I Do If My Loved One Suspects They Have Coronavirus?
- How do I safely take care of someone who is sick?
- How can I tell if I have COVID-19 versus a common cold versus allergies?
- Is coronavirus more contagious than the flu?
- Who is at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19?
- How does blood type influence coronavirus?
- How long does it take to recover?
- After recovering from coronavirus, do I have immunity? Can I get coronavirus twice?
- Can I catch COVID twice? What happened to herd immunity?
- Do viruses have sentience? Show all articles ( 3 )
TREATMENT
- How do I safely take care of someone who’s sick?
- Will the heat of summer help this coronavirus pandemic?
- If a vaccine might be a while away, what about “antibody treatment”?
- Does Vitamin D fight COVID19?
- I’ve heard that old malaria medications, like chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, might now be useful, is this true?
- I’ve heard that it can be bad to take ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) if I have Coronavirus, is this true? What about aspirin? What about daily “baby aspirin”?
- Is it true that certain blood pressure medication might increase risk?
- Why is an old antacid, Pepcid (famotidine) in the news for COVID-19 treatment?
- Is it true that I can inject or inhale disinfectant to cure coronavirus?
- What is "Convalescent Plasma" and How Does It Treat COVID-19?
- Are There Any Old Medicines Being Considered for New COVID Treatment
- What are "antibody treatments" for COVID-19?
- How should I manage my mild COVID-19 at home?
DISTANCING
- How should I think about my risk as the US reopens? How can I limit my risk as we begin to reopen?
- Is it safe to eat at restaurants again? How can I reduce my risk?
- Is it safe to fly on a commercial airplane?
- My gym is reopening. Is it safe to go?
- Staying home all the time is hard, is it really worth the effort?
- My family and I have been quarantined for about a month. My sister and my mom and dad have been at home quarantining. We have all been really good. Can we now quarantine together?
- “Physical Distancing” all day at home is boring! Any suggestions?
- If I’m trying to “Socially Distance,” is it ok to go for a walk in the park or on a bike ride?
- Are we allowed to go to Bay Area parks and open spaces?
- My faith is very important to me, can I still go to church?
- Still not sure about the need for Physical Distancing? Read this from Yale University.
- What do I need to know about possible "aerosol-based" COVID transmission?
- Refining our understanding of disease outcomes: lessons learned from the "long-haulers"
- Have we learned more about air travel and coronavirus? Is it safe?
QUARANTINE
- If people can spread the virus without showing any symptoms, how can I tell who’s infected and who’s not?
- We have someone who wants to visit this summer (home from college?), help us think about the COVID risk of letting them stay with us.
- How can we expand our social circle while still being responsible and remaining safe?
- What should I do if my coworker was exposed to a positive case?
- How long do you need to isolate if you feel sick and are concerned you have COVID, but couldn't get tested?
- If you have tested positive for COVID, when can you stop home isolation?
- I've been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, what do I need to do?
- I’m coming home from college / another city, when is it safe to be around my older parents?
- My kids just came home from school/study abroad – should they be quarantined?
- What should we do about our household workers (e.g. nanny, house cleaner, cook)?
- Should I start stocking up on extra food and supplies?
- Is the U.S. Food supply safe?
- What should I have on hand to care for someone with COVID-19?
- Should I take my family to our vacation home to keep them safe?
- Do you find yourself baking during the pandemic? Show all articles ( 3 )
PREVENTION
- I’m thinking of traveling / visiting older relatives: how do I reduce risk?
- Since a plane's cabin keeps circulating air, will I get sick if another passenger is sick?
- If traveling on a plane, how do I stay safe?
- What is herd immunity and why does it matter?
- Are asymptomatic people spreading the coronavirus? A WHO official’s words spark confusion, debate.
- Is there a vaccine for the Coronavirus?
- Why does it take so long to develop a (COVID-19) vaccine?
- What happens if a coronavirus vaccine is never developed? It has happened before.
- Why are people worried if coronavirus is "airborne"? Is it? Why does it matter?
- How long does SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus) live on different surfaces around the house?
- What should we be doing to disinfect our home and prevent the spread of germs?
- I use my smartphone constantly, how can I keep it clean and virus free?
- Can UV light kill the coronavirus?
- Do I need to wear a mask to prevent coronavirus?
- Is a KN95 the same as an N95 mask, and can I trust them from China? Show all articles ( 34 )
CHILDREN
- Do children get coronavirus?
- Are children less likely to spread Coronavirus than adults?
- Where can kids be tested for COVID-19?
- Should I be worried about the news coming out of Britain associating Coronavirus with a rare inflammatory syndrome?
- Should we continue to give our children routine immunizations during this pandemic?
- Should my kids wear masks?
- Should we let our children go to birthday parties or sports events?
- Can our kids go on playdates with other children?
- My kids are home from college, what should they do?
- My kids are getting really bored at home, how can I keep them busy?
- Online/Distance learning: Should you give your child's eyes a screen-time break?
- Why are COVID-19 cases in children at their highest numbers since the pandemic began?
COMMUNITY
- When can we expect to do everyday things again? (Thoughts from 511 Epidemiologists)
- When can we start reopening our community and getting back to business?
- What are the mental health impacts of this pandemic?
- It’s been awhile, is there a good COVID review article you can recommend to your readers?
- I’ve heard about a non-profit called San Mateo Strong. What is that?
- How can I help support my Bay Area community during this outbreak?
- Are there COVID lessons to learn from the POLIO outbreaks of the 1950's?
- COVID at six months: UCSF update from Dr. Bob Wachter
- Want to see your friends? California issues new guidelines for small gatherings
- Celebrating rituals: Why it's important more than ever!
- Halloween & COVID-19: Have fun while staying safe
- What are the implications of the CDC's new ''Close contact'' definition?
- How do I stay safe while exercising in COVID-19 times?
- How can family safely get together for the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas)?
- How is the flu different from COVID-19? Show all articles ( 22 )
