What you should know about COVID-19

An important update as of 8/28/2023

While the City of Detroit remains at a “low” level of hospitalizations due to COVID-19, cases are on the rise, indicating that residents are more likely to be exposed. Individuals at risk for developing serious illness are advised to limit exposure and stay up to date on vaccination once the latest booster becomes available.

Get updates on when the booster will arrive by following us on Facebook or sign up for Detroit Alerts 365 here.

Scroll down for Healthy Tips to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
• Fatigue
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Diarrhea

Healthy Tips from the Health Department

To ensure you and your family stay healthy and safe:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick—and stay home when you are sick!
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and wash your hands
• Regularly disinfect commonly used objects and surfaces. 
• If you or a loved one are feeling overwhelmed with sadness, depression or anxiety due to COVID-19, please call the Wayne County Mental Health Authority's 24/7 Help Line at 800-241-4949. 

Wearing Gloves

Wearing gloves while shopping, pumping gas and similar tasks outside of the home is common practice among residents to protect from germs and viruses like COVID-19. Generally speaking, wearing gloves is not necessary, but should you choose to do so it is important the same precautions are followed as if you were using your bare hands.

When wearing gloves remember not to touch your face, food, or rims of drinking containers. Discard gloves after touching soiled items, pumping gas, using shopping carts or engaged in other activities.

Following glove use, wash your hands for least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol by rubbing your hands together until they feel dry.

To learn what the CDC says about glove use, click the following link Wearing Gloves: When Gloves Are and Aren't Needed.

Concerned you have COVID-19? Here’s what you should do:

If you are feeling sick please stay at home except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.

Exposure: Fully vaccinated (and boosted, if eligible):

• Quarantine is not necessary. If symptoms begin to show, move into “Isolation”
• Test on day 3-5 (day 5 is ideal). If tested positive, move into “Isolation”
• *If high-risk (immunocompromised, elderly, household close contact), then: at least 10 days of isolation is necessary and should be guided by a physician

Not fully vaccinated (or boosted, if eligible)

•  A 5-day quarantine
• Test on day 3-5 (day 5 is ideal)
• If tested positive, or COVID-19-like symptoms begin to show, move into “Isolation”
• Quarantine is not necessary if you had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days

Seek emergency medical attention immediately if someone is showing any of these signs:

• Difficulty breathing
• Confusion
• Weakness
• Chest pain
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds

When it’s safe to be around others: ending home isolation

*Please consult with your health care provider for additional medical guidance.

Symptomatic Patients:

• A MINIMUM 5-day period from date of positive COVID-19 test. If fever is ongoing, or if there are any severe disease symptoms, isolation should be extended until 24 hours after being completely fever-free (without the use of fever-reducing medication), AND without any worsening symptoms. 
• Recommended retest immediately after last day of isolation
•  Mask for 5 days after isolation
• If high-risk (immunocompromised, required hospitalization, etc.), then at least 10 days of isolation is necessary and should be guided by a physician

Asymptomatic Patients:

If you did not have COVID-19 symptoms, but tested positive, you can be with others after 5 days have passed since you had a positive viral test for COVID-19 (based on the date you were tested).

• Recommended retest immediately after day 5
• Mask for days 5-10

Free rapid COVID-19 Testing at the Detroit Health Department, 100 Mack Avenue

Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.  

Schedule online or text “vaccine” to 313-329-7272** 
Email: [email protected]