Most people who get COVID-19 don’t need to go to the hospital.  Staying home, resting, and drinking plenty of water is often enough.  However, we know the virus can make some people really sick.  You should seek medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• Confusion or inability to wake up
• Bluish lips or face

There may other symptoms that warrant a visit to the doctor or the hospital.  Remember: before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your symptoms.  This will help them prepare for your arrival so that they can take steps to reduce exposure to themselves and other patients.

If you were within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period or had physical contact with a person with COVID-19, you need to stay in quarantine at home.  

The CDC recently updated its guidance for how long quarantine should last.  While a full 14 days in quarantine is safest (since that covers the full period when a person might develop symptoms), the CDC has also approved a shorter timeline for those for whom a 14-day quarantine is not possible.  The CDC recommends people without symptoms quarantine for at least 10 days without a test, or at least 7 days if they have a negative COVID-19 test on day 5 or after.  If possible, though, CDC still recommends 14 days of quarantine as the safest way to protect those around you.

If you have questions about COVID-19, there are several ways to get answers:

• For medical questions, please call 1-844-542-8201.
• For questions about community resources such as food or housing or questions about business operations, please dial 2-1-1.
• If you’re a parent with questions about COVID-19 and schools, start by checking out our parent/caregiver FAQ’s.

Here are some key new developments regarding COVID-19 vaccines:

• Britain began vaccinating citizens today using the Pfizer vaccine. This is the first clinically-authorized, fully-tested vaccine to be used in the worldwide fight against COVID-19.
• In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration’s first analysis of clinical trial data affirmed the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine.
• A panel of independent experts will meet on Thursday, December 10 to discuss whether to recommend FDA approval of an “Emergency Use Authorization” for Pfizer’s vaccine.

Public Health outlines vaccine distribution plans (VIDEO) >

Visit Maricopa County’s COVID-19 vaccine information page >

Maricopa County is offering free COVID-19 testing and free flu shots to help you make responsible decisions about your health.  Find times and locations at Maricopa.gov/TakeCare.

The larger case count reported today reflects lab-reported cases over the past 72 hours, including cases reported over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) that were not previously included in daily reporting totals.  To get the most accurate view of daily case counts and trends, you can look at Maricopa County’s epidemic (epi) curve.