What You Need To Know About COVID-19

With all the information being communicated and collected about COVID-19, it’s no wonder that there’s so much confusion. The procedures, dangers and protocols seem to be ever-changing so how can you keep up with the latest information? Check out this page, where we provide the latest information that you need to keep you and your family safe, healthy and compliant. 

Who Is At Higher Risk With COVID-19?

Those who are at a higher risk of developing serious symptoms from COVID-19 are older people, and those who live with underlying medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer. 

Some early research also shows that smokers may be at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 symptoms because smoking can affect lung function, weakening the immune system.  According to the American Lung Association, COVID-19 is considered to be a lung disease, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Other respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) can also lead to serious COVID-19 symptoms. 

Symptoms of COVID-19

As we continue to see new variants of COVID-19, the list of symptoms tends to grow longer.  With the Delta variant, we saw the following common symptoms that seemed to present as the common cold. These symptoms included cough, fever, headache as well as significant or total loss of taste and smell and fatigue. Other common symptoms of COVID-19 are sore throat, runny nose and/or nasal congestion, muscle and joint aches, and shortness of breath. 

Symptoms were very mild in vaccinated patients and many vaccinated people were asymptomatic, meaning they had no symptoms but were testing positive for the virus. Symptoms from the Omnicron variant are very similar to those of the delta variant but tend to be even less severe. Pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses are much less common with these variants than earlier ones such as the Alpha variant. 

If you’re having trouble figuring out whether your symptoms are COVID-19-related, VirtualDr.ca can help. If you have access to a rapid test, you may take it but generally, if you’re symptomatic, you should assume that it’s COVID-19 and isolate it according to public health regulations. 

The COVID-19 Vaccine

There has been much debate since the early rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. There are two types of vaccines that combat the virus; a) mRNA vaccines and b) vector vaccines.

An mRNA vaccine, such as Pfizer or Moderna, uses medical technology that takes some material from the actual virus and creates what is called a messenger RNA to create an immune response to the virus. A vector vaccine such as AstraZeneca’s technology sends the message from a spike protein to your double-strand DNA instead of single-strand RNA material.  Both vaccination methods have been scientifically proven to effectively prevent and/or minimize illness from COVID-19. It has been proven too that when fully vaccinated people (2 or more doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine) contract the virus, their symptoms tend to experience more mild symptoms, compared to those who are unvaccinated. 

If you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines or you need help deciding whether vaccination is the right choice for you or your family, book an appointment with VirtualDr.ca. We’re here to help answer your vaccine questions and ensure that you make an informed decision. 

Public Health Measures

Given that COVID-19 continues to spread, current public health measures in Ontario require that you wear a mask on all public transit, hospitals, labs, all health care settings such as doctors’ offices, clicnics, public health/immunization clinics and mental health facilities. 

While the mask mandate has been lifted in many indoor, public settings, you may wish to continue to wear a mask for your own safety or comfort. Just because masks are not mandatory doesn’t mean that you are ready to throw yours away. 

The mandatory mask mandate continues to be enforced in long-term care facilities and shelters as well.  For a complete list of the most up-to-date public health measures in Ontario, visit  COVID-19 public health measures and advice

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must isolate for 5 days if you are fully vaccinated and 10 days if you are not fully vaccinated.  Your isolation may end when you have been fever-free for 48 hours and you are experiencing an improvement in your symptoms with no additional symptoms for 24 hours. 

With all the changing rules and public health protocols, it can be confusing to keep up with the latest information. Click on this link as a helpful resource for the latest information. 

What to do if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19

When To Seek Medical Attention

Most people who now test positive for COVID-19 can recover at home without the need of the healthcare system.  If however, your symptoms persist past the 10 days or if you experience shortness of breath or a high fever for an extended period of time, you should seek medical attention.  At VirtualDr.ca our team of online doctors can assess your symptoms and provide you with advice on what to do, including if you should go to the hospital. If you have to seek healthcare assistance, you must wear a mask when leaving your isolation area. 

VirtualDr. Can Help 

We understand that this is an extremely stressful and uncertain time for everyone, and that’s why VirtualDr.ca is here to help. We can help answer all your COVID-19 related questions and help to make this time a little less stressful.  We take your heath and your family’s health very seriously, and we are committed to providing our patients with the quality healthcare you deserve. 

If you are sick with COVID-19 or just want to speak to a medical professional, VirtualDr.ca is here to help. Registering with us is easy and booking your appointment is even easier!