Covid-19
We want to share an important COVID-19 statistic with you: After adjusting for age, Black people are about twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as their White counterparts. (Kaiser Family Foundation, Feb. 22, 2022)
Why is it that a Black person is two times as vulnerable as a white person? The pandemic may have presented us with a stark example of the problem – but, to get to the root of it, we have to go back a lot further. Inequities in health and health care have plagued vulnerable communities for a long time; COVID-19 just adds another layer of complication.
Taking care of yourself is taking care of the people around you.
Vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free. Each vaccine protects against severe illness, hospitalization and death.
Look for the 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:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Headache
- New loss of smell or taste
- Sore throat
- Fever Chills
- Cough
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Muscle or body aches
Head straight to emergency if you or anyone else is showing signs of the following:
- Trouble breathing
- New confusion
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone.
- Inability to wake or stay awake
Call your medical provider immediately and seek emergency care.
Testing for COVID-19
If you think you have COVID-19, you can take an "at- home-test."