Get Treatment for COVID-19
If you test positive for COVID-19
and you are more likely to get very sick,
you may be able to get treatment.
Treatment can lower your chances
of developing serious health problems,
going to the hospital,
or dying from COVID-19.
Here's what you need to know
about COVID-19 treatment.
Who's more likely
to get very sick from COVID-19?
People who are more likely
to get very sick from COVID-19 include:
Older adults (ages 50 years or more,
with risk increasing with age)
Pregnant people
People who are overweight
People who are unvaccinated
And people with certain disabilities
and health problems.
A few examples of health problems
that increase your risk
for severe COVID-19 include:
Cancer
Chronic lung diseases,
like asthma or COPD
Diabetes
Heart disease
And a weakened immune system.
If you're at risk of getting very sick
and you test positive for COVID-19,
consider getting treatment.
How can I get treatment?
Once you've tested positive for COVID-19
contact a doctor
or other health care professional
right away to determine
if you are eligible for treatment.
Even if your symptoms are mild,
don't delay.
You must start treatment within days
of when you first develop symptoms
for treatment to be effective.
If you don't have access
to a health care provider,
you can visit a
Test to Treat location in your community.
A Test to Treat location is a clinic
where you can take a COVID-19 test
and see a doctor.
If the doctor says
you are eligible for treatment,
they'll give you a prescription,
and you can pick up your medicine
all in one place.
To find a location near you,
go to covid.gov,
call 1-800-232-0233,
or call TTY
888-720-7489.
What types of treatment are
available for COVID-19?
The Food and Drug Administration,
or FDA,
has approved two different
types of medication to treat mild
to moderate COVID-19 in people
who are more likely to get very sick.
Antiviral treatments for COVID-19
target specific parts of the virus
to stop it from multiplying in the body.
You may have learned about
antiviral medications called Paxlovid
and Remdesivir.
There is also monoclonal
antibody treatment for COVID-19.
Monoclonal antibodies
help the immune system
recognize and respond
more effectively to the virus.
Both types of medication
help to prevent severe illness
and death from COVID-19.
Your provider will help decide
which treatment, if any,
is right for you.
Let your provider know
if you are taking any other medications.
Your provider can check
to make sure it's safe for you
to take COVID-19 medication
at the same time.
If you get very sick
and go to the hospital,
your provider might give you
other types of treatments.
These could include medications
to treat COVID-19
or serious health problems
related to the virus.
For more information
about COVID-19 treatment,
visit cdc.gov/coronavirus