COVID Toxicity
COVID Toxicity
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Infection Timeline

Covid-19 Timeline - The risk is real - let's protect one another. Day 1 - meet Emily. Emily was infected with the covid-19 virus when her co-worker sneezed. Emily was not aware of her exposure and later infected both her grandmother as well as the grocery store cashier, Jack. Transmission of Covid-19: Transmission can occur directly or indirectly, direct transmission- when respiratory droplets transfer from one individual to another. Indirect transmission- when an individual touches an infected surface and then their nose, mouth, or eyes. To prevent transmission make sure to wear a mask in public, wash/ sanitize hands often, and avoid touching your face. Signs and symptoms of COVID-19: Tiredness, Dry cough, fever, diarrhea, loss of smell/taste, rash, aches and pain, sore throat, discoloration of fingers/ toes, pink eye, chest pain/ pressure, loss of speech and motor ability, difficulty breathing. Some individuals remain asymptomatic however they can still transmit the virus to others (WHO, 2020). Day 3: A few days later Emily woke up with flu like symptoms. She called in sick to work and as her symptoms worsened she decided to get tested for COVID-19. Day 5: Public health called Emily 2 days later and confirmed her positive test results for COVID-19. The COVID-19 Test: Test involves a nasal, oral, or saliva swab. Results can take 1-4 days. You should get tested for COVID-19 if you are experiencing symptoms, have been in contact with a positive case, or work/live with someone who is considered 'at risk' (CDC, 2020). What to do if you have COVID-19: Stay home! Keep hydrated, remain isolated, self monitor your symptoms & stay in touch with your healthcare provider. Wash hands often. Clean commonly touched surfaces/ items. Seek medical attention if symptoms become severe. Day 6-19: Emily self isolated at home for 14 days. She had her groceries delivered and remained separated from others. Luckily Emily did not require medical attention and she recovered safely from home. Unfortunately, those who Emily had infected suffered more severe consequences. Emily's grandmother was 73 years old. Her age caused her to suffer serious effects of COVID-19 and she had to be put on a ventilator. Jack had an underlying heart condition which meant the COVID-19 exposure resulted in severe illness. Jack did not survive. The at risk population: Severity of illness from COVID-19 increases with age as well as co-existing medical conditions. People aged 65-74 are 5x more likely to end up in the hospital and 90x more likely to pass away. Medical conditions that increase the risk of serious illness are: COPD, heart conditions, Type 1 or 2 diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and neurological conditions among others (CDC, 2020). COVID-19 Let's stop the spread: As of Dec 2, 2020, 12,211 Canadians have died from COVID-19 (Government of Canada, 2020). As COVID-19 continues to spread it is important to consider not only your own health, but also the health of those around you. For some individuals exposure to COVID-19 is a matter of life and death. Let's protect one another. "
Infographic provided by Dufault, Howes, Issa, Johnson, and Whitten