I'm going to cover one by one, small points about Covid19 infection which you surely must have read already. But they're the things which matter the most and may save a life or two

Typical symptoms: Last year we mostly saw fever with sore throat, cough, breathlessness, occasional diarrhea. This year there're many who have nothing but weakness, loss of taste/smell and many with very high fever early in the course, severe headache, bodyache,a proper cold

When to test? If you have any symptoms, test immediately. Rapid antigen or RT PCR. A HRCT chest has nearly no value in the first 4-5 days. If you're asymptomatic but exposed, wait and watch. Isolate immediately in either case. Do not expose others including your domestic helpers

For mild symptoms, visit a local fever clinic or teleconsult a good physician. Do not start over the counter medications or follow someone else's prescription. Do not panic. Get a thermometer and a good pulseoxymeter. Monitor your vitals. Hydrate very well.

Check oxygen levels 2-3 times a day. Frequently checking is not necessary unless you feel breathless. Check it on a steady warm finger. Let the reading stabilise. If it's anything above 95%, it's ok.

Do a 6 minutes walk test once daily. Check your SPO2 at rest. Walk in your isolation area itself at a normal pace for 6 minutes and recheck the SPO2. A drop of >3% over baseline, breathlessness, dizziness or chest discomfort needs medical attention

Your physician may ask you to monitor some blood parameters like CBC, CRP, D dimer, liver function and ferritin. Monitor those at rhe frequency prescribed. Do not self interpret or Google. Stick to the doctor's advice.

A HRCT chest is not mandatory for all cases. For very mild disease, do not insist on getting one. If your doctor asks for it, do it after 5 days of symptoms. Again, admission and medication depend on multiple factors. Not purely CT scan report

In case of Lung involvement,ensure that you strengthen your lungs. Be physically active but do not exert and put additional burden on lungs and heart. Breathing exercises, pranayam, incentive spirometry, inflating balloons can be done. Learn to sleep in prone position.That HELPS.

In case of dropping oxygen levels, worsening blood parameters, moderate-severe lung involvement, comorbidities, do not delay admission. This can be dangerous. Don't try home remedies at this stage. Hospitalisation on time and judicious treatment can prevent critical infection.

After recovering, be regular with follow ups. Check your antibodies 4 weeks after positive report. Consider donating plasma if eligible. Do a pulmonary function test 6 weeks from positive report. Take blood thinners as prescribed by physician. Enroll for a good pulmonary rehab.

Fin. Take care. Let's all heal from this carnage soon. DM me if you have any doubts. I'm swamped and it may take time, but I'll try to reply.