Know & Go
Go ask your healthcare professional about your options as soon as you experience symptoms.
Some high-risk factors can make it harder for you to fight off COVID-19 and put you at higher risk of serious disease.1
That's why it's important to Know that treatment options are available if you are at high risk and Go speak to your healthcare professional as soon as you experience symptoms.
Today’s COVID-19 medications can help stop the virus from multiplying and becoming severe.
As soon as you develop symptoms, get tested and Go ask your healthcare professional about treatment.
Know
available for COVID-19
Today’s COVID-19 treatments can help stop the virus from multiplying and reduce the risk of severe disease.2 If you think you might have COVID-19, get tested right away and know that medications are available if you have certain high-risk health conditions or lifestyle factors.3
Being at high risk for severe COVID-19 is more common than you might think. In fact, about 40% of adults worldwide have at least one risk factor that makes it harder for them to fight off COVID-19, putting them at high risk for getting very ill from COVID-19.4 If you have any medical condition listed below, your mild COVID-19 symptoms can quickly become severe.1,5
Risk factors for developing severe COVID-19 include:*1,6
- Age 50 or older
- Overweight or living with obesity (Unvaccinated: BMI ≥25 kg/m2, Vaccinated: BMI ≥30 kg/m2)
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Immunocompromised (weakened immune system from medication or disease)
- Active cancer
- Chronic heart condition
- Chronic lung disease
- Sickle cell disease
- Current or former smoker
- None of the above
If you have any risk factors, speak to your healthcare provider about the possible treatments for symptomatic COVID-19.
Age: 68
Patient with Chronic
Heart Condition
The list above does not include all of the possible conditions that may put you at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19. If you have questions about a condition not included on this list, talk to a healthcare professional.
Visit Underlying Conditions and the Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19 | COVID-19 | CDC for the latest information and the full list of high-risk factors.
Go
about treatment options
Go ask your healthcare professional about your options as soon as you test positive or experience symptoms. A healthcare professional will determine the appropriate steps to take to help prevent serious illness. It is important that you act fast as certain treatments must be taken within the first 5 to 7 days of symptoms onset to help stop the virus from replicating.6,7 Mild symptoms can quickly become severe, so acting quickly if you get COVID-19 can be key in helping to prevent serious illnesses, including hospitalization.5
Symptoms to identify COVID-19
COVID-19 can affect anyone, causing symptoms ranging from mild to very severe. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.8 The symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to the common cold, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections, meaning it can be difficult to tell them apart.8 If you suspect you may have COVID-19, get tested, and ask a healthcare professional about treatments.
Symptoms may include8,9:
Serious symptoms may include10:
Know & Go Resources
References: 1. Underlying Conditions and the Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated July 30, 2024. Accessed August 30, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/clinical-care/underlying-conditions.html. 2. Murakami, N., Hayden, R., Hills, T. et al. Therapeutic advances in COVID-19. Nat Rev Nephrol 19, 38–52 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-022-00642-4 3. COVID-19: Why vigilance still matters for high-risk groups. Channel News Asia. Published Dec 23, 2024. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/advertorial/covid-19-why-vigilance-still-matters-high-risk-groups-4767246. 4. Clark A, Jit M, Warren-Gash C, et al. Global, regional, and national estimates of the population at increased risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions in 2020: a modelling study. Lancet Glob Health. 2020;8(8): e1003-e1017. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30264-3. 5. Clinical care quick reference for COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated March 16, 2022. Accessed September 2024. https://cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care-quick-reference.html. 6. Singapore Ministry of Health Version 10 Simplified Checklist for Prescribing COVID-19 OAVs. (2023). 7. Types of COVID-19 Treatment. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated July 12, 2024. Accessed September 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/treatment/. 8. Symptoms of COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated June 25, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/. 9. COVID-19. Singapore Ministry of Health. Updated 25 November, 2024. Accessed 25 November, 2024. https://www.moh.gov.sg/seeking-healthcare/overview-of-diseases/communicable-diseases/covid19. 10. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). World Health Organization. Updated March 28, 2023. Accessed January 15, 2025. https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_3.