Have you got any COVID-19 symptoms? – This is what you should do

The University Health Service awaits all of our students and staff; anyone who thinks they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or are simply unsure whether their symptoms really indicate COVID-19, and assist them what to do. Our questions were answered by Dr. Miklós Adrián Szegedi, a general practitioner and company doctor, who and whose assistant are responsible for the care.

Where exactly can you get help, where is the specialist service office?

Patients are welcome in the medical room in Office 79 of Building E. Students and staff alike can visit us. Basically, a health assistant is available and receives patients; she calls a doctor when necessary or the ambulance service in urgent and severe cases.

What does the service available here cover?

Our most important task is to provide professional assistance and take the necessary epidemiological measures if a coronavirus infection is suspected.

When are you available?

You can come to us on working days between 08:00 and 16:00, but we are also available outside working hours, you can call us on +36305225590 between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm.

If someone experiences symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, what exactly should they do?

If you are at home and you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, stay in your home first and call either your GP or us, the Corvinus Health Service, for more information.
If the symptoms occur during the day, i.e., here on campus, please call us first, do not visit us in person, and tell us about your symptoms, a possible infection, or the possibility of contact with potential carriers. This is when we perform the COVID-19 risk assessment.

If you need to visit us in person, please do so in a mask and notify us in advance by phone of your arrival. We also receive patients in masks and protective clothing.

Most importantly, a patient suspected of having COVID-19 infection should have as little personal contact as possible with others inside and outside the University. Thus, if possible, the patient should go home after a telephone consultation or medical consultation, and sampling and testing should be performed with the assistance of a GP. They will also be able to admit the patient.

If the virus test is still negative and the complaints have disappeared, everyone can return to work or study.

If it is necessary to stay at home, we will suggest the duration, the necessary protective measures, but you need to know that we are not acting as an authority, so we cannot put anyone in official quarantine.

If complaints are severe and there is a strong suspicion of infection, specialist staff may call an ambulance or a doctor on duty to the scene. If necessary, we also provide care in protective clothing or arrange for COVID-19 testing at home (if your GP cannot help you).

What symptoms really indicate COVID-19 disease?

According to the WHO, the disease is typically associated with fever, cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, and muscle pain. Other non-specific symptoms include sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting. Loss/disturbance of smell and taste prior to respiratory symptoms have also been reported. Other symptoms may include chills and conjunctivitis. My own experience also confirms the above, with the addition that the disturbance of smell and taste may persist for several more days after the onset of respiratory symptoms. Fever is above 38oC body temperature, a temperature rise between 37-38oC, but it can also be an initial symptom of coronavirus infection.

So these require the most attention.

What can we do for prevention?

It is important to stress that prevention is the most important thing in the current viral situation. It is in the interest of all of us to keep everyday personal meetings and contacts to a minimum. Especially if you have symptoms of infection. In practice, this means that should dare stay home with even a mild sore throat, muscle aches, or any unusual upper respiratory symptoms. And if you need advice, feel free to call us or write an email to coronavirusinfo@uni-corvinus.hu.

WHO Clinical management of COVID-19 27 May 2020