In This ArticleView AllIn This Article1. Your Health Care Practitioner’s Phone Number2. At-Home Test Kits3. Thermometer4. Cough Drops5. Disinfectant Sprays6. Disinfectant Wipes7. Soup8. Tea9. Hand Soap10. Tissues
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
Your Health Care Practitioner’s Phone Number
At-Home Test Kits
Thermometer
Cough Drops
Disinfectant Sprays
Disinfectant Wipes
Soup
Tea
Hand Soap
Tissues
While COVID-19 isn’t as lethal or common as it was in 2020-2022, it is still out there and can still make you seriously sick. And compared to the beginning of the pandemic, we now know way more about the virus—like how it can be spread from people to their pets, per theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Some things, though, have pretty much stayed the same, including what essentials you should have on hand in case you get sick. Here are 10 of our top ones.
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Remember how at the beginning of the pandemic, you had to find a testing facility and wait in line for what seemed like forever to be tested for COVID-19? Thankfully, it wasn’t long before home tests were available. With these tests, you swab the inside of your nose and are able to tell if you’re positive or negative within 10 to 15 minutes.
If you’d rather have a professional swab the inside of your nose—or you want to confirm the accuracy of your rapid home test—you can still make an appointment with your health care practitioner, local medical center or urgent care clinic.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms and don’t have an at-home test or can’t get any and can’t get to a clinic to be tested, the best strategy is the same as with any other illness—stay home.
But It:COVID-19 Test Kits, starting at around $10 for a 2-test pack, Amazon.com
One of the most common symptoms of any infection is a fever, which is a signal your white blood cells are attacking foreign invaders. Use a thermometer to monitor your internal temperature and the temperature of everyone in your household if someone falls ill. You get bonus points if you snag a different thermometer for each person! Either way, be sure to clean the thermometer between each use.
Buy it:$7, amazon.com
According to theCDC, coughing is another frequently reported reaction to the virus, so invest in a bag or two of cough drops to calm the cough and potentially aid an ailing throat. You can alsotry honey to ease the cough.
Buy it:$4.50 for 90 drops, Amazon.com
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True, it’s best for infected individuals to isolate themselves from family members, but that might not always be completely possible—like in the case of a shared bathroom. TheCDChas complete isolation guidelines, based on the results of your COVID-19 test and your symptoms—or lack of them. Of note: The guidelines are the same for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
TheCDCalso recommends keeping the windows open if possible (even just a crack) to avoid COVID-19 respiratory droplets from accumulating in your home.
And while COVID-19 is primarily spread through respiratory droplets in the air, it is possible to spread it from contact with surfaces an infected person has touched. For this reason,disinfect high-touch surfacesdaily and disinfect any surface after the infected individual may have come in contact with it.
TheEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)provides a list of approved disinfectants that kill COVID-19.
Buy it:$7, HomeDepot.com
Clorox and Lysol wipes have also been proven to combat bacteria and viruses—andcan even be used on most phones.
We’ve also got a recipe for how tomake your own sanitizing solutionat home when in a pinch.
Buy it:$6 for 1 (75-ct.) container, Target.com
According toEatingWellstaff dietitians,one of the best things to eat if you have COVID-19 is soup. It offers nutrition and helps you stay hydrated. Stir together a big batch of ahealthy soup recipeto freeze in single servings or buy low-sodium store-bought options to feed your body while it’s hard at work attempting to recover.
Buy it:$4 for 14½ ounces of Amy’s Lentil-Vegetable Soup, target.com
Tea is not only great for hydration, but its warm temperature can help ease congestion—a symptom some COVID-19-positive individuals report. Tea also packsample health benefitseven when you’re not under the weather.
Buy it:$20 for 108 bags, Amazon.com
One of the most popular refrains from the pandemic-ridden years: Wash your hands! Good old soap and water are even more effective thanhand sanitizerin most cases—as long as you wash your hands properly and often enough.
TheCDChas detailed instructions for a good hand-washing technique, which essentially includes wetting your hands, applying soap, scrubbing your hands together for at least 20 seconds, rinsing them well and drying them off or letting them air dry.
Buy it:$15 for 3 12½-ounce bottles, Amazon.com
With COVID-19 can come a lot of sneezing, nasal congestion and nose-wiping. Who wants to add a raw, red nose to the mix? Have plenty of soft tissues on hand so that you’re more likely to fully clear your sinuses and help cut down on post-nasal drip. Just be sure to wash your hands after blowing or wiping your nose.
Buy it:$7 for 4 boxes, Target.com
The Bottom Line
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See More from EatingWell
Le Creuset Dropped a Heart-Shaped Dutch Oven, and It’s the Perfect Gift for Valentine’s DayThese Cups Are Portable & Leakproof—and Shoppers Say They’re ‘Just the Right Size’ for Overnight OatsLululemon’s ‘We Made Too Much’ Section Has the Best Gear for Cold Weather Workouts
Le Creuset Dropped a Heart-Shaped Dutch Oven, and It’s the Perfect Gift for Valentine’s Day
These Cups Are Portable & Leakproof—and Shoppers Say They’re ‘Just the Right Size’ for Overnight Oats
Lululemon’s ‘We Made Too Much’ Section Has the Best Gear for Cold Weather Workouts
