COVID-19 Care and Treatment

Most people with mild symptoms and no underlying health conditions can recover at home, as they would with the flu or a cold. For those who are at high risk for severe COVID-19, there are several therapies to help prevent severe complications and hospitalizations.

COVID-19 Therapies for High-Risk Patients

For high-risk patients recently diagnosed with COVID-19 (within five to seven days of onset of symptoms), we offer some potential therapies, based on needs and availability, that can prevent worsening of COVID-19 symptoms and hospitalization:

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid): This oral antiviral should be started within five days of symptoms appearing.
Remdesivir: This intravenous antiviral can be given as a daily infusion for three days to high-risk persons within seven days of symptom onset.
Monoclonal antibody infusion: Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are lab-produced proteins that function like antibodies naturally generated by the human immune system to fight infection. Monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19, designed to target the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is administered by IV infusion and should be given within a week after symptoms first appear. It's considered an alternative therapy if Paxlovid or Remdesivir is not feasible.
Molnupiravir: This alternative oral antiviral can be given within five days of symptoms appearing.

COVID-19 Prevention for Immunocompromised Patients

A long-acting monoclonal antibody drug called Evusheld can help prevent COVID-19 infection in individuals who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. The preventive drug is delivered by intramuscular injections. It is not a substitute for vaccination and should be given to patients who are fully vaccinated and boosted. You can talk to your doctor about whether you're eligible for Evusheld.

See who qualifies as moderately or severely immunocompromised
Transplant, cancer patients getting Evusheld at UC San Diego Health
Non-UC San Diego Health providers who wish to refer their eligible patients for Evusheld can use this referral link (patients should hear from our provider regarding Evusheld within about 2 weeks)

Care for Long-Term Complications After COVID-19 Infection

If you have long-term chronic problems from COVID-19 or "long COVID," you can get help from our Post-COVID Care clinic for your recovery.

COVID-19 Telehealth Services for Vulnerable Adults

Our COVID-19 Telemedicine Clinic offers virtual consultations and care upon referral for patients with multiple risk factors for severe disease.

COVID-19 Resources

Emergency Care

If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Our ER locations in San Diego County are open 24 hours every day.

To prevent getting COVID-19, get vaccinated, wash your hands frequently, wear a mask in public, practice social distancing and avoid crowded places.

Info for patients and visitors: Learn more about our COVID-19 services.
Appointments: If you have questions about an upcoming appointment at UC San Diego Health, please call your doctor’s office.
General questions: If you have general questions about UC San Diego Health and the pandemic, please consult your primary care provider.

You can also find more information about COVID-19 from these websites: