Pilot Clinical Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of Telmisartan for the Mitigation of Pulmonary and Cardiac Complications in COVID-19 Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Able to provide written informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedures. * Understands and agrees to comply with planned study procedures including self testing of blood pressure daily * Male or non-pregnant female adult ≥18 years of age at time of enrolment. * Has laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection as determined by FDA-approved commercial or public health assay in any specimen collected ideally \< 72 hours prior to randomization. Exceptions to the \<72 hr inclusion criteria may be made at the discretion of the investigator. * Positive for COVID-19 symptoms: fever defined as a temperature of \>100.4 on study screening or self-report of daily fever at home OR shortness of breath of any degree OR fatigue causing greater than minimal interference with usual social \& functional activities * Women of childbearing potential must agree to use at least one primary form of contraception for the duration of the study * Able to easily swallow pills Exclusion Criteria: * Immediate need for hospitalization on screening * Systolic blood pressure less than 100 mmHg * Self-reported presence of chronic kidney disease or requiring dialysis * Self-reported history of liver failure or untreated hepatitis B or C * Pregnancy or breast feeding * Allergy to the study medication * Current use of angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor medications. Other blood pressure medications will be permitted in the systolic BP is higher than 90 mmHg * Prior reaction or intolerance to ARB or ACE Inhibitor * Use of aliskiren in patients with diabetes * Current use of and on-going need for lithium, digoxin, potassium sparing diuretics such as spironolactone * Current use of and need for potassium supplements * Current or past participation in a research study within 12 weeks prior to the Screening Visit unless cleared by Study Team * Inability to drive safely for study visits * Subjects, who, in the opinion of the investigator, are unable to comply with the protocol evaluation, or for whom study participation may not be advisable