patients with any of the following will be excluded from admission into the study: - existence of an intra-abdominal abscess, enteric fistula, or symptomatic bowel obstruction - history of allergy to salicylates. - history of short gut syndrome, active ulcer or recent history of gi bleeding or melena. - systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer during the 60 days prior to consent or planned during the study - active use of remdisivir. - vaccination for covid within 30 days. - current use of drugs that control diarrhea or affect peristalsis (e.g., loperamide. opiates can be used in hospitalized patients and with outpatients if they are prescribed to a patient), or any anticipated use during the study - active drug, chemical, or alcohol dependency as determined by investigator through history or urine toxicology screen - enrollment in any other investigational drug or device study known to interfere with pepto bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) within the gi tract, within 30 days prior to randomization (day 1) or within 5 half-lives of the last dose of the previous investigational compound, whichever is longer. vaccines are not exclusionary as they do not interfere with the mechanism of the study drug. - severe acute illness unrelated to covid-19 - pregnant, breast-feeding, or considering becoming pregnant during the study - planned hospitalization or surgery during the study - any medical, psychiatric, social, or other circumstances that may interfere with study compliance, completion, or accurate assessment of study outcomes

patients with any of the following will be excluded from admission into the study: - existence of an intra-abdominal abscess, enteric fistula, or symptomatic bowel obstruction - history of allergy to salicylates. - history of short gut syndrome, active ulcer or recent history of gi bleeding or melena. - systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer during the 60 days prior to consent or planned during the study - active use of remdisivir. - vaccination for covid within 30 days. - current use of drugs that control diarrhea or affect peristalsis (e.g., loperamide. opiates can be used in hospitalized patients and with outpatients if they are prescribed to a patient), or any anticipated use during the study - active drug, chemical, or alcohol dependency as determined by investigator through history or urine toxicology screen - enrollment in any other investigational drug or device study known to interfere with pepto bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) within the gi tract, within 30 days prior to randomization (day 1) or within 5 half-lives of the last dose of the previous investigational compound, whichever is longer. vaccines are not exclusionary as they do not interfere with the mechanism of the study drug. - severe acute illness unrelated to covid-19 - pregnant, breast-feeding, or considering becoming pregnant during the study - planned hospitalization or surgery during the study - any medical, psychiatric, social, or other circumstances that may interfere with study compliance, completion, or accurate assessment of study outcomes

patients with any of the following will be excluded from admission into the study: - existence of an intra-abdominal abscess, enteric fistula, or symptomatic bowel obstruction - history of allergy to salicylates. - history of short gut syndrome, active ulcer or recent history of gi bleeding or melena. - systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer during the 60 days prior to consent or planned during the study - use of ssri's and antihistamines - active use of remdisivir. - vaccination for covid within 30 days. - current use of drugs that control diarrhea or affect peristalsis (e.g., loperamide. opiates can be used in hospitalized patients and with outpatients if they are prescribed to a patient), or any anticipated use during the study - active drug, chemical, or alcohol dependency as determined by investigator through history or urine toxicology screen - enrollment in any other investigational drug or device study known to interfere with pepto bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) within the gi tract, within 30 days prior to randomization (day 1) or within 5 half-lives of the last dose of the previous investigational compound, whichever is longer. vaccines are not exclusionary as they do not interfere with the mechanism of the study drug. - severe acute illness unrelated to covid-19 - pregnant, breast-feeding, or considering becoming pregnant during the study - planned hospitalization or surgery during the study - any medical, psychiatric, social, or other circumstances that may interfere with study compliance, completion, or accurate assessment of study outcomes

patients with any of the following will be excluded from admission into the study: - existence of an intra-abdominal abscess, enteric fistula, or symptomatic bowel obstruction - history of allergy to salicylates. - history of short gut syndrome, active ulcer or recent history of gi bleeding or melena. - systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer during the 60 days prior to consent or planned during the study - use of ssri's and antihistamines - active use of remdisivir. - vaccination for covid within 30 days. - current use of drugs that control diarrhea or affect peristalsis (e.g., loperamide. opiates can be used in hospitalized patients and with outpatients if they are prescribed to a patient), or any anticipated use during the study - active drug, chemical, or alcohol dependency as determined by investigator through history or urine toxicology screen - enrollment in any other investigational drug or device study known to interfere with pepto bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) within the gi tract, within 30 days prior to randomization (day 1) or within 5 half-lives of the last dose of the previous investigational compound, whichever is longer. vaccines are not exclusionary as they do not interfere with the mechanism of the study drug. - severe acute illness unrelated to covid-19 - pregnant, breast-feeding, or considering becoming pregnant during the study - planned hospitalization or surgery during the study - any medical, psychiatric, social, or other circumstances that may interfere with study compliance, completion, or accurate assessment of study outcomes