About COVID-19
What is COVID-19?
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments.
Symptoms
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
This list is not all possible symptoms. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
How to Prevent COVID-19 Illness?
The best way to prevent the spread of infection is to avoid contact with people who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or any respiratory infection. The next thing you can do is to practice good hygiene.
Here are some prevention tips you should follow:
- Clean your hands often.Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place. You should also use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Having a cough that gets more severe over timeDisinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. These include your tables, doorknobs, switches, toilets, faucets, and more.
- Low-grade fever that gradually increases in temperatureIf you are sick, you need to wear a facemask when you are around other people and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office.
Stay calm and follow your doctor’s instructions if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 so you can recover and help prevent it from spreading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Covid-19
What are the symptoms?
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or diffculty breathing
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
How do I protect myself?
- Know how it spreads (Click here for more info)
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Put distance between yourself and other people outside of your home
- Cover your mouth and nose with a face mask or cloth when around others
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily
Who should be tested?
To learn if you have a current infection, viral tests are used. But not everyone needs this test.
- Most people will have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care and may not need to be tested.
- CDC has guidance for who should be tested, but decisions about testing are made by state and local health departments or healthcare providers.
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, call your healthcare provider first.
- You can also visit your state or local health department’s website to look for the latest local information on testing.
- Although supplies of tests are increasing, it may still be difficult to find a place to get tested.
What to do if you are sick?
- Stay home except to get medical care
- Take care of yourself
- Stay in touch with your doctor
- Avoid public transportation
- Separate yourself from other people
- Monitor your symptoms and follow care instructions from your healthcare provider and local health department
- Wear a face mask or cloth covering over your nose and mouth
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
- Clean your hands often
- Avoid sharing personal household items
- Call all frequently touched surfaces every day