COVID-19 is a type of coronavirus, which typically cause mild to severe upper-respiratory tract illnesses. COVID-19 is a novel strand of the virus which can cause severe respiratory illness and even death. It was discovered in 2019 in Wuhan, China.
The primary way that COVID-19 is spread is through person to person contact where the droplets from one person with the disease gets into the mouth, nose, or eyes of someone nearby.
The virus is droplet borne – the virus does not remain suspended in air for long after someone sneezes or coughs. It may be possible to get COVID-19 by touching a surface then touching the mouth, nose, or possibly the eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. People should still regularly clean shared environmental surfaces (e.g. kitchen or bathroom counters).
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:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19. Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
If someone has fever or respiratory symptoms (or other illness), they should be at home. See quarantine section for questions about staying home from or returning to work.
Information is based on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#Basics
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