This document provides information about COVID-19, including what it is, its symptoms, how it spreads, testing and diagnosis, prevention methods, and preparation tips. Some key points: - COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and can range from mild to deadly. It spreads mainly through respiratory droplets from infected people. - Common symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Loss of taste and smell has also been reported. - Testing involves nasal or throat swabs to detect the presence of the virus. Prevention focuses on vaccination, hand washing, social distancing and face coverings.

1. Do you know ?
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What Is COVID-19?
A coronavirus is a kind of common virus that causes an infection in your nose, sinuses, or upper
throat. Most coronaviruses aren't dangerous.
In early 2020, after a December 2019 outbreak in China, the World Health Organization identified
SARS-CoV-2 as a new type of coronavirus. The outbreak quickly spread around the world.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that can trigger what doctors call a respiratory
tract infection. It can affect your upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose, and throat) or lower
respiratory tract (windpipe and lungs).
It spreads the same way other coronaviruses do, mainly through person-to-person contact.
Infections range from mild to deadly.
SARS-CoV-2 is one of seven types of coronavirus, including the ones that cause severe diseases
like Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The other coronaviruses cause mostof the colds that affect us during the year but aren’t a serious
threat for otherwise healthy people.
Is there more than one strain of SARS-CoV-2?
An early Chinese study of 103 COVID-19 cases found two strains, which they named L and S.
The S type is older, but the L type was more common in early stages of the outbreak. They think
one may cause more cases of the disease than the other, but they’re still working on what it all
means.
It is also normal for a virus to change, or mutate, as it infects people and this virus has done so.
There are several variants which have been named for the regions they were first discovered but
they have now spread to other areas and countries.
How long will the coronavirus last?

2. There's no way to tell how long the pandemic will continue. There are many factors, including the
public’s efforts to slow the spread, researchers’ work to learn more about the virus, their search
for a treatment, and the success of the vaccines.
Symptoms of COVID-19
The main symptoms include:
Fever
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Trouble breathing
Fatigue
Chills, sometimes with shaking
Body aches
Headache
Sore throat
Congestion/runny nose
Loss of smell or taste
Nausea
Diarrhea
The virus can lead to pneumonia, respiratory failure, heart problems, liver problems, septic shock,
and death. Many COVID-19 complications may be caused by a condition known as cytokine
release syndrome or a cytokine storm. This is when an infection triggers your immune system to
flood your bloodstream with inflammatory proteins called cytokines. They can kill tissue and
damage your organs.
If you notice the following severe symptoms in yourself or a loved one, get medical help right
away:
Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
Ongoing chest pain or pressure
New confusion
Can’t wake up fully
Bluish lips or face
Strokes have also been reported in some people who have COVID-19. Remember FAST:
Face. Is one side of the person’s face numb or drooping? Is their smile lopsided?
Arms. Is one arm weak or numb? If they try to raise both arms, does one arm sag?
Speech. Can they speak clearly? Ask them to repeat a sentence.
Time. Every minute counts when someone shows signs of a stroke. Call 911 right away.
If you’re infected, symptoms can show up in as few as 2 days or as many as 14. It varies from
person to person.

3. According to researchers in China, these were the most common symptoms among people who
had COVID-19:
Fever 99%
Fatigue 70%
Cough 59%
Lack of appetite 40%
Body aches 35%
Shortness of breath 31%
Mucus/phlegm 27%
Some people who are hospitalized for COVID-19 have also have dangerous blood clots,including
in their legs, lungs, and arteries.
What to do if you think you have it
If you live in or have traveled to an area where COVID-19 is spreading:
If you don’t feel well, stay home. Even if you have mild symptoms like a headache and runny
nose, stay in until you’re better. This lets doctors focus on people who are more seriously ill and
protects health care workers and people you might meet along the way. You might hear this called
self-quarantine. Try to stay in a separate room away from other people in your home. Use a
separate bathroom if you can.
Call the doctor if you have trouble breathing. You need to get medical help as soon as possible.
Calling ahead (rather than showing up) will let the doctor direct you to the proper place, which
may not be your doctor’s office. If you don’t have a regular doctor, call your local board of health.
They can tell you where to go for testing and treatment.
Follow your doctor’s advice and keep up with the news on COVID-19. Between your doctor and
health care authorities, you’ll get the care you need and information on how to prevent the virus
from spreading.
For more information about COVID-19, see our FAQ.
How do I know if it’s COVID-19, a cold, or the flu?
Symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to a bad cold or the flu. Your doctor will suspect COVID-
19 if:
You have a fever and a cough.
You have been exposed to people who have it within the last 14 days.
Cold vs. Flu vs.
Allergies vs. COVID-19

4. Symptoms
Cold
Flu
Allergies
COVID-19
(can range from moderate to severe)
Fever
Rare
High (100-102 F), Can last 3-4 days
Never
Common
Headache
Rare
Intense
Uncommon
Can be present
General aches, pains
Slight
Usual, often severe
Never
Can be present
Tiredness

5. Mild
Intense, starts early, c
Sometimes
Common
Longhaul exhaustion
Never
Usual gone in 2-3 weeks
Never
Can be present
Stuffy/runny nose
Common
Sometimes
Common
Has been reported
Sneezing
Usual
Sometimes
Usual
Has been reported
Sore throat
Common
Common

6. Sometimes
Has been reported
Cough
Mild to moderate
Common, can become severe
Sometimes
Common
Loss of smell and taste
Sometimes
Sometimes
Never
Has been reported
Rash
Rare
Rare
Can Happen
Can Happen
Pink Eye Can Happen Can Happen Can Happen Can Happen
Diarrhea
Never
Sometimes in children
Never
Has been reported

7. Shortness of Breath Rare Rare Rare, except for those with allergic asthma In more
serious infections
Chest Pain Rare In more serious infections Rare In more serious infections
--
COVID-19 SYMPTOM CHECKER
Find Out if You Have Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
See what to do about your symptoms and whether to call a doctor
Is COVID-19 worse than the flu?
Unlike the flu, a lot of people aren’t immune to the coronavirus because it’s so new. If you do
catch it, the virus triggers your body to make things called antibodies. Researchers are looking at
whether the antibodies give you protection against catching it again.
The coronavirus also appears to cause higher rates of severe illness and death than the flu. But
the symptoms themselves can vary widely from person to person.
Is COVID-19 seasonal like the flu?
While it had been helped in the first year that higher temperatures and humidity levels might help
slow the spread of the coronavirus, that was not the case.Experts advise caution and say weather
changes won’t matter without thorough public health efforts. Also, past flu pandemics have
happened year-round.
Causes of the New Coronavirus
Researchers aren’t sure what caused it. There’s more than one type of coronavirus. They’re
commonin people and in animals including bats, camels,cats, and cattle. SARS-CoV-2, the virus
that causes COVID-19, is similar to MERS and SARS. They all came from bats.
Coronavirus Risk Factors
Anyone can get COVID-19, and most infections are mild. The older you are, the higher your risk
of severe illness.
You also a have higher chance of serious illness if you have one of these health conditions:
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
A weakened immune system because of an organ transplant
Obesity
Serious heart conditions such as heart failure or coronary artery disease
Sickle cell disease

8. Type 2 diabetes
Conditions that could lead to severe COVID-19 illness include:
Moderate to severe asthma
Diseases that affect your blood vessels and blood flow to your brain
Cystic fibrosis
High blood pressure
A weakened immune system because of a blood or bone marrow transplant, HIV, or medications
like corticosteroids
Dementia
Liver disease
Pregnancy
Damaged or scarred lung tissue (pulmonary fibrosis)
Smoking
Thalassemia
Type 1 diabetes
Some children and teens who are in the hospital with COVID-19 have an inflammatory condition
that doctors are calling multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Doctors think it may be
linked to the virus. It causes symptoms similar to those of toxic shock and of Kawasaki disease,
a condition that causes inflammation in kids’ blood vessels.
Coronavirus Transmission
How does the coronavirus spread?
SARS-CoV-2, the virus, mainly spreads from person to person.
Most of the time, it spreads when a sick person coughs or sneezes. They can spray droplets as
far as 6 feet away. If you breathe them in or swallow them, the virus can get into your body. Some
people who have the virus don't have symptoms, but they can still spread the virus.
You can also get the virus from touching a surface or object the virus is on, then touching your
mouth, nose, or possibly your eyes. Most viruses can live for several hours on a surface that they
land on. A study shows that SARS-CoV-2 can last for several hours on various types of surfaces:
Copper: 4 hours
Cardboard: up to 24 hours
Plastic or stainless steel: 2 to 3 days
That’s why it’s important to disinfect surfaces to get rid of the virus.
Some dogs and cats have tested positive for the virus. A few have shown signs of illness. There’s
no evidence that humans can catch this coronavirus from an animal, but it appears it can be
passed from humans to animals.
What is community spread?

9. Doctors and health officials use this term when they don’t know the source of the infection. With
COVID-19, it usually refers to someone who gets the virus even though they haven’t been out of
the country or haven’t been exposed to someone who’s traveled abroad or who has COVID-19.
In February 2020, the CDC confirmed a COVID-19 infection in California in a person who had not
traveled to an affected area or been exposed to someone with the disease. This marked the first
instance of community spread in the U.S. It’s likely that person was exposed to someone who
was infected but didn’t know it. This type of occurrence has been happening with the variants as
well.
How fast is it spreading?
The number of people infected by SARS-CoV-2 changes every day. See our news story for the
latest updates on this developing story.
How contagious is the coronavirus?
The transmission rate is relatively high. Early research has estimated that one person who has it
can spread it to between 2 and 3.5 others. One study found that the rate was higher, with one
case spreading to between 4.7 and 6.6 other people. By comparison, one person who has the
seasonal flu will pass it to between 1.1 and 2.3 others.
The CDC reports there is evidence it can be transmitted if you get within 6 feet of someone who
is infectious for a total of 15 minutes throughout a day. It had previously been believed the
exposure had to be 15 minutes at a time.
We can work to lower the transmission rate by washing hands often, keeping common surfaces
clean, limiting contact with other people, and wearing cloth face masks when we can’t stay 6 feet
away from others.
Can coronavirus be transmitted through groceries, packages, or food?
You’re much more likely to get COVID-19 from another person than from packages, groceries, or
food. If you’re in a high-risk group, stay home and use a delivery service or have a friend shop for
you. Have them leave the items outside your front door, if you can. If you do your own shopping,
wear and cloth face mask and try to stay at least 6 feet away from other shoppers.
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before and after bringing things into your home. The
coronavirus can linger on hard surfaces, so clean and disinfect countertops and anything else
your bags have touched. You can wipe down plastic, metal, or glass packaging with soap and
water if you want.

10. There’s no evidence that anyone has gotten COVID-19 from food or food containers.
Coronavirus Diagnosis
Call your doctor or local health department if you think you’ve been exposed and have symptoms
like:
Fever of 100 F or higher
Cough
Trouble breathing
In most states, testing facilities have become more readily available. While some require an
appointment, others are simply drive-up.
A swab test is the most common method. It looks for signs of the virus in your upper respiratory
tract. The person giving the test puts a swab up your nose to get a sample from the back of your
nose and throat. That sample usually goes to a lab that looks for viral material, but some areas
may have rapid tests that give results in as little as 15 minutes.
If there are signs of the virus, the test is positive. A negative test could mean there is no virus or
there wasn’t enough to measure. That can happen early in an infection. It usually takes 24 hours
to get results, but the tests must be collected, stored, shipped to a lab, and processed.
The FDA is granting emergency use authorizations for tests that include home nasal swab tests
which you collect yourself and express ship back to the lab for analysis. The agency has also
approved several at-home rapid tests. you have to get these through a prescription so the results
will be registered. You can receive those results within a few minutes.
A swab test can only tell whether you have the virus in your body at that moment. But you may
also consider taking an antibody test which can show whether you’ve ever been exposed to the
virus, even if you didn’t have symptoms. This is important in officials’ efforts to learn how
widespread COVID-19 is. In time, it might also help them figure out who’s immune to the virus.
The FDA is working with laboratories across the country to develop more tests.
Coronavirus Prevention
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a key part of prevention. But you should also take these
steps:
Wash your hands often with soap and water or clean them with an alcohol-based sanitizer. This
kills viruses on your hands.
Practice social distancing. Because you can have and spread the virus without knowing it, you
should stay home as much as possible. If you do have to go out, stay at least 6 feet away from
others.
Cover your nose and mouth in public. If you have COVID-19, you can spread it even if you don’t
feel sick. Wear a cloth face covering to protect others. This isn’t a replacement for social

11. distancing. You still need to keep a 6-foot distance between yourself and those around you. Don’t
use a face mask meant for health care workers. And don’t put a face covering on anyone who is:
Under 2 years old
Having trouble breathing
Unconscious or can’t remove the mask on their own for other reasons
Don’t touch your face. Coronaviruses can live on surfaces you touch for several hours. If they get
on your hands and you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, they can get into your body.
Clean and disinfect. You can clean first with soap and water, but disinfect surfaces you touch
often, like tables, doorknobs, light switches, toilets, faucets, and sinks. Use a mix of household
bleach and water (1/3 cup bleach per gallon of water, or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water)
or a household cleaner that’s approved to treat SARS-CoV-2. You can check the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) website to see if yours made the list. Wear gloves when you clean and
throw them away when you’re done.
There’s no proof that herbal therapies and teas can prevent infection.
COVID-19 preparation tips
In addition to practicing the prevention tips listed above, you can:
Meet as a household or larger family to talk about who needs what.
If you have people at a higher risk, ask their doctor what to do.
Talk to your neighbors about emergency planning. Join your neighborhood chat group or website
to stay in touch.
Find communityaid organizations that canhelp with health care, food delivery, and other supplies.
Make an emergency contact list. Include family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers, doctors,
teachers, employers, and the local health department.
Choose a room (or rooms) where you can keep someone who’s sick or who’s been exposed
separate from the rest of you.
Talk to your child’s school about keeping up with assignments.
Set yourself up to work from home if your office is closed.
Reach out to friends or family if you live alone. Make plans for them to check on you by phone,
email, or video chat.
Can a face mask protect you from infection?
The CDC recommends that you wear a cloth face mask if you go out in public. If you are at home
with someone who has been infected or exposed, you should wear it as well. A mask is an added
layer of protection for everyone, on top of social distancing efforts. You can spread the virus when
you talk or cough, even if you don’t know that you have it or if you aren’t showing signs of infection.
The CDCadvises that surgical masks and N95 masks should be reserved for health care workers
and first responders.
Is it safe to travel during a pandemic?

12. Crowded places can raise your chances of getting COVID-19. The CDC recommends against
international or cruise ship travel during the pandemic.
A few questions may help you decide whether it’s safe to travel in the United States:
Is the coronavirus spreading where you’re going?
Will you have close contact with other people during the trip?
Are you at higher risk of severe illness if you catch the virus?
Do you live with someone who has a serious medical condition?
Will the place where you’ll be staying be cleaned?
Will you have access to food and other necessities?
If you choose to travel, stay away from sick people. Wash your hands often, and try not to touch
your face. Wear a cloth face mask when you’ll be around other people. Some airlines require all
customers to use them.
How can you help stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Because the virus spreads from person to person, it’s important to limit your contact with other
people as much as possible. and avoid large gatherings. Many states and cities have eased
restrictions but this doesn’t mean the virus is gone. Continue to follow safety practices such as
wearing a cloth face mask in public places and washing your hands.
While many companies continue to use work-from-home practices, that is not possible for a lot of
workers. Some people work in “essential businesses” that are vital to daily life, such as health
care, law enforcement, and public utilities. Everyone else should countinue to limit your time in
public as much as you can and wear a cloth face mask when you can’t.
The following terms have now become commonplace:
Social distancing or physical distancing, keeping space between yourself and other people when
you have to go out
Quarantine, keeping someone home and separated from other people if they might have been
exposed to the virus
Isolation, keeping sick people away from healthy people, including using a separate “sick”
bedroom and bathroom when possible
Precautions should still be followed even if you are vaccinated.
Coronavirus Vaccine
On Dec. 11, 2020, the FDA granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) in the U.S. for the
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people 16 years of age and older. Within a week, that
agency also granted an EUA to a vaccine developed by Moderna. Johnson & Johnson's single
shot vaccine was granted EUA in February, 2021.

13. The British government approved and began to give the Pfizer vaccine on Dec. 8, 2020. Vaccines
developed in China and Russia are now also being given in several other countries.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, taken a few weeks apart while J & J is
just one shot. Health care workers and the elderly were originally given priority in receiving the
vaccines but by mid-April, the vaccines were made available to anyone over the age of 16 years-
old.
These vaccines were developed at an unprecedented speed, with testing in humans starting in
March 2020. The FDA says that no corners were cut to allow for approval and that the
innoculations are safe. The CDC has said it is safe for pregnant women and there's no evidence
that antibodies formed from COVID-19 vaccination cause any problem with pregnancy,.
Clinical trials for other vaccines are still underway. If you're interested in volunteering for a COVID-
19 vaccine trial, here are some sources of more information:
Government-sponsored sites:
COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN). This is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases and coordinated by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
Its goal is to enroll thousands of volunteers into COVID vaccine trials nationwide. Many research
centers are using this site to find volunteers.
Clinicaltrials.gov. This is a government database of public and private clinical studies done
worldwide. The site also offers considerations for joining a clinical trial.
Sites that link volunteers with trials nationwide include:
CenterWatch
COVID Dash
World Without COVID
Individual hospitals, universities, research centers, and others may also provide opportunities to
enroll in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial. Some include:
Kaiser Permanente
Medical University of South Carolina
Meridian Clinical Research
Penn Medicine

14. Saint Louis University
SAResearch (Clinical Trials of Texas)
University of California, Davis
University of California, San Diego
University of Maryland
University of Rochester Medical Center
Vanderbilt University
Wake Research
You can also call or visit the website of your local hospital or research institution to find out if they
are taking part in any trials.
Coronavirus Treatment
There’s no specific treatment for COVID-19. People who get a mild case need care to ease their
symptoms, like rest, fluids, and fever control. Take over-the-counter medicine for a sore throat,
body aches, and fever. But don't give aspirin to children or teens younger than 19.
You might have heard that you shouldn't take ibuprofen to treat COVID-19 symptoms. But the
National Institutes of Health says people who have the virus can use nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen as usual.
Antibiotics won’t help because they treat bacteria, not viruses. If you hear about people with
COVID-19 getting antibiotics, it’s for an infection that came along with the disease.
People with severe symptoms need to be cared for in the hospital.
The antiviral medication called remdesivir (Veklury) is the first medication to get FDA approval for
treatment of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Originally developed to treat Ebola, evidence
shows that those treated with remdesivir recovered in about 11 days compared to 15 days for
those treated with a placebo.
Many clinical trials are under way to explore treatments used for other conditions that could fight
COVID-19 and to develop new ones.
For instance, trials are under way for tocilizumab, another medication used to treat autoimmune
conditions. And the FDA is also allowing clinical trials and hospital use of blood plasma from

15. people who’ve had COVID-19 and recovered to help others build immunity. You’ll hear this called
convalescent plasma. Currently, evidence of its effectiveness is limited.
Early in the pandemic, the anti-malarial drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were
considered as possible treatments. The FDA later rescinded an emergency use order because
studies found that the drugs were ineffetive and the risks outweighed the benefits.
A variety of steroid medications are being used including dexamethasone which is used to treat
conditions such as arthritis, blood/hormone/immune system disorders, allergic reactions,. More
studies on effectiveness are still being conducted.
Is there a cure for the new coronavirus?
There’s no cure yet, but researchers are working hard to find one.
COVID-19 Outlook
Every case is different. You may have mild flu-like symptoms for a few days after exposure, then
get better. But some cases can be severe or fatal.
Symptoms can also linger for weeks, even if they’re mild.
More than a third of people older than 18 who have signs of the virus aren’t totally recovered 2 or
3 weeks later, according to a CDC survey. Fatigue and cough were the symptoms that were most
likely to linger.
Some other people who’ve had COVID-19 develop a condition similar to myalgic
encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome. They may have a brain fog, severe
fatigue, pain, trouble thinking, or dizziness.
What is the recovery rate for coronavirus?
Scientists and researchers are constantly tracking COVID-19 infections and recoveries. But they
don’t have information about the outcome of every infection. Early estimates predict that the
overall COVID-19 recovery rate will be between 97% and 99.75%.
Can you get the coronavirus twice?
There have been a few cases of reinfection reported and presently, it is considered a rare
occurrence. With other coronaviruses that only cause colds, you have a period that you’re
immune, but that goes away over time. That also appears to be the case with this coronavirus.
Immunity is estimated to last at least three to four months.
Past Coronaviruses
Are coronaviruses new?

16. Coronaviruses were first identified in the 1960s. Almost everyone gets a coronavirus infection at
least once in their life, most likely as a young child. In the United States, regular coronaviruses
are more common in the fall and winter, but anyone can come down with a coronavirus infection
at any time.
The symptoms of mostcoronaviruses are similar to any other upper respiratory infection, including
a runny nose, coughing, sore throat, and sometimes a fever. In most cases, you won't know
whether you have a coronavirus or a different cold-causing virus, such as a rhinovirus. You treat
this kind of coronavirus infection the same way you treat a cold.