COVID-19 is the disease caused by the new coronavirus called SARS-Cov-2. Protect yourself by knowing the symptoms, risk factors and when to call a doctor.
What is COVID-19?
It is a respiratory virus and disease that can have mild to severe symptoms. Most people will have mild to moderate flu-like symptoms and can self-treat at home.
How do you get COVID-19?
The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease is spread by droplets from coughs and sneezes, and by touching surfaces or objects that have been contaminated with the virus.
Who is at risk for developing COVID-19?
Health care workers, caregivers and family members of infected people, people with chronic diseases and the elderly are at risk for developing serious cases of COVID-19.
What are mild symptoms of COVID-19?
Mild symptoms include: Cough, fever, tiredness, aches and pains, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, headache, nasal congestion, new loss of smell or taste, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.
What is a cough with COVID-19?
Nearly half of patients with COVID-19 have a cough. This cough is dry, persistent and can make it hard to breathe. A dry cough does not produce mucus or phlegm.
Can a dry cough turn into a wet cough with mucus?
A wet cough helps bring up mucus from the lungs and lower airways. Sometimes a dry cough can turn into a wet cough when the infection progresses.
When to contact a health care provider?
Call your doctor if you’ve been around someone with suspected or diagnosed COVID-19 and you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath.
How is COVID-19 diagnosed?
A molecular test or swab test collects material from the back of the nose where it meets the throat. The material is examined for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
How is mild COVID-19 treated?
Most people will have mild disease that’s treated with drinking fluids, getting extra rest, and taking over-the-counter medications for fever, headache, congestion, cough and sore throat.
What are severe signs and symptoms of COVID-19?
Severe signs and symptoms can occur about a week into the illness and include significant shortness of breath, low oxygen levels, pneumonia, abnormal blood tests, kidney failure, liver failure and hospitalization.
How is moderate-to-severe COVID-19 treated?
Most people will be in the hospital for a few days and may be on oxygen and other medications. Recovery can take a few weeks.
How is a critical case of COVID-19 treated?
Less than 5 percent will have critical disease. Care may include breathing support with a mechanical ventilator and an extracorporeal oxygenation (heart/lung) machine to keep organs working while the body fights the infection.
What is antibody testing for COVID-19?
This is a blood test that may determine if you’ve had the disease in the recent past by looking for IgG antibodies that the immune system may produce to fight the virus.