COVID-19

Although COVID-19 can affect anyone, individuals at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19 include the following:

• Older adults (the risk for severe illness increases with age)
• People with certain medical conditions like cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, dementia, diabetes (type 1 or type 2), Down syndrome, heart disease, HIV, liver disease, and sickle cell disease
• Those living in a nursing home or long-term care facility
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] >30)
• Pregnant women
• Smokers
• Those who have a weakened immune system

Pregnant women with COVID-19 may be more likely to experience preterm birth and severe illness from COVID-19 than non-pregnant individuals.

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or who may become pregnant in the future. Numerous studies indicate that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is safe for both mother and infant. Other steps to help reduce the risk of getting sick include proper handwashing, social distancing, and wearing a face mask in public.

Pregnant women should also get other vaccines to help protect themselves and their baby. Learn more about vaccines recommended during pregnancy.

Take the follow steps if you get sick with COVID-19:

• Stay home and away from others
• Talk with a healthcare professional about COVID-19 treatments that can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness

You can return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both:

• Your symptoms are improving overall, and
• If you had a fever, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication

When you go back to your normal activities, take additional prevention strategies for the next 5 days to help stop the spread of disease: 

• Practice good hand hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces
• Take steps for cleaner air, such as opening windows or going outdoors
• Wear a well-fitting mask
• Keep a distance from others, and/or
• Get tested for respiratory viruses

Enhanced precautions are especially important to help protect those most at risk for severe illness, including older adults and people with weakened immune systems. 

Long COVID, also known as post-COVID conditions (PCC), includes a wide range of long-term health issues that can occur in people who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The symptoms of long COVID may vary from one person to another and can last weeks, months, or even years following infection. These symptoms may be hard to explain or manage and, in some cases, can lead to disability.