COVID-19

Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19

COVID-19 is a contagious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms similar to a cold, influenza (flu), or pneumonia but can also affect other parts of your body. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill.

More than 1 million people have died from COVID-19 in the US since the virus first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak as a pandemic.

View COVID-19 Vaccines FAQ

Coronavirus disease digital illustration

General

Who is at greatest risk of serious illness from 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

How does COVID-19 affect pregnant women?

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.

What should you do if you get sick with COVID-19?

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.

What is long COVID?

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.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of COVID-19? How can you tell the difference between COVID-19 and a cold or influenza (flu)?

Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Because the symptoms are similar to those of cold and flu, it can be difficult to distinguish between COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. To diagnose a potential case, healthcare professionals may use a COVID-19 diagnostic test and/or run tests to rule out flu and other infections.

Individuals with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe illness. Some individuals who are infected may not have symptoms, others require ventilator support, and many have died. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus and may include:

fever
cough
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
chills
fatigue
muscle pain or body aches
headache
sore throat
new loss of taste or smell
congestion or runny nose
nausea or vomiting
diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms.

What are the symptoms in children?

Children with COVID-19 may have mild, cold-like symptoms, such as fever, runny nose, and cough, and some children experience vomiting and diarrhea. Occasionally, a child gets very sick after being infected with COVID-19.

There have been some rare reports of children who have multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). Parents are advised to call their pediatrician if their child has a fever that does not go away along with more than one of the following symptoms:

stomach pain
bloodshot eyes
diarrhea
dizziness or lightheadedness (signs of low blood pressure)
skin rash
vomiting

Are you contagious before you develop symptoms?

COVID-19 can be spread before symptoms develop, which can pose a problem because people who do not know they are infected may continue to go to work, school, and other public places. People who are sick and have symptoms are more likely to stay home, creating fewer opportunities for the virus to spread from one person to another.

If you have COVID-19, it’s important to avoid spreading the virus to others.

Prevention

How is COVID-19 spread?

What can you do to protect yourself?

Everyone should practice the following healthy habits to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect against severe illness:

Get vaccinated against COVID-19
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue
Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces
Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home if you are sick
Wear a face mask as recommended, particularly if you are at high risk for severe disease
Take steps for cleaner air, such as opening windows or going outdoors

COVID-19 vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect against severe disease and death from COVID-19.

Do face masks protect against COVID-19?

Testing

When should I get tested?

If you have been exposed to COVID-19 and you have symptoms, get tested immediately. If you have been exposed but do not have symptoms, you should wait at least 5 full days after exposure before getting tested. Testing too early can give you a false result.

Getting tested for COVID-19 can help determine if treatment is appropriate to reduce your risk of severe illness as well as steps to take to lower your chances of spreading the virus to others.

What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19?

Treatment

Are there any treatments available for COVID-19?

COVID-19 Variants

What is a variant?

Updated June 2024

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration

Learn more about coronaviruses at www.nfid.org/coronaviruses

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