COVID-19

Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19

A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Cases have been detected in most countries worldwide, and on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the outbreak as a pandemic. Human-to-human transmission occurs through close contact.

Note: Information about COVID-19 can change rapidly. View the latest information on COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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 vaccinated against whooping cough and influenza (flu) during each pregnancy to help protect themselves and their baby. Learn more about vaccines recommended during pregnancy.

What should you do if you think you may have been infected or exposed?

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested as recommended by CDC.

If you were exposed to someone infected with COVID-19:

For 10 days:

Watch for symptoms
Wear a face mask around others
Take extra precautions around others who are more likely to get sick

Get tested 5 days after exposure or sooner if you have symptoms.

If you test positive, isolate yourself from others and contact a healthcare professional who may recommend treatment.

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. If you develop any symptoms and think you have been exposed, follow CDC guidance on when to get tested and contact a healthcare professional.

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:

Get vaccinated against COVID-19
Wear a face mask as recommended, particularly if you are at high risk for severe disease
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
Avoid close contact with people who are sick and stay home if you are sick

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?

Yes. When worn properly, face masks can help prevent an individual from spreading or getting the virus. Even if you are up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing a mask in certain instances, and you still need to follow guidance at local businesses and workplaces. COVID-19 is still circulating, and people are still getting sick and dying.

Face masks are not recommended for children less than 2 years of age or for individuals who have trouble breathing or who cannot easily remove them.

When do I need to isolate?

Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19. You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results.

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.

You should wear a mask whenever you are around other people until 10 days after you develop symptoms (or the day you tested positive if you did not have symptoms, but tested because of an exposure).

View  CDC Isolation Guidelines  for additional information.

Testing

When should I get tested?

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

If you test positive for COVID-19, contact a healthcare professional immediately to see if treatment is right for you. In addition, you should take precautions to help protect others from getting infected:

Stay home and isolate from others
Wear a face mask
Use a separate bathroom
Open windows to improve air flow at home
Do not share personal items like cups, towels, and utensils
Monitor your symptoms

If you have trouble breathing or other emergency warning signs, seek medical care immediately.

Treatment

Are there any treatments available for COVID-19?

The  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized or approved treatments for certain patients who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. If you do test positive, call a healthcare professional immediately to see if treatment is right for you.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed  treatment guidelines for COVID-19  to help healthcare professionals make appropriate recommendations.

Stop the Spread

Are certain activities safer than others?

COVID-19 Variants

What is a variant?

Updated September 2023

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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