Everything You Should Know

About the 2019 Coronavirus and

COVID-19
In early 2020, a new virus began generating headlines all over the
world because of the unprecedented speed of its transmission.

From its origins in a food market in Wuhan, China, in December 2019

to countries as far-flung as the United States and the Philippines, the
virus (officially named SARS-CoV-2) has affected hundreds of
thousands, with a rising death toll now over 17,000.

The disease caused by an infection with SARS-CoV-2 is called COVID-

19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019.

In spite of the global panic in the news about this virus, you’re unlikely
to contract SARS-CoV-2 unless you’ve been in contact with someone
who has a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Let’s bust some myths. Read on to learn how this 2019 coronavirus is
spread, how it’s similar and different from other coronaviruses, and
how to prevent spreading it to others if you suspect you’ve contracted
this virus.

HEALTHLINE’S CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Stay informed with our live updates about the current COVID-19
outbreak. Also, visit our coronavirus hub for more information on
how to prepare, advice on prevention and treatment, and expert

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 recommendations.

What are the symptoms?

Doctors are learning new things about this virus every day. So far, we
know that COVID-19 may not initially cause any symptoms for some
people.

You may carry the virus for 2 days or up to 2 weeksTrusted Source

before you notice symptoms.

Some common symptoms that have been specifically linked to COVID-

19 include:

shortness of breath
having a cough that gets more severe over time
a low-grade fever that gradually increases in temperature

These symptoms may become more severe in some people. Call

emergency medical services if you or someone you care for have any
of the following symptoms:

trouble breathing
blue lips or face
persistent pain or pressure in the chest
confusion
excessive drowsiness

The full list of symptoms is still being investigated.

COVID-19 versus the flu

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 We are still learning about whether the 2019 coronavirus is more or
less deadly than the seasonal flu.

This is difficult to determine because the number of total cases

(including mild cases in people who don’t seek treatment or get
tested) is unknown. However, early evidence suggests that this
coronavirus causes more deaths than the seasonal flu.

An estimated 0.06 to 0.1 percentTrusted Source of people who

developed the flu during the 2019-2020 flu season in the United
Stated died (as of March 14, 2020). This is compared to 1.2 percent of
those with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)Trusted Source.

Here are some common symptoms of the flu:

cough
runny or stuffy nose
sneezing
sore throat
fever
headache
fatigue
chills
body aches

What causes coronaviruses?

Coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means they first develop in animals
before developing in humans.

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 For the virus to pass from animal to humans, a person has to come
into close contact with an animal that carries the infection.

Once the virus develops in people, coronaviruses can be spread from

person to person through respiratory droplets. This is a technical
name for the wet stuff that moves through the air when you cough or
sneeze.

The viral material hangs out in these droplets and can be breathed into
the respiratory tract (your windpipe and lungs), where the virus can
then lead to an infection.

The 2019 coronavirus hasn’t been definitively linked to a specific

animal.

Researchers believe that the virus may have been passed from bats to
another animal — either snakes or pangolins — and then transmitted
to humans. This transmission likely occurred in the open food market
in Wuhan, China.

Who’s at increased risk?

You’re at high risk for contracting SARS-CoV-2 if you come into
contact with someone who’s carrying it, especially if you’ve been
exposed to their saliva or been near them when they’ve coughed or
sneezed.

Without taking proper prevention measures, you’re also at high risk if

you:

live with someone who has contracted the virus

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 are providing home care for someone who has contracted the
virus
have an intimate partner who has contracted the virus

Handwashing is key

Washing your hands and disinfecting surfaces can help decrease

your risk for catching this and other viruses.

Older people and people with certain health conditions have a higher
risk for severe complications if they contract the virus. These health
conditions include:

lung conditions, such as COPD and asthma

certain heart conditions
immune system conditions, such as HIV
cancer that requires treatment
severe obesity
other health conditions, if not well-controlled, such as diabetes,
kidney disease, or liver disease

Pregnant women have a higher risk of complicationsTrusted Source

from other viral infections, but it’s not yet known if this is the case for
the 2019 coronavirus.

How are coronaviruses diagnosed?

COVID-19 can be diagnosed similarly to other conditions caused by
viral infections: using a blood, saliva, or tissue sample. However, most
tests use a cotton swab to retrieve a sample from the inside of your
nostrils.

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 Tests are conducted by the CDC, some state health departments, and
some commercial companies. See your state’s health department
websiteTrusted Source to find out where testing is offered near you.

Talk to your doctor right away if you think you have COVID-19 or you
notice symptoms. Your doctor will advise you on whether you should
stay home and monitor your symptoms, come in to the doctor’s office
to be evaluated, or go to the hospital for more urgent care.

What treatments are available?

There’s currently no treatment specifically approved for COVID-19,
and no cure for an infection, although treatments and vaccines are
currently under study. Instead, treatment focuses on managing
symptoms as the virus runs its course.

Seek immediate medical help if you think you have COVID-19. Your
doctor will recommend treatment for any symptoms or complications
that develop.

Other coronaviruses like SARS and MERS are also treated by

managing symptoms. In some cases, experimental treatments are
tested to see how effective they are. Examples of therapies used for
these illnesses include:

antiviral or retroviral medications

breathing support, such as mechanical ventilation
steroids to reduce lung swelling
blood plasma transfusions

What are the possible complications from

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 COVID-19?
The most serious complication of a SARS-CoV-2 infection is a type of
pneumonia that’s been called 2019 novel coronavirus-infected
pneumonia (NCIP).

Results from a 2020 studyTrusted Source of 138 people admitted into

hospitals in Wuhan, China, with NCIP found that 26 percent of those
admitted had severe cases and needed to be treated in the intensive
care unit (ICU).

About 4.3 percent of these people who were admitted to the ICU died
from this type of pneumonia. It should be noted that people who were
admitted to the ICU were on average older and had more underlying
health conditions than people who didn’t go to the ICU.

So far, NCIP is the only complication specifically linked to the 2019

coronavirus. Researchers have seen the following complications in
people who have developed COVID-19:

acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

irregular heart rate (arrhythmia)
cardiovascular shock
severe muscle pain (myalgia)
fatigue
heart damage or heart attack

How to prevent coronaviruses

The best way to prevent the spread of infection is to avoid or limit
contact with people who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or any

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 respiratory infection.

The next best thing you can do is practice good hygiene and social
distancing to prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading.

Other types of coronaviruses

A coronavirus gets its name from the way it looks under a microscope.

The word corona means “crown,” and when examined closely, the
round virus has a “crown” of proteins called peplomers jutting out from
its center in every direction. These proteins help the virus identify
whether it can infect its host.

The condition known as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

was also linked to a highly infectious coronavirus back in the early
2000s. The SARS virus has since been contained.

COVID-19 vs. SARS

This isn’t the first time a coronavirus has made news — the 2003
SARS outbreak was also caused by a coronavirus.

As with the 2019 virus, the SARS virus was first found in animals
before it spread to humans.

The SARS virus is thought toTrusted Source have come from bats and
then transferred to another animal, and then to humans.

Once transmitted to humans, the SARS virus began spreading quickly

among people.

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 What makes the novel coronavirus so newsworthy is that a treatment
or cure hasn’t yet been developed to help prevent its rapid spread
from person to person. SARS has been successfully contained.

What’s the outlook?

First and foremost, don’t panic. You don’t need to wear a mask or be
quarantined unless you suspect you have contracted the virus or have
a confirmed test result.

Following simple handwashing and social distancing guidelines may

help protect you from being exposed to the virus.

The 2019 coronavirus probably seems scary when you read the news
about new deaths, quarantines, and travel bans.

Stay calm and follow your doctor’s instructions if you’re diagnosed

with COVID-19 so you can recover and help prevent it from spreading.

HEALTHLINE RESOURCES

Do you have symptoms of COVID-19? Your options for care

Call your primary care provider and discuss symptoms before visiting a
healthcare facility, or click below to find a local provider. If this is an
emergency, call 911, and tell the operator you have COVID-19.

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