Coronavirus and COVID-19: What You Should Know

webmd.com/lung/coronavirus

Editor's note: For the latest updates on the 2020 coronavirus outbreak, see our news coverage.

What Is COVID-19?
A coronavirus is a kind of common virus that causes an infection in your nose, sinuses, or
upper throat. Most coronaviruses aren't dangerous.

COVID-19 is a disease that can cause what doctors call a respiratory tract infection. It can
affect your upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose, and throat) or lower respiratory tract
(windpipe and lungs). It's caused by a coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2.

It spreads the same way other coronaviruses do, mainly through person-to-person
contact. Infections range from mild to serious.

SARS-CoV-2 is one of seven types of coronavirus, including the ones that cause severe
diseases like Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and sudden acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS). The other coronaviruses cause most of the colds that affect us during
the year but aren’t a serious threat for otherwise healthy people.

In early 2020, after a December 2019 outbreak in China, the World Health Organization
identified SARS-CoV-2 as a new type of coronavirus. The outbreak quickly spread around
the world.

Is there more than one strain of SARS-CoV-2?

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It’s normal for a virus to change, or mutate, as it infects people. A Chinese study of 103
COVID-19 cases suggests the virus that causes it has done just that. They found two
strains, which they named L and S. The S type is older, but the L type was more common
in early stages of the outbreak. They think one may cause more cases of the disease than
the other, but they’re still working on what it all means.

How long will the coronavirus last?

It’s too soon to tell how long the pandemic will continue. It depends on many things,
including researchers’ work to learn more about the virus, their search for a treatment,
and the public’s efforts to slow the spread.

Symptoms of COVID-19
Early symptoms include:

Fever
Dry cough
Fatigue

The virus can lead to pneumonia, respiratory failure, septic shock, and death. If you
notice the following severe symptoms in yourself or a loved one, get medical help right
away:

Trouble breathing or shortness of breath

Ongoing chest pain or pressure
New confusion
Can’t wake up fully
Bluish lips or face

If you’re infected, symptoms can show up in as few as 2 days or as many as 14. It varies
from person to person.

According to researchers in China, these were the most common symptoms among
people who had COVID-19:

Fever 83%-99%
Cough 59%-82%
Fatigue 44%-70%
Lack of appetite 40%-84%
Shortness of breath 31%-40%
Mucus/phlegm 28%-33%
Body aches 11%-35%

What to do if you think you have it

If you live in or have traveled to an area where COVID-19 is spreading:

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 If you don’t feel well, stay home. Even if you have mild symptoms like a
headache and runny nose, stay in until you’re better. This lets doctors focus on
people who are more seriously ill and protects health care workers and people you
might meet along the way. You might hear this called self-quarantine.

Call the doctor if you have a fever, cough, and trouble breathing. You need to
get medical help as soon as possible. Calling ahead (rather than showing up) will let
the doctor direct you to the proper place, which may not be your doctor’s office. If
you don’t have a regular doctor, call your local board of health. They can tell you
where to go for testing and treatment.
Follow your doctor’s advice and keep up with the news on COVID-19. Between
your doctor and health care authorities, you’ll get the care you need and
information on how to prevent the virus from spreading.

For more information about COVID-19, see our FAQ.

How do I know if it’s COVID-19, a cold, or the flu?

Symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to a bad cold or the flu. Your doctor will suspect
COVID-19 if:

You have a fever and a cough.

You live in an area with the virus or have traveled to places where it has spread.

Cold vs. Flu vs.

Allergies vs. COVID-19

Symptoms Cold Flu Allergies COVID-19

(can range
from moderate
to severe)

Fever Rare High (100-102 Never Common

F), Can last 3-
4 days

Headache Rare Intense Uncommon Can be present

General Slight Usual, often Never Can be present

aches, pains severe

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 Fatigue, Mild Intense, can Sometimes Can be present
weakness last up to 2-3
weeks

Extreme Never Usual (starts Never Can be present

exhaustion early)

Stuffy/runny Common Sometimes Common Has been

nose reported

Sneezing Usual Sometimes Usual Has been

reported

Sore throat Common Common Sometimes Has been

reported

Cough Mild to Common, can Sometimes Common

moderate become
severe

Shortness of Rare Rare Rare, except for In more serious

breath those with allergic infections
asthma

Is COVID-19 worse than the flu?

Unlike the flu, nobody is immune to the coronavirus because it’s so new. This means
anyone can catch it. The coronavirus also causes higher rates of severe illness and death
than the flu. But the symptoms themselves can vary widely from person to person.

Is COVID-19 seasonal like the flu?

A few lab studies have found that higher temperatures and humidity levels might help
slow the spread of the coronavirus. But experts advise caution and say weather changes
won’t matter without thorough public health efforts. Also, past flu pandemics have
happened year-round.

Causes of the New Coronavirus

Researchers aren’t sure what caused it. There’s more than one coronavirus. They’re
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common in people and in animals including bats, camels, cats, and cattle. SARS-CoV-2,
the virus that causes COVID-19, is similar to MERS and SARS. They all came from bats.
Many people who got the disease early on were linked to a large live seafood and animal
market in China -- you might hear it called a “wet market.” The first cases may have come
from animals sold in the market, then spread from person to person.

Coronavirus Risk Factors

Anyone can get COVID-19, and most infections are usually mild, especially in children
and young adults. But if you aren’t in an area where COVID-19 is spreading, haven’t
traveled from an area where it’s spreading, and haven’t been in contact with someone
who has it, your risk of infection is low.

People over 65 are most likely to get a serious illness, as are those who live in nursing
homes or long-term care facilities, who have weakened immune systems, or who have
medical conditions including:

Moderate to severe asthma

Heart, lung, or liver disease
Kidney disease that needs dialysis
Severe obesity
Diabetes

Coronavirus Transmission
How does the coronavirus spread?

SARS-CoV-2, the virus, mainly spreads from person to person.

Most of the time, it spreads when a sick person coughs or sneezes. They can spray
droplets as far as 6 feet away. If you breathe them in or swallow them, the virus can get
into your body. Some people who have the virus don't have symptoms, but they can still
spread the virus.

You can also get the virus from touching a surface or object the virus is on, then
touching your mouth, nose, or possibly your eyes. Most viruses can live for several hours
on a surface that they land on. A study shows that SARS-CoV-2 can last for several hours
on various types of surfaces:

Copper: 4 hours
Cardboard: up to 24 hours
Plastic or stainless steel: 2 to 3 days

That’s why it’s important to disinfect surfaces to get rid of the virus.

What is community spread?

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Doctors and health officials use this term when they don’t know the source of the
infection. With COVID-19, it usually refers to someone who gets the virus even though
they haven’t been out of the country or haven’t been exposed to someone who’s traveled
abroad or who has COVID-19.

In February 2020, the CDC confirmed a COVID-19 infection in California in a person who
had not traveled to an affected area or been exposed to someone with the disease. This
marked the first instance of community spread in the U.S. It’s likely that person was
exposed to someone who was infected but didn’t know it.

How fast is it spreading?

The number of people infected by SARS-CoV-2 changes every day. See our news story for
the latest updates on this developing story.

How contagious is the coronavirus?

The transmission rate is relatively high. Early research has estimated that one person
who has it can spread it to between 2 and 2.5 others. One study found that the rate was
higher, with one case spreading to between 4.7 and 6.6 other people. By comparison,
one person who has the seasonal flu will pass it to between 1.1 and 2.3 others.

We can work to lower the transmission rate by washing hands often, keeping common
surfaces clean, and limiting contact with other people.

Can coronavirus be transmitted through groceries, packages, or food?

You’re much more likely to get COVID-19 from another person than from packages,
groceries, or food. If you’re in a high-risk group, stay home and use a delivery service or
have a friend shop for you. Have them leave the items outside your front door, if you
can. If you do your own shopping, try to stay at least 6 feet away from other shoppers.
That isn’t always possible, so wear a cloth face mask, too.

Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before and after bringing things into your
home. The coronavirus can linger on hard surfaces, so clean and disinfect countertops
and anything else your bags have touched. You can wipe down plastic, metal, or glass
packaging with soap and water if you want.

There’s no evidence that anyone has gotten COVID-19 from food or food containers.

Coronavirus Diagnosis
Call your doctor or local health department if you think you’ve been exposed and have
symptoms like:

Fever of 100 F or higher

Cough

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 Trouble breathing

In most states, decisions about who gets tested for COVID-19 are made at the state or
local level.

The test looks for evidence of the virus in your upper respiratory tract. The person giving
the test puts a swab up your nose to get a sample from the back of your nose and
throat. That sample goes to a lab that looks for viral material. If it’s there, the test is
positive. A negative test could mean there is no virus or there wasn’t enough to measure.
That can happen early in an infection. It usually takes 24 hours to get results, but the
tests must be collected, stored, shipped to a lab, and processed.

The FDA is working with laboratories nationwide to develop more tests. The agency is
also granting emergency use authorizations to let doctors use tests it has yet to approve.

There’s no home test kit for COVID-19. The FDA is cracking down on these bogus
products.

Coronavirus Prevention
Take these steps:

Wash your hands often with soap and water or clean them with an alcohol-
based sanitizer. This kills viruses on your hands.
Practice social distancing. Because you can have and spread the virus without
knowing it, you should stay home as much as possible. If you do have to go out,
stay at least 6 feet away from others.
Cover your nose and mouth in public. If you have COVID-19, you can spread it
even if you don’t feel sick. Wear a cloth face covering to protect others. This isn’t a
replacement for social distancing. You still need to keep a 6-foot distance between
yourself and those around you. Don’t use a face mask meant for health care
workers. And don’t put a face covering on anyone who is:
Under 2 years old
Having trouble breathing
Unconscious or can’t remove the mask on their own for other reasons
Don’t touch your face. Coronaviruses can live on surfaces you touch for several
hours. If they get on your hands and you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, they can
get into your body.
Clean and disinfect. You can clean first with soap and water, but disinfect
surfaces you touch often, like tables, doorknobs, light switches, toilets, faucets, and
sinks. Use a mix of household bleach and water (1/3 cup bleach per gallon of water,
or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water) or a household cleaner that’s approved
to treat SARS-CoV-2. You can check the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
website to see if yours made the list. Wear gloves when you clean and throw them
away when you’re done.

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There’s no proof that herbal therapies and teas can prevent infection.

COVID-19 preparation tips

In addition to practicing the prevention tips listed above, you can:

Meet as a household or larger family to talk about who needs what.

If you have people at a higher risk, ask their doctor what to do.
Talk to your neighbors about emergency planning. Join your neighborhood chat
group or website to stay in touch.
Find community aid organizations that can help with health care, food delivery, and
other supplies.
Make an emergency contact list. Include family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers,
doctors, teachers, employers, and the local health department.
Choose a room (or rooms) where you can keep someone who’s sick or who’s been
exposed separate from the rest of you.
Talk to your child’s school about keeping up with assignments.
Set yourself up to work from home if your office is closed.
Reach out friends or family if you live alone. Make plans for them to check on you
by phone or email.

Can a face mask protect you from infection?

The CDC recommends that you wear a cloth face mask if you go out in public. This is an
added layer of protection for everyone, on top of social distancing efforts. You can
spread the virus when you talk or cough, even if you don’t know that you have it or if you
aren’t showing signs of infection.

Surgical masks and N95 masks should be reserved for health care workers and first
responders, the CDC says.

Is it safe to travel during a pandemic?

Crowded places can raise your chances of getting COVID-19. The CDC recommends
against international or cruise ship travel during the pandemic.

A few questions may help you decide whether it’s safe to travel in the United States:

Is the coronavirus spreading where you’re going?

Will you have close contact with other people during the trip?
Are you at higher risk of severe illness if you catch the virus?
Do you live with someone who has a serious medical condition?
Would you be able to stay home for 2 weeks if you came into contact with the virus
on your trip?

If you choose to travel, stay away from sick people. Wash your hands often, and try not
to touch your face.

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How can you help stop the spread of the coronavirus?

Because the virus spreads from person to person, it’s important to limit your contact
with other people as much as possible.

Some people work in “essential businesses” that are vital to daily life, such as health
care, law enforcement, and public utilities. Everyone else should stay home as much as
you can. You might hear officials use these terms when they talk about staying home:

Social distancing or physical distancing, keeping space between yourself and

other people when you have to go out
Quarantine , keeping someone home and separated from other people if they
might have been exposed to the virus
Isolation , keeping sick people away from healthy people, including using a
separate “sick” bedroom and bathroom when possible

Coronavirus Vaccine
There’s no vaccine, but intense research has been underway around the world since
scientists shared the virus’ genetic makeup in January 2020. Vaccine testing in humans
started with record speed in March 2020. More than 100 vaccine projects are in various
phases of development.

One vaccine called mRNA-1273 (which was developed by using messenger RNA) would
tell your cells to pump out a protein that will kick-start your immune system to fight the
virus. It’s worked well in animals and is ready to test in humans.

Coronavirus Treatment
There’s no specific treatment for COVID-19. People who get a mild case need care to
ease their symptoms, like rest, fluids, and fever control. Take over-the-counter medicine
for a sore throat, body aches, and fever. But don't give aspirin to children or teens
younger than 19. You might have heard that you shouldn't take ibuprofen to treat
COVID-19 symptoms -- the World Health Organization made that statement in March
2020. But they reversed it soon after and said there's no proof that taking it causes any
harm.

Antibiotics won’t help because they treat bacteria, not viruses. If you hear about people
with COVID-19 getting antibiotics, it’s for an infection that came along with the disease.

People with severe symptoms need to be cared for in the hospital.

Numerous clinical trials are under way to explore treatments used for other conditions
that could fight COVID-19 and to develop new ones. Several studies are focused on an
antiviral medication called remdesivir, which was created to fight Ebola.

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Clinical trials and off-label use (using a drug for something it isn’t approved to treat)
showed the drugs chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate could treat
COVID-19. As a result, the FDA granted an emergency use authorization that lets doctors
use them for people hospitalized with COVID-19 and in clinical trials to study them
further. The medications have long been approved to treat malaria and autoimmune
conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Is there a cure for the new coronavirus?

There’s no cure yet, but researchers are working hard to find one.

COVID-19 Outlook
Every case is different. You may have mild flu-like symptoms for a few days after
exposure, then get better. But some cases can be severe or fatal.

What is the recovery rate for coronavirus?

Scientists and researchers are constantly tracking COVID-19 infections and recoveries.
But they don’t have information about the outcome of every infection. Early estimates
predict that the overall COVID-19 recovery rate will be between 97% and 99.75%.

Can you get the coronavirus twice?

Doctors aren’t sure if you can get reinfected after you’ve had it. With other coronaviruses
that only cause colds, you have a period that you’re immune, but that goes away over
time.

Past Coronaviruses
Are coronaviruses new?

Coronaviruses were first identified in the 1960s. Almost everyone gets a coronavirus
infection at least once in their life, most likely as a young child. In the United States,
regular coronaviruses are more common in the fall and winter, but anyone can come
down with a coronavirus infection at any time.

The symptoms of most coronaviruses are similar to any other upper respiratory
infection, including a runny nose, coughing, sore throat, and sometimes a fever. In most
cases, you won't know whether you have a coronavirus or a different cold-causing virus,
such as a rhinovirus. You treat this kind of coronavirus infection the same way you treat
a cold.

Have there been other serious coronavirus outbreaks?

Coronaviruses have led to two serious outbreaks:

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Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). About 858 people have died from
MERS, which first appeared in Saudi Arabia and then in other countries in the
Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. In April 2014, the first American was
hospitalized for MERS in Indiana, and another case was reported in Florida. Both
had just returned from Saudi Arabia. In May 2015, there was an outbreak of MERS
in South Korea, which was the largest outbreak outside of the Arabian Peninsula.

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