Coronavirus Resource Center

A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads to many areas around the world. The World Health Organization has called COVID-19 a pandemic because the disease has traveled worldwide.

An epidemic is an outbreak of infectious disease (or sometimes another health problem) that is happening much more than usual in an area. When COVID-19 first appeared in China, it was called an epidemic because of the rapid rise in the number of infections there.

It’s important to show thanks for the many hours of hard work that health care workers are putting in to take care of us. They are risking their own lives to help others. And they are worried about exposing their own families. Here are some things you can do to help those providers and all of us.

• Practice social distancing to help prevent the spread of the virus. This will help all of us stay healthier, which reduces the burden on hospitals and health care workers. Stay at home as much as you can.
• Keep washing your hands. This also will help reduce the spread of the virus and the stress on the health care system.
• Don’t buy N95 face masks. These masks are in short supply. Health care workers need the masks to protect themselves when they care for people who are sick.
• Call ahead to your doctor’s office or urgent care if you think you have symptoms of COVID-19. These include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Calling ahead allows a provider to tell you if you need to be seen and to prepare before you come in. Follow their instructions. They may ask you to stay home if you have mild symptoms that can be treated at home.
• Be kind to health care workers. They have a lot of people to care for at a stressful time. So be patient and follow their instructions at the clinic or hospital. The rules are in place for everyone’s protection.

An antibody test looks for antibodies in the blood. These are proteins that your immune system makes, usually after you’re exposed to germs like viruses or bacteria. Antibodies work to fight illness.

An antibody test for COVID-19 could help you know if you‘ve already had the virus that causes this illness. (A different kind of test is used to tell if you are currently infected with COVID-19 and able to infect others.) Without antibody testing, many people who have been exposed to COVID-19 won’t even know it, because they never had symptoms or had only mild ones.

People who already have antibodies to the COVID-19 virus and don’t have symptoms might be safe to go back to work or school or to travel. In theory, they’ve already had the infection, so they can’t get it again or spread it to anyone else. That’s why many companies are advertising antibody tests and some communities are embracing them.

Over time, antibody testing may help with decisions about when we can end social distancing and “get back to normal.” It may also help us know who is still at risk and needs to be protected.

Public health authorities or your doctor will tell you if and how to get an antibody test.

If you are well and meet the donor guidelines, you can donate blood. This is true even if you live in an area with a shelter-in-place order, according to the American Red Cross.

Blood donations help save lives. The need is especially urgent because many blood drives have been canceled over fears about COVID-19.

Donation sites are taking extra steps to keep you safe. For example, they’re doing extra disinfecting of equipment and spacing chairs at least 6 feet apart. They also are checking temperatures and the overall health of donors and the staff members who draw the blood.

The Red Cross advises you to postpone blood donations if you are sick or in isolation or if you have traveled to certain areas where COVID-19 is widespread. If you have questions, call your local blood donation center or see the Red Cross website: https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/coronavirus--covid-19--and-blood-donation.html

MIS-C is a rare but serious condition that’s probably related to COVID-19. It causes inflammation, which can affect the heart and other organs. A child usually has a fever for 24 hours or longer, plus other symptoms. Examples include belly pain, vomiting, diarrhea, a rash, and red eyes. Most children get better with treatment.

There’s no evidence yet that any supplement can prevent infection with COVID-19. Vitamins C and D are the supplements that have been studied the most for other respiratory infections. The studies so far have shown mixed results for vitamins C and D preventing respiratory infections or reducing how severe they are. Some studies showed some benefit, while others didn’t.

Experts do agree that the best way to boost your immune system is by having a healthy lifestyle. It’s important to get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, stay active, limit alcohol if you drink, and find ways to reduce stress.

Experts say it may be possible to get the virus by touching something that has the virus on it. This includes surfaces like tables and countertops and objects such as doorknobs, faucets, toilets, remote controls, and handles on the fridge and microwave.

To clean and disinfect surfaces and objects:

• Wear disposable gloves. Throw them away after you clean and disinfect. Wash your hands after you take off the gloves.
• Use a detergent or soap and water to clean any dirt from surfaces and objects.
• To kill the virus, use a household disinfectant cleaner, a household bleach solution, or alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol. Make sure the product is right for the type of surface you are cleaning. Follow the directions on the product. To make your own bleach solution, follow the directions on the label for how to dilute the bleach.

It’s best to only go out if you have to. For example, you might need to go to a supermarket or to work. Ask yourself if the trip out is necessary. Do you have to go out to eat, or can you choose take-out or even better, cook at home?

If you do go out, try to avoid groups of people. Practice social distancing. This means if you have to be around someone, don’t get too close. It’s safest to stay at least 6 feet away from others, but if you can’t be 6 feet apart, stay as far apart as possible. Wearing a cloth face cover or mask can also help protect you and others.

Avoid people who may be ill. Try to avoid touching things that a lot of other people have touched (like door handles and elevator buttons). Wash your hands often with soap and water. Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you can’t wash, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Yes. Activity is good for your body, mind, and mood. Experts say you can walk or hike, or do other activity outside—as long as you can stay 6 feet away from other people. You can wave at neighbors or shout a hello. You can stop for a quick chat, if you are 6 feet or more away from them.

If you know that you have been exposed to someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19, quarantine yourself for 14 days. In some cases it may be shorter. Ask your doctor when it's safe to end your quarantine. While you are in quarantine, don’t go to work, to school, or to any social events. Only go out if you need medical care (after you have called your doctor’s office to get instructions). Stay in a separate room at home if at all possible. This will help protect people in your household. Wear a cloth face cover anytime you have to be around others.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, or shortness of breath), call your doctor. Tell them your symptoms. They will let you know if you need care or testing.

Your immune system can change during pregnancy. Experience with similar viruses has shown that you may become sicker than people who aren’t pregnant. The virus may cause problems with your pregnancy.

It’s important to do what you can to be as healthy as possible. This includes taking steps to prevent infection, such as washing your hands often, staying at least 6 feet away from people, and wearing a cloth face cover. Keep having regular prenatal visits. Stay in touch with your health care team.

You can wash an ill person’s items along with other people’s clothing. Just take care when handling the person’s dirty laundry.

• Wear disposable gloves. If you don’t have disposable gloves, wash your hands after handling the laundry of a person infected with the virus.
• Don’t shake out the laundry before you wash it. This can prevent releasing the virus into the air.
• Wash the clothes in the warmest temperature that is allowed for the type of fabric.
• Make sure the clothes are completely dry.
• Use a separate basket to hold the person’s dirty laundry. Line it with a disposable or washable liner to keep the basket clean.

You can clean and disinfect your phone. But be careful not to spray liquid on it. Moisture could get in the phone and damage it.

• Unplug the phone from charging or any devices or cables.
• Spray a non-abrasive disinfectant or 70% isopropyl alcohol on a soft, lint-free cloth. (Don’t use paper towels or anything else that is abrasive.)
• Gently clean the phone (and phone case if you use one) with the cloth.
• Don’t use bleach to clean the phone.

You can do a few other things to help keep your phone clean—and help keep you safe:

• Text or email photos to others instead of handing people your phone.
• Avoid putting your phone on surfaces that you haven’t disinfected.
• Use Bluetooth or a headset when possible. That way the phone isn’t touching your face.

You can chat or say hello if you can do it from 6 feet or more away from the person. It’s important to keep your distance and wear a cloth face cover to help stop the spread of the virus. You may think you’re healthy, but you could carry the virus and spread it even if you feel fine. And so could your friends. So no parties, handshakes, hugs, or high-fives.

You can do things like chat with a neighbor over the fence, as long as you keep your distance. You can always call friends and family or see each other on Skype, FaceTime, or another type of video call.

Soap does the not-so-dirty work of destroying the virus by breaking it apart. This coronavirus, like many other viruses, has an outer, fatty layer. It’s believed to help protect the virus from the defenses of the host that it’s invading.

A soap molecule has a head that likes water and a tail that doesn’t. When you wash your hands with soap and water, the tail tries to get away from the water by getting into the fatty layer of the virus. It breaks through the fat layer, and the virus falls apart, or “dies.” (It really becomes inactive, since viruses aren’t really alive.) Scrubbing your hands while washing also helps wash away the virus.

Any soap will work. Washing your hands with soap and water is best. But if soap and water aren’t available, hand sanitizers that have at least 60% alcohol also will disable the virus. You need to use enough sanitizer to cover all areas of your hands.

Some people who have COVID-19 don’t have any symptoms. That’s called being asymptomatic. That’s another reason why it’s important to keep following social distancing guidelines and stay at least 6 feet away from others.

People with COVID-19 seem to be most contagious when they have symptoms like a fever and a cough.

Everyone can help protect themselves and their community. The U.S. government has issued guidelines to help slow the spread of the virus:

• Work from home, if possible, and keep kids home from school.
• Don’t go out to restaurants, bars, or food courts. Instead, if you want food from a restaurant, seek out places that offer drive-thru, pick up, or delivery.
• Don’t go out to friends’ or family members’ houses or invite them to yours.
• Don’t visit older people in retirement communities or nursing homes.
• Don’t travel unless you have to.
• Keep your hands and your home clean. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Disinfect items in your home that you touch a lot.
• Wear a cloth face cover whenever you have to go to public places like the grocery store or pharmacy.

Close contact means that you are closer than 6 feet away for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period of time from someone who has COVID-19.

There’s no evidence that the virus can be spread through water or food.

While food doesn’t spread the virus, it’s important to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before you prepare food. It’s also important to disinfect surfaces like kitchen counters, tables, and objects that you touch.

If you know or suspect that you have COVID-19, staying away from others is the right thing to do. Self-isolating can help keep the virus from spreading.

It’s safe to be around others again when:

• You haven’t had a fever for 24 hours while not taking medicines to lower the fever, and
• Your symptoms have improved, and
• It’s been at least 10 days since your symptoms started.

Talk to your doctor about whether you also need testing, especially if you have a weakened immune system.

Yes, children get the same symptoms as adults, such as a fever, cough, and trouble breathing.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but serious condition that's probably related to COVID-19. It causes inflammation, which can affect the heart and other organs. A child with MIS-C usually has a fever for 24 hours or longer, plus other symptoms. Examples include belly pain, vomiting, diarrhea, a rash, and red eyes. Most children get better with treatment.

Experts don’t know why some people, even those who are healthy, get very sick. Overall, COVID-19 seems to cause fewer problems in people who are young and healthy. Those who are older or have other health problems, like diabetes or heart disease, have a higher risk of getting very sick. But the virus can affect anyone, even those who are young and healthy. And it can cause serious problems (even death) at any age.

No. Antibiotics treat infections that are caused by bacteria. COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus. Viruses are different than bacteria. Antibiotics don’t help and can even cause other problems.

The length of time someone is sick with COVID-19 varies. It depends on how sick a person is. When people are mildly ill, they usually get better in 1 or 2 weeks.

People who are more severely ill have worse symptoms, like severe shortness of breath and pneumonia. They need care in a hospital. They usually get better in 3 to 6 weeks. Some people who get very sick may need even more time to recover.

Some people with COVID-19 have very mild or no symptoms. They may get over the infection without even knowing they had it.

A ventilator is a machine that breathes for a person when they can’t breathe well enough on their own. COVID-19 is a respiratory virus. This means it can affect the breathing systems of the body, especially the lungs. Most people with COVID-19 don’t get seriously ill. But when someone is very ill, the infection affects the lungs so severely that breathing is hard or impossible.

A ventilator has a tube that goes through the mouth into the lungs. The machine brings oxygen into the lungs and removes carbon dioxide. A ventilator is important because it does the work of the lungs and gives them time to heal. After they heal, the tube can be removed.

Mild cases of COVID-19 can be treated at home. Serious cases need treatment in the hospital. Treatment may include medicines to reduce symptoms, plus breathing support such as oxygen therapy or a ventilator. Some people may be placed on their belly to help their oxygen levels.

If your test is negative and your symptoms continue or get worse, you should call your doctor or other health care provider. They will tell you if you need another test.

No medical test is perfect. If your test result is positive, you are believed to have COVID-19. You will be diagnosed with it. But if your test result is negative, you still could have COVID-19. There are several reasons why a test might be negative, even though you have been infected. For example, your virus levels might be too low for the test to detect. Or the virus may not have been in your nose, throat, or lung fluid when the test was done, even though it was in your body.

Sometimes there are errors in how the sample was collected or how the test was run. This could cause a negative test, even when you have an infection.