Coronavirus (COVID-19)

As Coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) cases continue to dot the world map, your risk of contracting the virus remains low. How can you help protect yourself and your loved ones?

What are the symptoms?

Fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat and trouble breathing are the most common symptoms of the coronavirus. Rarer cases can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and kidney failure. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14, after exposure.

What you need to know

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is spread the same way as the common cold and flu, such as when someone sneezes or coughs into the air around you. To help protect yourself, go back to the basics and practice good personal hygiene:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Don’t forget to wash the backs of your hands and under your nails. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. According to the CDC, 60 – 95% of alcohol concentration in hand sanitizers are the most effective at killing germs.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Our hands touch every surface that the virus can linger – like a doorknob or countertop. When you touch your face, you could end up infecting yourself.
Cover your mouth when you cough, or sneeze into a tissue and throw it away. Coughing and sneezing can disperse the virus into the air. Limit transmitting the germs by covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze into a tissue.
Don’t shake hands. Coronavirus symptoms can take up to 14 days to appear, which means a seemingly healthy person could spread the illness. Keep your hands to yourself and just say, “Hi.”
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Focus on your nutrition, making sure you have healthy food on hand. If you do get sick, your body’s response to the virus could be faster.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you know someone is sick, it is best to avoid close contact with them.
If you have symptoms that you are concerned about, stay home and contact your doctor.

To stay up to date on all the latest Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) information, visit the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.