LibGuides: Coronavirus COVID-19: COVID-19 Basic Information

COVID-19 Information

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

How does COVID-19 spread? The virus that causes COVID-19 probably emerged from an animal source, but now it seems to be spreading from person to person. It's important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some diseases are highly contagious (like measles), while other diseases are less so. At this time, it's unclear how easily or sustainably the virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading between people. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of

fever
cough
shortness of breath

What are severe complications from this virus? Many patients have pneumonia in both lungs.How can I help protect myself? The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. What should I do if I recently traveled to China and got sick? If you were in China within the past 14 days and feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, you should seek medical care. Call the office of your health care provider before you go, and tell them about your travel and your symptoms. They will give you instructions on how to get care without exposing other people to your illness. While sick, avoid contact with people, don't go out, and delay any travel to reduce the possibility of spreading illness to others.Is there a vaccine? There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. As of March 16, 2020, developers are conducting a trial test of a potential vaccine, however, new drugs must pass through three iterative phases of clinical trials before being deemed safe enough for widespread use.Is there a treatment? There is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19 at this time. People with COVID-19 can seek medical care to help relieve symptoms.