COVID-19 Question and Answer

Categories: Covid 19

Ques 1. What is COVID-19 ("Coronavirus")?

Ans. The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new illness that was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, with patients reporting cases of fever and acute respiratory illness. Since that time, other countries, including the U.S., have seen cases of the illness.

Ques 2. How is the virus transmitted?

Ans. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS and SARS. Many of the early patients in the pneumonia outbreak caused by COVID-19 in Wuhan, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, person-to-person spread is now occurring. 

Ques 3. What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Ans. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of: 

a. Fever

b. Cough

c. Shortness of breath

The CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure. 

Ques 4. How can COVID-19 infection be prevented?

Ans. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus. 

As a reminder, the CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including: 

a. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

​b. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. 

c. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 

d. Stay home when you are sick. 

e. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Ques 5. Who should seek medical treatment?

Ans. Patients with fever and/or acute respiratory illness who have traveled in the past 14 days to an area affected by COVID-19, or who have had close contact with someone who is under investigation for, or lab-confirmed, with COVID-19 should seek medical attention.  

You should call ahead before going to the doctor or emergency room, describe your symptoms and identify when you traveled to an affected area.