How can I better understand the coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Information in this section is from the World Health Organization. For more detailed information, please refer to their website.
Coronavirus is a type of virus that causes respiratory illness – an infection of the airways and lungs. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus. It’s part of the same family of coronaviruses that includes the common cold. The coronavirus outbreak was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Since then, the virus has spread to many other countries.
The most common early symptoms appear between 2 and 14 days after infection. Symptoms can be mild to severe and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. While most people recover from the virus without needing special treatment, older people and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems, or diabetes are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
Like many viruses, the coronavirus (COVID-19) seems to spread from person-to-person through a cough, sneeze, or kiss. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that the risk in the U.S. is still low. They will update this status regularly on their website.