*The World Health Organization has named the disease caused by the virus COVID-19: “CO” stands for corona, “VI” for virus, “D” stands for disease, and “19” for the year it emerged.
Symptoms appear 2-14 days after exposure, and include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell.
Take the AHN COVID-19 Symptom Checker to check Coronavirus symptoms and get advice on whether it's time to seek medical care, self-isolate, or continue practicing social distancing. If you are having an emergency, CALL 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.
COVID-19 testing kits are in limited supply and this issue is being addressed by federal, state, and local officials across the nation.
There is no antiviral treatment for COVID-19. People diagnosed with COVID-19 will be provided with care to help relieve symptoms.
Contact your doctor, health care provider, or local county health department. They will use CDC guidelines to determine if testing is warranted.
Contact your primary care physician for testing options.
More Coronavirus Testing Information
Your primary care physician will be able to help you. If you don't have one, visit Find a Doctor for help in finding a doctor near you.
More Coronavirus Testing Information
On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) publicly characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.
See the CDC quick tip sheet.
The CDC has not yet identified any factors that would increase an individual's risk of acquiring COVID-19. However, the very young and elderly, pregnant woman, or people with compromised immunity (i.e., recent surgeries, cancer, etc.) are at higher risk of complications if infected with COVID-19. Older adults and people who have severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease seem to be at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 illness. Early data suggest older people are twice as likely to have serious COVID-19 illness.
We do not yet know if pregnant women have a greater chance of getting sick from COVID-19 than the general public. With viruses from the same family as COVID-19, and viral respiratory infections such as influenza, women have had a higher risk of developing severe illness.
More Pregnancy and Coronavirus Information
Your OBGYN and hospital will be able to help you understand the precautions they are taking. Sick patients will be separated into different sections of the hospital.
More Pregnancy and Coronavirus Information
Your primary care physician will be able to help you. If you don't have one, visit Find a Doctor for help in finding a doctor near you.
There is no evidence showing children are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. The majority of known cases have been in adults.
The CDC recommends that any child over 2 years old should wear a mask in public or within 6 feet of others. Child face mask tips and tricks.
Hospitals are prepared to quarantine ill patients and are taking precautions during admission. It is crucial that you call ahead before visiting a hospital, emergency room, or other care facility so they can prepare for your arrival.
Visitor limitations are in place. Please check with your local hospital.
No, the CDC recommends making face masks from household items. Simple cloth face coverings help slow the spread of the virus, especially in community settings. Surgical masks and N95 respirators are in short supply and should be saved for health care workers or first responders.
Yes. A COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use in the United States. The rollout and distribution will be determined by each individual state and the CDC has set guidelines to help with those decisions.
In most cases, frontline workers will receive the vaccine first. The next group will be individuals deemed as “high risk,” meaning they are of a certain age or have a particular health condition. A general population rollout will come last.
You can learn more about the vaccine and distribution here.
Yes, the CDC recommends wearing a cloth face mask in public settings where other social distancing measures are hard to maintain, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and other public areas. We now know from recent studies that many people with Coronavirus can transmit the virus to others even if they don’t have symptoms. This means that the virus can spread between people interacting closely — for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not showing symptoms. In light of this new evidence, CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings.
To learn how to make a mask with household items, visit the CDC guide here
Yes, you should still practice social distancing and wash your hands when wearing a face mask. A cloth face mask helps prevent you from spreading the virus, but isn’t designed to protect you from others.
See the CDC quick tip sheet.
Contact your employer’s Human Resources department for guidelines. CDC recommends avoiding all non-critical travel.
The CDC recommends avoiding all non-critical travel.
A COVID-19 vaccine is approved, and distribution will begin soon. You can learn more about it here. However, until you’re able to receive the vaccine, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
The CDC recommends avoiding all non-essential travel. If you have symptoms or think you may have been exposed to someone infected with COVID-19, contact your primary care doctor immediately.
