Posted on by rpyrtle

About coronavirus (COVID-19)

What is coronavirus and COVID-19?
Coronavirus is a family of viruses that cause respiratory illness — an infection of the airways and lungs. COVID-19 is a new disease caused by a strain of coronavirus. It’s part of the same family of coronavirus diseases that includes the common cold.

What are the symptoms?
The most common early symptoms appear between 2 and 14 days after infection. Symptoms can be mild to severe. They include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

How does the virus spread?
Like many other viruses, COVID-19 seems to spread from person to person through a cough, sneeze, or kiss.

What is the risk?
As of today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the risk in the U.S. is still low. It will update the status regularly on the CDC website.

 

Prevention and treatment

 

How to protect yourself
Frequent hand-washing is the most effective way to protect yourself from infection. Other good habits to practice include covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and cleaning frequently touched items such as phones, keyboards, and doorknobs to help remove germs. Read our FAQ or visit the CDC website for more on prevention and treatment.

What if I have symptoms
Call your doctor if you develop a fever, have a cough, or have difficulty breathing; or if you’ve been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled to an area where the virus has spread. Check if your plan offers telehealth benefits so you can see a doctor online. If you think you’re infected, using telehealth helps prevent spreading a virus.

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