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COVID-19 Diagnosed or Suspected

COVID-19 Disease: Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Trusted Source for Accurate Information: CDC
    • To meet the high demand for COVID-19 information, when possible, find your answers online. Here is the most reliable website:
    • Always follow the most current CDC recommendations if they are different than those in this care guide.
  2. COVID-19 Symptoms:
    • The most common symptoms are cough, sore throat, headache and fever. Some patients progress to shortness of breath (trouble breathing).
    • Other common symptoms are chills, shivering (shaking), runny nose, muscle pain, fatigue (tiredness) and loss of smell or taste.
    • The CDC also includes the following less-common symptoms: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
    • Some people may have very mild symptoms. Some can have no symptoms, but still spread the disease.
  3. COVID-19 Facts:
    • Incubation period: average 3 to 5 days (range 2 to 14 days) after coming in contact with the secretions of a person who has COVID-19. Incubation periods can vary depending on the variant.
    • No Symptoms, but Infected: some infected patients have no symptoms.
    • Mild Infections: most people with symptoms have a mild illness, much like normal flu or a bad cold. The symptoms usually last 2 weeks.
    • Severe Infections: in general, severe infection refers to patients who develop trouble breathing from viral pneumonia. Unvaccinated adults have the highest rate of this complication. Many of these need to be admitted to the hospital. People with complications generally recover in 3 to 6 weeks. Severe infections are very rare in people who are up to date with vaccines and boosters.
    • Deaths: older adults, especially those with chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, obesity or weak immune systems, have the highest death rates.
    • Vaccine: safe and effective vaccines are available. At this time, COVID-19 vaccines have been tested and are FDA approved for ages 6 months and older. Stay up to date by getting all recommended shots when eligible. Check the CDC website to see if you are current on your vaccines.
    • Breakthrough cases are COVID-19 infections that happen despite vaccine protection. They are more common with new variants. Many of these infections do not cause any symptoms. The vaccine prevents almost all hospital admissions and deaths.
    • Treatment: anti-viral treatments for COVID-19 are available. They are mainly used for high risk patients and those who are hospitalized.
    • Prevention: the COVID-19 vaccine and booster are the best way to prevent serious infections.
  4. COVID-19 - How it is Spread:
    • COVID-19 is spread from person to person.
    • The virus spreads when respiratory droplets are produced when a person coughs, sneezes, shouts or sings. The infected droplets can then be inhaled by a nearby person or land on the surface of their eyes.
    • Most infected people also have respiratory secretions on their hands. These secretions are spread to healthy people on doorknobs, faucet handles, etc. The virus then gets spread to healthy people when they touch their face or rub their eyes.
    • These are how most respiratory viruses spread.