What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a type of germ called a coronavirus.¹ COVID-19 causes sickness in the lungs and other parts of the body. The best way to prevent getting sick is to stay away from people sick with COVID-19 and to get the updated vaccine. The vaccines are safe and effective for preventing infection.
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What are symptoms of COVID-19?
Some or all of the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after contact with the virus:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breating
- Extreme tiredness
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
How is COVID-19 spread?
COVID-19 is spread by tiny water droplets carrying the virus. People can become sick by:
- Breathing in the droplets. This can happen when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, breathes, or talks
- Touching your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching objects covered in the droplets.
COVID-19 can be spread even by people who do not feel sick or have symptoms.
How can I protect myself, my family, and my community?
The best way to protect yourself and your family from COVID-19 is by getting a COVID-19 vaccine. It is also important to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine each year. It’s okay if you didn’t get a vaccine previously, getting an updated vaccine this year will still be effective.
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The best way to protect your community, besides getting the vaccine, is by:
- Wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth
- Staying home if you are feeling sick
- Avoiding contact with people who are sick
- Using hand sanitizer
- Washing hands often with soap and water
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Covering your coughs and sneezes
What else should I know?
The COVID-19 vaccine has been tested. It is safe and effective for children ages 6 months and older. The COVID-19 vaccine protects groups who may be more at risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including:
- People ages 60 years and older
- People experiencing chronic health conditions
- People with weakened immune systems
- Children younger than 5 years old
- Pregnant people
What should I do if I think I have COVID-19?
- Stay home if you are feeling sick
- Cover your coughs and sneezes
- Avoid close contact with people or animals
- Take a COVID test
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- Pre-record a greeting and send it while standing six feet away
If you test positive for COVID-19, take care of your symptoms. Try to stay away from people, or wear a face mask if around others. If you test negative, take care of your symptoms and consider taking a COVID test in 24 hours.
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Urgently seek medical care if you have any of these emergency symptoms:
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- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain or pressure
- Difficulty waking up or staying awake
- Blue colored lips or face
- Dehydration
People who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness may be eligible for a treatment called Paxlovid. This medication must be started within 5 days of when COVID-19 symptoms start. Paxlovid is currently available to people 12 years and older.