How long does the coronavirus remain in the air?
Aerosolized coronavirus can remain in the air for up to three hours. A mask can help prevent that spread.
How is the coronavirus transmitted?
The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person, typically through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking.
What is the recommended treatment for the coronavirus?
People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. People with mild symptoms are able to recover at home. If you experience a medical emergency such as trouble breathing, call 911 and let the operator know you may have COVID-19. For severe illness, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions.
Who is at risk for severe COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a new disease and CDC is learning more about it every day. Among adults, the risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age, with older adults at highest risk. Severe illness means that the person with COVID-19 may require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe, or they may even die. People of any age with certain underlying medical conditions (which now include pregnancy) are also at increased risk for severe illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Can COVID-19 affect a newborn baby?
COVID-19 is uncommon in newborns born to mothers who had COVID-19 during pregnancy. Some newborns have tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after birth. It is unknown if these newborns got the virus before, during, or after birth. Most newborns who tested positive for COVID-19 had mild or no symptoms and recovered.
Does COVID-19 damage the liver?
Some patients hospitalized for COVID-19 have had increased levels of liver enzymes — such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Increased levels of liver enzymes can mean that a person’s liver is at least temporarily damaged. People with cirrhosis [liver scarring] may be at increased risk of COVID-19. Some studies have shown that people with pre-existing liver disease (chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, or related complications) who were diagnosed with COVID-19 are at higher risk of death than people without pre-existing liver disease.
What is the COVID-19 antigen test?
Antigen tests are immunoassays that detect the presence of a specific viral antigen, which implies current viral infection. Antigen tests are currently authorized to be performed on nasopharyngeal or nasal swab specimens placed directly into the assay’s extraction buffer or reagent.
Is COVID-19 reinfection possible?
Cases of reinfection of COVID-19 have been reported but are rare. In general, reinfection means a person was infected (got sick) once, recovered, and then later became infected again.
Does sunlight kill COVID-19?
Scientists are still studying whether ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun destroys the coronavirus.