COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a type of coronavirus. Symptoms range from mild and cold-like to severe and life-threatening.

Coronaviruses have typically caused common colds. But in 2019, a new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, started infecting humans and causing severe illness. At the peak of the pandemic — when COVID was spreading around the world — tens of thousands of people were hospitalized every day in the U.S. alone. Millions of people have died.

Medical professionals’ understanding has grown a lot since the start of the pandemic. The virus itself keeps changing — we’ve gone through variants alpha, beta, gamma, delta and now omicron. Scientists have developed treatments and vaccines that have reduced the number of people ending up in the hospital.

But COVID isn’t “over.” It can still make you severely ill, cause symptoms that last months or years, and be fatal.

Symptoms of COVID-19

COVID symptoms include:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Tiredness (fatigue)
• Body aches
• Chills
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of or altered sense of smell and taste
• Difficulty thinking and focusing (brain fog)
• Digestive symptoms, like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting

Some people have no symptoms but can still spread the virus.

COVID causes

SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID. It’s a type of coronavirus, a group of viruses that also cause common colds. But this isn’t the first time a coronavirus has caused serious illness. SARS, a severe respiratory disease that spread between 2002 and 2004, was also a coronavirus.

COVID spreads through respiratory droplets. This means you can get it from coughing, sneezing and talking. You might also get it from touching contaminated objects and surfaces.

Risk factors

You’re at an increased risk of being hospitalized with COVID-19 if you:

• Are over 65
• Are pregnant
• Smoke or used to smoke
• Have received a solid organ or stem cell transplant

You’re also at an increased risk if you have:

• A blood disorder such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia
• Cancer
• Cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke
• Chronic conditions that affect your lungs, kidneys, liver or heart
• Congenital conditions like cerebral palsy or Down syndrome
• Diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2)
• HIV/AIDS or a compromised (weakened) immune system
• Mental health conditions, such as depression or schizophrenia spectrum disorders
• Neurological conditions, like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
• Obesity
• Substance use disorders such as alcohol, opioid or cocaine use disorder
• Tuberculosis

Complications of COVID

COVID can cause serious complications, even if you don’t feel very sick. These include:

• Pneumonia
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• Blood clots, including pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Heart inflammation (myocarditis/pericarditis)
• Cardiac arrest
• Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)
• Long COVID, a condition where pain, extreme fatigue and other symptoms last for months or years after a COVID infection

How doctors diagnose COVID

Healthcare providers diagnose COVID by swabbing your nose with a soft-tipped stick and testing it with a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), like a PCR test. You can also test at home with a rapid antigen test.

How is COVID treated?

COVID can be treated with antiviral medications. These include nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid®), remdesivir (Veklury®) and molnupiravir (Lagevrio™). When taken within the first five days, antivirals can help you feel better and reduce your risk of severe illness and long COVID.

If you’re severely ill and hospitalized, your healthcare provider might treat you with:

• Monoclonal antibody treatment
• Supplemental oxygen
• Corticosteroids
• Mechanical ventilation

Recovery time

Many people recover from symptoms like congestion, sore throat and cough in about two weeks. But tiredness, shortness of breath and other symptoms can linger for weeks or even months afterwards.

How long are you contagious with COVID?

You can be contagious with COVID from a couple of days before your symptoms start to about eight to 10 days after.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

If you have symptoms of COVID, talk to your provider early to see if you should take an antiviral. See your provider if your symptoms last longer than four weeks, especially if they aren’t improving.

When should I go to the ER?

Call 911 or get to an emergency room if you experience:

• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Severe leg pain, warmth or other signs of deep vein thrombosis
• Blue or gray skin, lips or nails (cyanosis)
• Confusion

Can COVID be prevented?

Making sure you’re up to date with a current COVID vaccine is the best way to reduce your risk of getting sick with COVID — and reduce your risk of severe illness if you do get sick. You’re also less likely to get long COVID if you’re vaccinated.

You can also reduce your risk by washing your hands frequently and wearing a mask when COVID is spreading. Be courteous and avoid being around others if you’re sick or might’ve been exposed to someone who’s sick.

If you have a compromised immune system, the monoclonal antibody medication pemivibart (Pemgarda™) might be an option. A provider gives it to you in an IV (through your vein) to reduce your risk of getting COVID (pre-exposure prophylaxis).

What can I expect if I have COVID?

The outlook for COVID is different for everyone. Some people have only mild symptoms. Some get very sick and need to be hospitalized. Sometimes, your symptoms seem to get better and then get much worse. Always seek emergency medical attention for severe symptoms, no matter when they happen.

Is there anything I can do to feel better?

Over-the-counter medications can help ease some of the symptoms of COVID, though they won’t treat the virus itself. If your child has COVID, talk to their pediatrician before giving them medications to make sure they’re safe to take.

How long should I quarantine after a positive COVID test with symptoms?

According to current CDC recommendations in the U.S., you should self-isolate until you’ve met both of the following criteria:

• It’s been five days since your symptoms first appeared and your symptoms are improving.
• You haven’t had a fever for 24 hours and you haven’t used fever-lowering medications during this time.