What is coronavirus disease 19?
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- COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus that has not been found in people before.
- Because this is a new virus, there are still things we do not know, such as how severe the illness can be, how well it is transmitted between people, and other features of the virus. More information will be provided when it is available.
Symptoms of COVID-19
- Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell.
- These symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure.
Severity
- Many cases have mild or moderate illness and do not require a clinic visit and most do not require hospitalization.
- Those at highest risk for severe illness include older people or those that have certain underlying health conditions. These include high-risk conditions like a blood disorder, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, compromised immune system, late term or recent pregnancy, endocrine disorders, metabolic disorders, heart disease, lung disease and neurological conditions. Check with your health care provider to see if you are considered high risk.