WHAT IS COVID-19?
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19?
HOW IS COVID-19 TRANSMITTED?
HOW LONG CAN I BE INFECTED WITH COVID-19 AND NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS?
CAN I BE CONTAGIOUS IF I HAVE NO SYMPTOMS?
WHO IS MOST AT RISK FOR SEVERE SYMPTOMS FROM COVID-19?
WHY IS THE FATALITY RATE HIGHER IN OLDER ADULTS?
ARE THERE ANY MEDICATIONS THAT CAN TREAT COVID-19?
WHAT CAN I DO TO LOWER THE RISK OF COVID-19 FOR MYSELF AND THOSE AROUND ME?
HOW DO I TELL MY CHILDREN ABOUT COVID-19?
- COVID-19 is the name for a disease caused by a new virus of the coronaviridae family that was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
- The virus itself is called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2, because of similarities between this new virus and the coronavirus responsible for the SARS outbreak in 2003.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19?
- Symptoms of COVID-19 vary per person and can range from fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath to diarrhea, muscle-aches, and fatigue.
- Many young, healthy folks are likely asymptomatic or have symptoms that mimic the cold/flu, yet are still carriers of the virus who can spread it to anyone they come in contact with.
- Please practice social distancing. It helps us “flatten the curve,” avoid overwhelming our health system.
- COVID-19 is most dangerous for those who are elderly and/or have pre-existing heart/lung issues including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. These patients are at a greater risk of getting seriously ill and needing hospitalization and/or respiratory support (e.g. requiring a ventilator, or machine to help you breathe)
- There is no cure for COVID-19. If admitted, the hospital will give supportive care (e.g. fluids, oxygen) to help you stay alive while your body fights the disease.
- Research is underway to try and find drugs that can help your body fight the virus, but could take a long time before making sure these drugs are safe and the benefits outweigh any harms from taking them.
HOW IS COVID-19 TRANSMITTED?
- COVID-19 is transmitted person-to-person, primarily in respiratory droplets that contain the virus.
- An individual can become infected when they come in contact with respiratory droplets directly or when they touch a surface that the virus has landed on.
HOW LONG CAN I BE INFECTED WITH COVID-19 AND NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS?
- The COVID-19 incubation period, or the time between the virus entering someone's body and them showing symptoms, is estimated to be 2-14 days.
- However, it is important to remember that there are some people who never show symptoms but have still tested positive for the virus.
CAN I BE CONTAGIOUS IF I HAVE NO SYMPTOMS?
- It is possible to transmit the virus to someone else even if you are not showing symptoms.
WHO IS MOST AT RISK FOR SEVERE SYMPTOMS FROM COVID-19?
- COVID-19 is most dangerous for those who are elderly and/or have pre-existing heart and lung issues including hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. These patients are at a greater risk of developing serious disease requiring hospitalization and/or respiratory support (e.g. requiring a ventilator, or machine to help you breathe).
- That being said, there are still young, healthy people that have been hospitalized due to COVID-19.
WHY IS THE FATALITY RATE HIGHER IN OLDER ADULTS?
- Your immune system begins weakening after age 50
- Death rate tracks closely with “comorbidity”, i.e. the presence of other conditions that compromise the patient’s heart, especially respiratory or cardiovascular illness.
- Risk of pneumonia is higher in older adults.
- COVID-19’s death rate can be ten times higher than the flu’s.
ARE THERE ANY MEDICATIONS THAT CAN TREAT COVID-19?
- There is no accepted treatment for COVID-19. If someone is admitted to the hospital, they will receive supportive care, such as IV fluids and oxygen, to help them as much as possible while their body fights the disease.
- Research is underway to find drugs that can help your body fight the virus, but will probably take several months before researchers have concluded if there is a medication that is both safe and effective.
WHAT CAN I DO TO LOWER THE RISK OF COVID-19 FOR MYSELF AND THOSE AROUND ME?
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Please do not hoard hand sanitizer or other essential resources.
- Other resources:
- More info on social distancing, self-quarantine, and flattening the curve.
- CDC’s guidelines on disinfecting your home if someone gets sick.
- Current guidelines on visiting patients in NYC Health + Hospitals.
HOW DO I TELL MY CHILDREN ABOUT COVID-19?
- While this is at the caregiver’s discretion, some facts you might consider covering include:
- Coronavirus is a “bug” that can make your nose and lungs feel bad.
- Coronavirus started spreading person-to-person through coughs and handshakes.
- This spreading caused a pandemic, which means that lots of people are sick with the same disease all around the world at the same time.
- Young people may not get very sick and feel better quickly but can make someone else sick. This could be someone older (like grandma) who isn’t able to fight the disease as well and may have to go to the hospital.
- Washing your hands and social distancing (staying at home and away from crowds) can help stop the virus and keep kids and adults from getting sick.
- Resource that could help facilitate the conversation: A publicly available coloring book by a virology lab at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Tennessee is available for free download in English and Spanish.
This site was created by medical and graduate students in order to provide information about COVID-19. Information is not being provided by a licensed physician and therefore should not be considered medical advice. The website creators are not responsible for any decision made based on the information on this site.