Questions and answers about coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

WHO is continuously monitoring and responding to this outbreak. These questions and answers will be updated as more data becomes known about COVID-19, its mode of spread, and how it is affecting people around the world.

For more information, regularly consult the WHO pages on coronavirus.

https://www.who.int/en/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are an extensive family of viruses that can cause disease in both animals and humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections that can range from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered is COVID-19.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is the most recently discovered infectious disease caused by coronavirus. Both this new virus and the disease it causes were unknown before the outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. COVID-19 is currently a pandemic that affects many countries around the world.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Other less frequent symptoms that affect some patients are aches and pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, and skin rashes or color changes. on the fingers or toes. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some of the infected people only have very slight symptoms.

Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without the need for hospital treatment. About 1 in 5 people who get COVID-19 end up with a severe condition and experience breathing difficulties. Older people and those with previous medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart or lung problems, diabetes, or cancer are more likely to develop severe conditions. However, anyone can get COVID-19 and become seriously ill. People of any age who have a fever or cough and who are also breathing hard, feeling chest pain or tightness, or having trouble speaking or moving should seek medical attention immediately. If possible, it is recommended to call the healthcare professional or medical center first so that they refer the patient to the appropriate healthcare facility.

What should I do if I have symptoms of COVID-19 and when should I seek medical attention?

If you have mild symptoms, such as a mild cough or fever, you generally do not need to seek medical attention. Stay home, isolate yourself, and watch your symptoms. Follow national guidelines on self-isolation.

Seek medical attention immediately if you have trouble breathing or feel chest pain or pressure. If possible, call your health care provider in advance so that they can direct you to the appropriate health center.

How is COVID-19 spread?

A person can get COVID-19 from contact with someone who is infected with the virus. The disease is spread mainly from person to person through droplets that fly out of an infected person's nose or mouth by coughing, sneezing, or talking. These droplets are relatively heavy, do not go very far, and quickly fall to the ground. A person can contract COVID-19 by inhaling the droplets from a person infected with the virus. This is why it is important to stay at least one meter away from others. These droplets can fall on objects and surfaces around the person, such as tables, knobs, and railings, so other people can become infected if they touch those objects or surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. Therefore, it is important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water or with an alcohol-based disinfectant.

WHO is reviewing ongoing investigations into the ways in which COVID-19 spreads and will continue to report on the conclusions that are drawn.

Is it possible to get COVID-19 from contact with a person who does not have any symptoms?

The main way of spreading COVID-19 is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who coughs or who has other symptoms such as fever or tiredness. Many people with COVID-19 have only mild symptoms. This is particularly true in the early stages of the disease. It is possible to get it from someone who only has a mild cough and does not feel sick.

According to some information, people without symptoms can transmit the virus. It is not yet known how often it occurs. WHO is studying the ongoing research on this issue and will continue to report on the conclusions that are drawn.

How can we protect ourselves and others if we don't know who is infected?

Practicing respiratory and hand hygiene is important at ALL times and the best way to protect yourself and others.

When possible, keep at least a meter of distance between you and others. This is especially important if you are next to someone who is coughing or sneezing. Because some infected people may not yet have symptoms or their symptoms may be mild, you should keep a physical distance from everyone if you are in an area where the COVID-19 virus is circulating.

What should I do if I have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19?

If you have been in close contact with someone with COVID ‑ 19, you may be infected.
Close contact means living with someone who has the disease or being less than a meter away from someone who has the disease. In these cases, it is better to stay home.

However, if you live in an area with malaria or dengue, it is important that you do not ignore fever. Seek medical help. When you go to the health center wear a mask if possible, stay at least one meter away from other people and do not touch the surfaces with your hands. In case the sick person is a child, help him to follow this advice.

1. If you do not live in an area with malaria or dengue, please do the following:
2. If you become ill, even with very mild symptoms such as fever and minor pain, you should isolate yourself at home.
3. Even if you don't think you have been exposed to COVID-19 but develop these symptoms, isolate yourself and monitor your condition.
4. You are more likely to infect others in the early stages of the disease when you have only mild symptoms, so early isolation is very important.
5. If you have no symptoms but have been exposed to an infected person, quarantine for 14 days.
6. If you have undoubtedly had COVID-19 (confirmed by a test), isolate yourself for 14 days even after symptoms have disappeared as a precaution. It is still unknown exactly how long people remain contagious after recovering. Follow the advice of national authorities on isolation.

What does it mean to isolate yourself?

Isolation is an important measure that people with symptoms of COVID-19 take to avoid infecting others in the community, including their families.

Isolation occurs when a person who has a fever, cough, or other COVID-19 symptoms stays home and does not go to work, school, or public places. You can do it voluntarily or on the recommendation of your health care provider.

1. If a person is in isolation, it is because they are ill but not seriously ill (in which case they would require medical attention)
2. Take up a spacious and airy single room with a toilet and sink.
3. If this is not possible, place the beds at least one meter away.
4. Stay at least a meter away from others, including your family members.
5. Monitor your symptoms daily.
6. Isolate yourself for 14 days, even if you feel fine.
7. If you are having trouble breathing, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Call first if possible.
8. Stay positive and energetic by keeping in touch with loved ones over the phone or internet and exercising at home.

What is the difference between isolation, quarantine, and Estrangement?

Quarantine means restricting activities or separating people who are not ill but may have been exposed to COVID-19. The goal is to prevent the spread of the disease the moment people start to show symptoms.

Isolation means separating people who are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 and can be contagious to prevent the spread of the disease.

Estrangement means being physically separate. The WHO recommends keeping a distance of at least one meter from others. It is a general measure that everyone should take even if they are well and have not had a known exposure to COVID-19.

Can children or teens get COVID-19?

Research indicates that children and teens are as likely to be infected as any other age group and can spread the disease.

The evidence to date suggests that children and young adults are less likely to develop a serious illness, but serious cases can still occur in these age groups. Children and adults should follow the same quarantine and isolation guidelines if there is a risk that they have been exposed or if they have symptoms. It is particularly important that children avoid contact with older people and with others who are at risk for more serious illness.

What can I do to protect myself and prevent the spread of the disease?

Keep up to date with the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, which can be accessed on the WHO website and through public health authorities at the national and local levels. Cases have been reported in most countries of the world, and outbreaks have occurred in many of them. Authorities in some countries have managed to slow down the outbreak progress, but the situation is unpredictable and the latest news needs to be checked regularly.

There are several precautions that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of contracting or spreading COVID-19:

Wash your hands thoroughly and often using an alcohol-based disinfectant or soap and water.

Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based disinfectant kills viruses that may be on your hands.

Keep a minimum distance of one meter between you and others.

Why? When someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks, droplets of fluid that may contain the virus are released from the nose or mouth. If the person who coughs, sneezes, or talks has the disease and you are too close to it, they can breathe the droplets and with them the COVID-19 virus.

Avoid going to crowded places

Why? When there are crowds, you are more likely to come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19, and it is more difficult to maintain a physical distance of one meter.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, the hands can transfer the virus to the eyes, nose, or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and cause illness.
Both you and those around you should ensure that you maintain good respiratory hygiene. That means covering your mouth and nose with your elbow flexed or with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Immediately discard the used tissue and wash your hands.

Why? Viruses spread through droplets. Maintaining good respiratory hygiene protects people around you from viruses such as cold, flu, and COVID-19.

Stay home and isolate yourself even if you have mild symptoms like cough, headache, and light fever until you recover. Ask someone to bring you the supplies.

If you have to leave home, put on a mask to avoid infecting other people.

Why? Avoiding contact with others will protect them from possible infections with the COVID-19 virus or others.

If you have a fever, cough, and shortness of breath, seek medical attention, but telephone as far in advance as possible and follow the directions of your local health authority.

Why? National and local authorities will have the most up-to-date information on the situation in their area. Calling ahead will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health center. This will also protect you and help prevent the spread of viruses and other infections.

Stay up-to-date on the latest developments from reliable sources, such as WHO or local and national health authorities.

Why? Local and national authorities are the best partners to give advice on what people in your area should do to protect themselves.

Is there a vaccine, medication, or treatment against COVID-19?

Although some western or traditional medicine solutions or home remedies can be comforting and relieve mild symptoms of COVID-19, no medicine has been shown to prevent or cure this disease so far. The WHO does not recommend self-medication with any drug, including antibiotics, to prevent or cure COVID-19. However, there are several clinical trials underway, both for western and traditional medications. WHO is coordinating vaccine and drug development work to prevent and treat COVID-19 and will continue to provide updated information as research results become available.

The most effective ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 are:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
2. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
3. Cover your mouth with your elbow flexed or with a handkerchief. If a handkerchief is used, it must be discarded immediately after use and hands must be washed.
4. Keep a distance of at least one meter from other people.

Does the WHO recommend the use of medical masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

There is currently insufficient evidence for or against the use of masks (medical or otherwise) by healthy people in the general community. However, the WHO is actively studying the rapidly changing scientific data on the use of masks, and is continually updating its guidance on this.

Medical masks should be combined with other key infection prevention and control measures, such as hand hygiene and physical distance.

Why? N95, FFP2, or equivalent type medical masks and respirators are recommended and should be reserved for healthcare workers caring for patients. Close contact with people with probable or confirmed infection with the COVID-19 virus and their environment is the main route of transmission, which means that health workers are the most exposed.

People who are sick and have symptoms of COVID-19

Why? Anyone who is sick and has mild symptoms, such as muscle aches, mild cough, sore throat, or tiredness, should isolate himself at home and wear a medical mask in accordance with the WHO recommendation on home care for patients. with possible infection with the COVID-19 virus. Coughing, sneezing, or talking can generate droplets that cause the infection to spread. These droplets can reach the faces of other nearby people and fall into the surrounding environment. Having an infected person who coughs, sneezes, or talks wears a medical mask can help protect those around from infection.

If a sick person needs to go to a health center, they should wear a medical mask.

Medical mask is essential for anyone who takes care of a COVID-19 patient at home

Why? Caregivers of COVID-19 patients should wear a medical mask to protect themselves. Again, close, frequent, and prolonged contact with someone with COVID ‑ 19 puts caregivers at high risk.
National decision-makers can also choose to recommend the use of medical masks by certain individuals, taking a risk-based approach. This approach takes into account the purpose of the mask, the risk of exposure and the vulnerability of the mask wearer, the environment, the viability of its use and the types of mask.

How to properly use a medical mask

If you choose to wear a mask, please note the following:

1. Before touching the mask, wash your hands with an alcohol-based disinfectant or soap and water
2. Inspect the mask for tears or holes
3. Orient the top up (where the metal strip is located)
4. Be sure to point out the correct side of the mask (the colored side)
5. Put the mask on your face. Pinch the metal strip or stiff edge of the mask so that it conforms to the shape of your nose
6. Pull down on the bottom of the mask to cover your mouth and chin
7. After using the mask, remove it with clean hands; remove the elastic straps from behind the ears keeping the mask away from the face and clothing, so as not to touch the potentially contaminated surfaces of the mask.
8. Dispose of the mask in a closed container immediately after use. Do not reuse the mask.

Practice hand hygiene after touching or disposing of the mask. Use an alcohol-based disinfectant or, if they are visibly dirty, wash them with soap and water. Please note that there is a global shortage of medical masks (both surgical masks and N95 masks), so these should be reserved as much as possible for healthcare workers.

Remember that face masks are not a substitute for other more effective ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, such as frequent handwashing, covering the mouth with a flexed elbow or tissue, and maintaining a distance of at least one meter with others. See the basic protective measures against the new coronavirus for more information.

Follow the advice of the national health authority on the use of masks.

How long does it take between exposure to COVID-19 and the development of symptoms?

The time between exposure to COVID-19 and the time symptoms begin is usually around five to six days, but can range from 1 to 14 days.

What is the relationship between COVID-19 and animals?

COVID-19 is spread by transmission between humans. We know a great deal about other viruses in the coronavirus family, and most of these types of viruses originate from animals. The COVID-19 virus (also called SARS-CoV-2) is a new virus in humans. The possible animal source of COVID-19 has not yet been confirmed, but is under investigation.

WHO continues to monitor the latest research on this and other COVID-19 related issues and will provide updated information as new data becomes available.

Can a pet or other animal infect me with COVID-19?

Several dogs and cats (domestic cats and tigers) have tested positive for COVID-19 after being in contact with infected humans. Also, it appears that ferrets are susceptible to infection. Under experimental conditions, both cats and ferrets can transmit the infection to other animals of the same species. However, there is no evidence that these animals can transmit the disease to humans and spread COVID-19. COVID-19 is spread mainly through droplets that are released by an infected person by coughing, sneezing, or talking.

The virus has also been detected in farm-raised minks that were likely infected by workers. In some cases, human-infected minks have transmitted the virus to others. They are the first reported cases of transmission from animal to human.

People with COVID-19 and people at risk are still recommended to limit contact with pets and other animals. In handling and caring for animals, basic hygiene measures should always be taken, namely: washing hands after handling animals, their food or articles, as well as avoiding kissing them, letting them lick us or sharing food.

WHO will continue to follow up on the latest studies on this and other topics related to COVID-19 and will update the information as new conclusions become available.

How long does the virus survive on surfaces?

The most important thing to know about coronavirus contact with surfaces is that they can be easily cleaned with common household disinfectants that will kill the virus. Studies have shown that the COVID-19 virus can survive up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel surfaces, less than 4 hours on copper surfaces, and less than 24 hours on cardboard surfaces. As always, wash your hands with an alcohol-based disinfectant or soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.

How can I shop safely at grocery stores?

In grocery stores, keep at least a meter away from others and do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If possible, disinfect the handles and bars of carts or baskets before purchasing. When you return home, wash your hands thoroughly upon arrival and also after picking up and storing the products you have purchased. There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 transmission through food or its packaging.

How should I wash the fruits and vegetables?

Fruits and vegetables are essential for a healthy diet. Wash them as you would under any circumstances. Before touching them, wash your hands with soap and water. Afterward, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean water, especially if you eat them raw.

Are antibiotics effective in preventing or treating COVID-19?

No. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, only against bacterial infections. COVID-19 is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not work against it. Antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment of COVID-19. In hospitals, doctors sometimes use antibiotics to prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections that can be a complication of COVID-19 in seriously ill patients. They should only be used to treat a bacterial infection following a doctor's instructions.

Can I get COVID-19 from contact with the stool of a person with the disease?

Although initial investigations suggest that the virus may be present in some cases in the faeces, to date no cases of fecal-oral transmission of the COVID-19 virus have been reported. In addition, to date there is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus survives in water, including sewage.

WHO is reviewing ongoing research on the ways of spreading COVID-19 and will continue to report on developments on this issue.