SARS-CoV-2 is the name of the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It spreads from person to person.

COVID-19 can be mild or severe, and it can affect anyone. However, older people with other health conditions seem to be at higher risk for severe illness and death.

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters can help prevent serious illness and hospitalization from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Symptoms

COVID-19 affects people differently. If you have COVID-19, you might have no symptoms or mild symptoms. Or, you might get very sick. You may need to go to a hospital.

You can get COVID-19 if you are near someone who has the virus that causes it. You can show symptoms 2 to 14 days after you get the virus.

If you have one or more of these symptoms, you may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
• Feeling tired
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Symptoms may vary depending on whether you have gotten the vaccine.

What To Do if You Feel Sick

Call your physician’s office for guidance about testing and treatment if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

If you are having serious trouble breathing, go to the emergency department or call 911.

COVID-19 Diagnosis and Treatments

To confirm a diagnosis of COVID-19, a care team member may use a swab in your nose or throat to collect a sample of your mucus and/or saliva. A lab will test the sample to see if it has the virus that causes COVID-19.

Even if you do not get tested, if you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should act as if you have the virus. That means you should follow all precautions to avoid infecting other people.

Isolation and Exposure Guidelines

You should stay home and away from others when you have a respiratory virus. This includes COVID-19.

For general public settings:

• You can return to normal activities 24 hours after your symptoms have improved. You should be fever-free without medication.
• Once you go back to normal activities, consider wearing a mask and keeping your distance from others for the next 5 days.

For healthcare settings, after your symptoms have improved and you have been fever-free without medication:

• You should not visit or accompany a patient for at least 5 more days.
• You should wear a mask for at least 10 days.