Hello, welcome to Emmi.
What is COVID-19? Coronavirus disease
2019, also called COVID-19, is caused by a virus that can be
passed from person to person. It first appeared in people in
December 2019, and has quickly spread around the world.
COVID-19 affects your respiratory system. In some
cases, it can cause problems with your lungs, like pneumonia.
There is a lot out there about COVID-19. Guidelines and
recommendations are changing quickly as we learn more about
the virus and how it acts. Trying to keep up with what to
do and what not to do can be confusing and overwhelming. So
let's break it down. Let's talk about what is going on and what
practical steps you can take to keep you and those around you
safe and healthy. How does COVID-19 spread? The virus is
spread through droplets. So when an infected person coughs or
sneezes, they project droplets of the virus out into the air.
Those droplets then land on or are breathed in by other people.
That's the most common way the virus can spread. Another way it
can spread is when those infected droplets land on
surfaces (like door handles and elevator buttons). If a healthy
person touches the surface that has droplets on it and then
touches their eyes, nose or mouth, it's possible for them to
get sick. These are gateways for the virus, so the less you touch
them, the less chance there is for the virus to enter your
body. That's why everyone keeps saying, Don't touch your face!
If the virus gets on your skin, like on your hand, you want to
wash it off by using soap and water or hand sanitizer BEFORE
it reaches your eyes, nose, or mouth. It may be possible for a
person with COVID-19 to pass the virus to others when they aren't
showing signs of being sick (this is called asymptomatic
transmission). It often takes 2 to 14 days before people start
to feel sick after being exposed to the virus. So you could be
getting other people sick without knowing it. That's why,
when there are a lot of cases of COVID-19 in an area, leaders
recommend staying home unless you really need to do something
(like get groceries). And if you are feeling sick, stay home and
call your doctor. What are COVID-19 Symptoms? Some signs of
being sick with COVID-19 are a fever, cough, body aches, and
trouble breathing. Some less common symptoms of the virus
include headache, sore throat, runny nose, problems with sense
of smell or taste, nausea and diarrhea. I know it can seem
like anything can be a symptom, so if you aren't feeling well,
stay home and call your doctor. Most people who get the virus
will experience mild symptoms. Some people won't experience any
symptoms at all. Most people, including children, who get sick
with COVID-19 can recover at home. But, for some people,
especially people who are 65 and above, people who have other
health problems (like lung conditions, diabetes and heart
disease), and for people whose immune system (or
infection-fighting system) doesn't work so well, COVID-19
may lead to more serious problems that require
hospitalization. What should I do if Im feeling sick? If you
are feeling sick, have a fever, cough, or are having trouble
breathing, call your doctor or local urgent care facility. This
is important. Call first. And, if you are sick, cover your nose
and mouth with a cloth mask, scarf, or handkerchief. It will
help protect the people around you. If you live outside the
United States, check with your national health agency on mask
recommendations. When you call, your doctor can tell you what to
do next. Some people may need to come in and be seen by a doctor,
and some people may need to stay at home and limit their contact
with other people. Your doctor can tell you what you should do.
What should I do if I'm worried I've been exposed? Your chances
of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 increase if you
were within six feet of someone who is infected (about the
length of a bed away from them) you live in or have traveled to
a location that has a lot of cases or you were at a crowded
event with someone who is infected (like a party). If you
think you've been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, but
AREN'T having any symptoms, call your doctor, hospital, local
urgent care facility, or public health office. They can tell you
what to do next. If you think you might have been exposed, AND
you have symptoms like fever or cough, you should call BEFORE
going to your doctor's office or to a hospital. Your doctor can
tell you what to do and if you need to be seen in person. If
you are asked to come to the hospital, you may be asked to
follow special procedures (like using a special entrance away
from other people and covering your nose and mouth). It's
important to know that currently there is no proven treatment for
COVID-19. But, doctors can help support your breathing and make
you as comfortable as possible. Most people will NOT need to
stay in the hospital and will be able to make a complete recovery
at home. What can I do to stay healthy? Wash your hands with
soap and water. Really. I know it sounds simple, but it has a
big impact. Basically, it's because soap breaks apart the
container that holds the virus. Once the container is open, the
virus just washes away with the water. For this to happen, you
gotta spend some time washing your hands, and you need to
scrub. You want to wash your hands for 20 seconds (that's the
happy birthday song two times). You'll want to rub your hands
together, clean your wrists, fingernails, in between your
fingers, and dry your hands with a paper towel you can throw
away. Lastly, turn the water off using the paper towel instead of
your hand. Now, if you have kids in your household, make sure
they're washing their hands this way too. If you aren't around
soap and water, use hand sanitizer that is at least 60%
alcohol. Make sure to rub it in until it's dry. What else can
you do to stay healthy? You'll want to keep your distance from
other people (this is called social distancing). And you
really want to stay away from people who are visibly sick or
coughing. If you can, work from home. And, speaking of home,
clean surfaces that you use frequently. Clean doorknobs,
countertops, your phone screen, and other items you touch a lot.
Lastly, it is a good idea to limit travel to places that have
a lot of COVID-19 cases. Ok, let's talk for a quick minute
about what DOESN'T help protect you against COVID-19. It doesn't
help to hold your breath if someone sneezes or coughs around
you. The virus can be passed in multiple ways, so not breathing
around people doesn't really do anything. Let's also talk about
masks. If you live in the United States, check cdc.gov/covid19
for that latest recommendations on masks and face coverings. If
you live outside of the United States check who.int or your
national health agency for recommendations. How can I help
slow the spread? I know COVID-19 sounds scary, but there are some
good things to keep in mind. For most people, COVID-19 is a mild
infection that is not life threatening. You can do a lot to
keep yourself and others healthy by washing your hands, staying
away from people who are sick, wearing a face covering and
practicing social distancing. Remember, if you are feeling
sick, stay home and call your doctor. By taking these
practical steps, you can protect yourself and those around you
and help slow the spread of the virus. And you can stay
up-to-date with the latest guidelines and recommendations
at www.who.int or your national health agency.