Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Most patients with confirmed COVID-19 have developed fever and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness (eg, cough, difficulty breathing). However, limited information is currently available to characterize the full spectrum of clinical illness associated with COVID-19. Based on what is known about MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, signs and symptoms may appear any time from 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. The median incubation period is unknown at this time.
How can you protect yourself?
People can help protect themselves from respiratory illness with everyday preventive actions.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
For more information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
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