Details About COVID19

What is COVID-19
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered corona virus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don't develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

How does COVID-19 spread
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.

How long is a person with COVID-19 considered contagious
If you have COVID-19 it can take several days to develop symptoms — but you're contagious during this time. You are no longer contagious 10 days after your symptoms began. The best way to avoid spreading COVID-19 to others is to:
1. Stay 6 feet away from others whenever possible.
2. Wear a cloth mask that covers your mouth and nose when around others.
3. Wash your hands often. If soap isn't available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
4. Avoid crowded indoor spaces. Open windows to bring in outdoor air as much as possible.
5. Stay self-isolated at home if you are feeling ill with symptoms that could be COVID-19 or have a positive test for COVID-19.Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

If I recover from a case of COVID-19, can I be infected again
If you test positive for SARS-CoV-2 three months after your last positive test, it's considered a reinfection. Before the omicron variant, reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 was rare but possible. Omicron (B.1.1.529) was first reported in South Africa in November 2021 and quickly spread around the world. With many mutations, omicron was able to evade immune systems and we had more reinfections than ever before. As the virus that causes COVID-19 continues to mutate, reinfection remains possible. Vaccination — including a booster dose — is the best protection against severe disease.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19
COVID-19 symptoms vary from person to person. In fact, some infected people don't develop any symptoms (asymptomatic). In general, people with COVID-19 report some of the following symptoms:
1. Fever or chills.
2. Cough.
3. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
4. Tiredness.
5. Muscle or body aches.
6. Headaches.
7. New loss of taste or smell.
8. Sore throat.
9. Congestion or runny nose.
10. Nausea or vomiting.
11. Diarrhea.
Additional symptoms are possible. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Children have similar, but usually milder, symptoms than adults. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of more serious complication from COVID-19.

How long do I need to isolate myself if I've been around a person with COVID-19
You should quarantine for five days if:
1. You haven't been fully vaccinated.
2. More than six months have gone by since your second vaccine dose and you haven't been boosted.
After this time, you should wear a well-fitting mask whenever you're around others for an additional five days. The CDC recommends testing on day five if possible. This quarantine period may vary depending on variant strains and the availability of testing.

Can vaccinated people still get COVID-19
Yes, it's possible to get COVID-19 even if you’ve been vaccinated. No vaccines are 100% effective. In fact, breakthrough cases (when someone tests positive more than two weeks after they're fully vaccinated) are expected, especially as the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates. The vaccines significantly reduce — but don’t eliminate — your risk of infection. The risk of a severe illness or death from a breakthrough infection is very low.

Is it possible to test negative for coronavirus and still be infected with it
Yes, it’s possible. There are several reasons for “false negative” test results — meaning you really do have COVID-19 although the test result says you don’t. Reasons for a false negative COVID-19 test result include:
1. You were tested too early in the course of illness. The virus hasn’t multiplied in your body to the level that it could be detected by the test.
2. The swab didn’t get a good specimen. You or the healthcare personnel may not have swabbed deeply enough in your nasal cavity to collect a good sample. There could also be less likely handling errors and transportation errors.
3. The test itself was not sensitive or specific enough to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Sensitivity refers to the ability of the test to detect the smallest amount of virus. Specificity refers to the ability of the test to detect only the COVID-19 virus and not other similar viruses. Many different commercial and hospital laboratories have developed tests for SARS-CoV-2. All must meet standards, but there's always the possibility of “false negative” and “false positive” tests.
If you think you might have COVID-19 even if your test is negative, it’s best to follow the current CDC recommendations. Stay home for 10 days if you think you are sick (“social distancing”). Stay 6 feet away from others (“physical distancing”) and wear a cloth mask. Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms worsen. Don’t decide on your own if it’s safe for you to be around others. Instead, contact your healthcare provider when your symptoms improve.

Details About Covid-19