Symptoms

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that emerged in late 2019. Reported illness ranges from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases. 

Symptoms of infection may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and may include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of sense of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• In elderly, chronically ill, or debilitated individuals such as residents of a long-term care facility, symptoms of COVID-19 may be subtle such as alterations in mental status or in blood glucose control

However, it’s possible for people with COVID-​19 to spread the virus to others up to 48 hours before they have symptoms.

About coronaviruses

Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses; some cause illness in people and some occur in animals, including camels, civet cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then may spread between people. Human coronaviruses cause routine seasonal respiratory virus infections. Other coronaviruses, like SARS and MERS, can cause serious illnesses.

How do coronaviruses spread?

Coronaviruses are respiratory viruses and are most commonly spread through respiratory secretions (droplets from coughs and sneezes) of an infected person to another person in close proximity (within about 6 feet).