How COVID-19 Spreads
Person-to-person spread
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
·
Between people who are in close contact with one
another (within about 6 feet).
·
Through respiratory droplets produced when an
infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who
are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Spread from contact with infected surfaces or objects
It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by
touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their
own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main
way the virus spreads.
Can someone spread
the virus without being sick?
·
People
are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
·
Some spread might be possible before people show
symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus,
but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
How easily does the
virus spread?
How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary.
Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other
viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is
sustained.
The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily
and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affected
geographic areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the
virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.
Symptoms
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe
illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure*:
·
Fever
·
Cough
·
Shortness of breath
Prevention &
Treatment
Prevention
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to
this virus. However, as a reminder, the CDC always recommends everyday preventive
actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
·
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
·
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
·
Stay home when you are sick.
·
Cover
your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
·
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects
and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
·
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a
facemask.
·
CDC does not recommend that people who are well
wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including
COVID-19.
·
Facemasks should be used by people who show
symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial
for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings
(at home or in a health care facility).
·
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at
least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and
after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
·
If soap and water are not readily available, use
an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands
with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread
of several viruses. CDC does have specific guidance for travelers.
Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for
COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve
symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital
organ functions.
People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19
should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
What to Do If You Are
Sick With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick
If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected
with the virus that causes COVID-19, follow the steps below to help prevent the
disease from spreading to people in your home and community.
Stay home except to
get medical care
People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate
at home during their illness. You should restrict activities outside your home,
except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas.
Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.
Separate yourself from
other people and animals in your home
People: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific
room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate
bathroom, if available.
Animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other
animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just like you would around other
people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming
sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19
limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus.
When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals
while you are sick. If you are sick with COVID-19, avoid contact with your pet,
including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food. If you
must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands
before and after you interact with pets and wear a facemask. See COVID-19 and
Animals for more information.
Call ahead before
visiting your doctor
If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare
provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the
healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting
infected or exposed.
Wear a facemask
You should wear a facemask when you are around other people
(e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a healthcare
provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because
it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with you should not stay in
the same room with you, or they should wear a facemask if they enter your room.
Cover your coughs and
sneezes
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or
sneeze. Throw used tissues in a lined trash can. Immediately wash your hands
with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or, if soap and water are not
available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains
at least 60% alcohol.
Clean your hands often
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20
seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to
the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water are not
readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60%
alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until
they feel dry.
Soap and water are the best options if hands are visibly
dirty. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid sharing personal
household items
You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating
utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home. After
using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
Clean all “high-touch”
surfaces everyday
High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs,
bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.
Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions.
Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product
including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as
wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during the use of the
product.
Monitor your symptoms
Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening
(e.g., difficulty breathing). Before seeking care, call your healthcare
provider and tell them that you have, or are being evaluated for, COVID-19. Put
on a facemask before you enter the facility. These steps will help the
healthcare provider’s office to keep other people in the office or waiting room
from getting infected or exposed. Ask your healthcare provider to call the
local or state health department. Persons who are placed under active
monitoring or facilitated self-monitoring should follow instructions provided
by their local health department or occupational health professionals, as
appropriate.
If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify
the dispatch personnel that you have, or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If
possible, put on a facemask before emergency medical services arrive.
Discontinuing home
isolation
Patients with confirmed COVID-19 should remain under home
isolation precautions until the risk of secondary transmission to others are
thought to be low. The decision to discontinue home isolation precautions
should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with healthcare
providers and state and local health departments.
Footnote
1Fever may be subjective or confirmed
2Close contact is defined as—
a) being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of a
COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time; close contact can occur while
caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a health care waiting area or
room with a COVID-19 case
– or –
b) having direct contact with infectious secretions of a
COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on)
If such contact occurs while not wearing recommended
personal protective equipment or PPE (e.g., gowns, gloves, NIOSH-certified disposable
N95 respirator, eye protection), criteria for PUI consideration are met”
Data to inform the definition of close contact are limited.
Considerations when assessing close contact include the duration of exposure
(e.g., longer exposure time likely increases exposure risk) and the clinical
symptoms of the person with COVID-19 (e.g., coughing likely increases exposure
risk as does exposure to a severely ill patient). Special consideration should
be given to those exposed in health care settings.
Travelers from China
Arriving in the United States
To slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
into the United States, CDC is working with public health partners to implement
new travel procedures announced in a Presidential Proclamation on Novel Coronavirusexternal
icon. In summary:
·
Foreign nationals who have visited China in the
past 14 days may not enter the United States.
American citizens,
lawful permanent residents, and their families who have been in China in the
past 14 days will be allowed to enter the United States but will be redirected
to one of 11 airports to undergo health screening. Depending on their health
and travel history, they will have some level of restrictions on their
movements for 14 days from the time they left China.
If you are in the second group above and are traveling to
the United States:
·
Your travel will be redirected to one of 11 U.S.
airports where CDC has quarantine stations.
·
You will be asked about your health and travel.
·
Your health will be screened for fever, cough,
or trouble breathing.
Depending on your health and travel history:
·
You will have some restrictions on your movement
for a period of 14 days from the time you left China.
These actions are being taken to protect your health, the
health of other travelers and the health of U.S. communities from the new
coronavirus that is spreading from person-to-person in parts of China.
Recommended
precautions for household members, intimate partners, and caregivers in a
nonhealthcare setting1 of
·
A patient with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed
COVID-19
or
·
A patient under investigation
Household members, intimate partners, and caregivers in a
nonhealthcare setting may have close contact2 with a person with symptomatic,
laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 or a person under investigation. Close contacts
should monitor their health; they should call their healthcare provider right
away if they develop symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough,
shortness of breath)
Close contacts should also follow these recommendations:
·
Make sure that you understand and can help the
patient follow their healthcare provider’s instructions for medication(s) and
care. You should help the patient with basic needs in the home and provide
support for getting groceries, prescriptions, and other personal needs.
·
Monitor the patient’s symptoms. If the patient
is getting sicker, call his or her healthcare provider and tell them that the
patient has laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. This will help the healthcare
provider’s office take steps to keep other people in the office or waiting room
from getting infected. Ask the healthcare provider to call the local or state
health department for additional guidance. If the patient has a medical
emergency and you need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that the
patient has, or is being evaluated for COVID-19.
·
Household members should stay in another room or
be separated from the patient as much as possible. Household members should use
a separate bedroom and bathroom, if available.
·
Prohibit visitors who do not have an essential
need to be in the home.
·
Household members should care for any pets in
the home. Do not handle pets or other animals while sick. For more information, see COVID-19 and
Animals.
·
Make sure that shared spaces in the home have good airflow, such as by an air conditioner or an opened window, weather
permitting.
·
Perform hand hygiene frequently. Wash your hands
often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer that contains 60 to 95% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands
and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used
preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
·
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with
unwashed hands.
·
You and the patient should wear a facemask if
you are in the same room.
·
Wear a disposable facemask and gloves when you
touch or have contact with the patient’s blood, stool, or body fluids, such as
saliva, sputum, nasal mucus, vomit, urine.
·
Throw out disposable facemasks and gloves after
using them. Do not reuse it.
·
When removing personal protective equipment,
first remove and dispose of gloves. Then, immediately clean your hands with
soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Next, remove and dispose of
facemask, and immediately clean your hands again with soap and water or
alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
·
Avoid sharing household items with the patient.
You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels,
bedding, or other items. After the patient uses these items, you should wash
them thoroughly (see below “Wash laundry thoroughly”).
·
Clean all “high-touch” surfaces, such as
counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards,
tablets, and bedside tables, every day. Also, clean any surfaces that may have
blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
·
Use a household cleaning spray or wipe,
according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and
effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take
when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good
ventilation during the use of the product.
·
Wash laundry thoroughly.
·
Immediately remove and wash clothes or bedding
that have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
·
Wear disposable gloves while handling soiled
items and keep soiled items away from your body. Clean your hands (with soap
and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) immediately after removing your
gloves.
·
Read and follow directions on labels of laundry
or clothing items and detergent. In general, using a normal laundry detergent
according to washing machine instructions and dry thoroughly using the warmest
temperatures recommended on the clothing label.
·
Place all used disposable gloves, facemasks, and
other contaminated items in a lined container before disposing of them with
other household waste. Clean your hands (with soap and water or an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer) immediately after handling these items. Soap and
water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
Discuss any
additional questions with your state or local health department or healthcare
provider.
Stigma Related to
COVID-19
At this time most people in the United States have little
immediate risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. However, some
people are worried about the disease. Fear and anxiety can lead to social
stigma towards Chinese or other Asian Americans. Stigma and discrimination can
occur when people associate an infectious disease, such as COVID-19, with a
population or nationality, even though not everyone in that population or from
that region is specifically at risk for the disease (for example,
Chinese-Americans and other Asian-Americans living in the United States).
Stigma hurts everyone by creating more fear or anger towards
ordinary people instead of the disease that is causing the problem. We can
fight stigma and help not hurt others by providing social support. We can
communicate the facts that being Chinese or Asian American does not increase
the chance of getting or spreading COVID-19.
People—including those
of Asian descent—who have not recently been in an area of the ongoing spread of
COVID-19 or been in contact with a person who is a confirmed or suspected case
of COVID-19 are not at greater risk of acquiring and spreading COVID-19 than
other Americans.
·
Viruses cannot target people from specific
populations, ethnicities, or racial backgrounds.
·
People from affected countries that live in the
U.S. may be worried or anxious about friends and relatives who are living in
the region. Facing stigma can make fear and anxiety worsen. Social support
during this outbreak can help them cope.
People who have
returned from an area with the ongoing spread of COVID-19 more than 14 days ago and
do not have symptoms are not infected with the virus and contact with them will
not give you the virus.
·
People who have traveled to areas where the
COVID-19 outbreak is happening to help have performed a valuable service to
everyone by helping make sure this disease does not spread further.
·
Helping
fight an outbreak can be mentally and emotionally challenging. These helpers
need social support upon their return.
·
The U.S. government is responding to the
outbreak and updating Travel Health Notices, as needed.
Communicators and
public health officials can help counter stigma during the COVID-19 response.
·
Maintain the privacy and confidentiality of those
seeking health care and those who may be part of any contact investigation.
·
Timely communication of the risk or lack of risk
from associations with products, people, and places.
·
Raise awareness about COVID-19 without
increasing fear.
·
Share accurate information about how the virus
spreads.
·
Speak out against negative behaviors, including
negative statements on social media about groups of people, or exclusion of
people who pose no risk from regular activities.
·
Be cautious about the images that are shared.
Make sure they do not reinforce stereotypes.
·
Engage with stigmatized groups in person and
through media channels including news media and social media.
·
Share the need for social support for people who
have returned from China or are worried about friends or relatives in the
affected region.
Share Facts About
COVID-19
Know the facts about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and
help stop the spread of rumors.
Fact 1
Diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or
ethnicity.
People of Asian descent, including Chinese Americans, are
not more likely to get COVID-19 than any other American. Help stop fear by
letting people know that being of Asian descent does not increase the chance of
getting or spreading COVID-19.
Fact 2
The risk of getting COVID-19 in the U.S. is currently
low.
Some people who have traveled to places where many people
have gotten sick with COVID-19 may be monitored by health officials to protect
their health and the health of other people in the community.
Fact 3
Someone who has completed quarantine or has been released
from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people.
Fact 4
You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and
symptoms:
·
8Fever
·
Cough
·
Shortness of breath
Seek medical advice if you
·
Develop symptoms
AND
·
Have been in close contact with a person known
to have COVID-19 or live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing
spread of COVID-19. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency
room. Tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
Fact 5
There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and
others healthy.
·
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at
least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing;
going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
·
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with
unwashed hands.
·
Stay home when you are sick.
·
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then
throw the tissue in the trash.
Steps Healthcare
Facilities Can Take Now to Prepare for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The true impact of a COVID-19 outbreak in a U.S. community
cannot be predicted. However, all healthcare facilities can take steps now to
prepare for such an outbreak and protect both their patients and staff.
Be Prepared:
·
Stay informed about the local COVID-19
situation. Know where to turn for reliable, up-to-date information in your
local community. Monitor the CDC COVID-19 website and your state and local
health department websitesexternal icon for the latest information.
·
Develop, or review, your facility’s emergency
plan. A COVID-19 outbreak in your community could lead to staff absenteeism.
Prepare alternative staffing plans to ensure as many of your facility’s staff is
available as possible.
·
Establish relationships with key healthcare and
public health partners in your community. Make sure you know about healthcare
and public health emergency planning and response activities in your community.
Learn about plans to manage patients, accept transfers, and share supplies.
Review any memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with affiliates, your healthcare
coalition, and other partners to provide support or assistance during
emergencies.
·
Create an emergency contact list. Develop and
continuously update emergency contact lists for key partners and ensure the
lists are accessible in key locations in your facility. For example, know how
to reach your local or state health department in an emergency.
Communicate with Staff and Patients:
·
Communicate about COVID-19 with your staff.
Share information about what is currently known about COVID-19, the potential
for surge, and your facility’s preparedness plans.
·
Communicate about COVID-19 with your patients.
Provide updates about changes to your policies regarding appointments,
providing non-urgent patient care by telephone, and visitors. Consider using
your facility’s website or social media pages to share updates.
Protect your workforce:
·
Screen patients and visitors for symptoms of
acute respiratory illness (e.g., fever, cough, difficulty breathing) before
entering your healthcare facility. Keep up to date on the recommendations for
preventing the spread of COVID-19 on CDC’s website.
·
Ensure proper use of personal protection
equipment (PPE). Healthcare personnel who come in close contact with confirmed
or possible patients with COVID-19 should wear the appropriate personal
protective equipment.
·
Conduct an inventory of available PPE. Consider
conducting an inventory of available PPE supplies. Explore strategies to
optimize PPE supplies.
·
Encourage sick employees to stay home. Personnel
who develop respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) should be
instructed not to report to work. Ensure that your sick leave policies are
flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are
aware of these policies.
Protect your patients:
·
Stay up-to-date on the best ways to manage
patients with COVID-19.
·
Separate patients with respiratory symptoms so
they are not waiting among other patients seeking care. Identify a separate,
well-ventilated space that allows waiting patients and visitors to be
separated.
·
Consider the strategies to prevent patients who
can be cared for at home from coming to your facility potentially exposing
themselves or others to germs, like:
·
Using your telephone system to deliver messages
to incoming callers about when to seek medical care at your facility, when to
seek emergency care, and where to go for information about caring for a person
with COVID at home.
·
Adjusting your hours of operation to include
telephone triage and follow-up of patients during a community outbreak.
·
Leveraging telemedicine technologies and
self-assessment tools.
h Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html
