Everything You Should Know About the 2019 Coronavirus and COVID-19
What is the 2019 coronavirus
In early 2020, a new virus began generating headlines all over the world because of the unprecedented speed of its transmission.
Its origins have been traced to a food market in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. From there, it’s reached countries as distant as the United States and the Philippines.
The virus (officially named SARS-CoV-2) has been responsible for tens of millions of infections globally, causing over 1.5 million deaths. The United States is the country most affected.
The disease caused by an infection with SARS-CoV-2 is called COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019.
- Read on to learn:
- how it’s similar to and different from other coronaviruses
- how to prevent transmitting this virus to others if you suspect you’ve contracted it
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What are the symptoms?
Doctors and scientists are learning new things about this virus every day. So far, we know that COVID-19 may not cause any symptoms for some people.
You may carry the virus for 2 days or up to 2 weeksTrusted Source before you notice symptoms.
Some common symptoms that have been specifically linked to COVID-19 include:
- shortness of breath
- a cough that gets more severe over time
- a low-grade fever that gradually increases in temperature
- chills
- fatigue
- repeated shaking with chills
- sore throat
- headache
- muscle aches and pains
- a stuffy or runny nose
- gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
- discoloration of fingers or toes
- pink eye
- rash
However, individuals with COVID-19 may have some, all, or none of the above symptoms.
These symptoms may become more severe in some people. Call emergency medical services if you have or someone you care for has any of the following symptoms:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source is still investigating the full range of symptoms.
COVID-19 versus the flu
The 2019 coronavirus causes more deaths than the seasonal flu.
According to the CDC, an estimated 0.04 to 0.16 percentTrusted Source of people who developed the flu during the 2019–2020 flu season in the United States died by April 4, 2020.
In comparison, about 1.76 percent of those with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States have died as of December 26, 2020.
The flu and COVID-19 share many of the same symptoms. Common flu symptoms include:
What causes coronaviruses
Coronaviruses are zoonotic. This means they first develop in animals before being transmitted to humans.
For the virus to be transmitted from animals to humans, a person has to come into close contact with an animal that has the infection.
Once the virus develops in people, coronaviruses can be transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets. This is a technical name for the wet stuff that moves through the air when you exhale, cough, sneeze, or talk.
The viral material hangs out in these droplets and can be breathed into the respiratory tract (your windpipe and lungs), where the virus can then lead to an infection.
It’s possible that you could acquire SARS-CoV-2 if you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching a surface or object that has the virus on it. However, this is not thoughtTrusted Source to be the main way that the virus is passed on.
SARS-CoV-2 can also be passed on via airborne transmission of small infectious particles that may linger in the air for minutes to hours.
However, infection through close contact with people with SARS-CoV-2 — and their respiratory droplets — is currently thought to be much more common.
Researchers believe that the virus may have been passed from bats to another animal — either snakes or pangolins — and then transmitted to humans.
This transmission likely occurred in the open food market in Wuhan.
Who’s at increased risk?
You’re at high risk for contracting SARS-CoV-2 if you come into contact with someone who’s carrying it, especially if you’ve been exposed to their saliva or been near them when they’ve coughed, sneezed, or talked.
Without taking proper preventive measures, you’re also at high risk if you:
- live with someone who has contracted the virus
- are providing home care for someone who has contracted the virus
- have an intimate partner who has contracted the virus
Washing your hands and disinfecting surfaces can help decrease your risk for contracting this and other viruses
older adults and people with certain health conditions have a higher riskTrusted Source for severe complications if they contract the virus. These health conditions include:
- cancer
- serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease (CAD), and cardiomyopathies
- chronic kidney disease
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- obesity, which occurs in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher
- sickle cell anemia
- a weakened immune system from a solid organ transplant
- type 2 diabetes
COVID-19 and pregnancy
Pregnancy also puts you at a higher risk for complications from COVID-19.
The CDCTrusted Source reports that pregnant women are more likely to experience severe COVID-19 illness than nonpregnant women.
For instance, pregnant women entered the intensive care unit (ICU) at nearly three times the rate of nonpregnant women. Mortality rates for pregnant women are also higher.
According to a study from September 2020Trusted Source, women with COVID-19 are also more likely to have a preterm birth than women without COVID-19.
Transmitting the virus from mother to child during pregnancy isn’t likely, but the newborn is able to contract the virus after birth.
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How are coronaviruses diagnosed?
COVID-19 can be diagnosed similarly to other conditions caused by viral infections: using a blood, saliva, or tissue sample.
However, most tests use a cotton swab to retrieve a sample from the inside of your nostrils.
Locations that conduct tests include:
- the CDC
- some state health departments
- commercial companies
- certain pharmacies
- clinics
- emergency rooms
- community testing centers
Visit the websites of your state’s health departmentTrusted Source or the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to find out where testing is offered near you.
At home tests
On November 17, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source issued its first emergency use authorization (EUA) for a COVID-19 self-testing kit.
The EUA specifies that the test kit is authorized for use by people ages 14 years and older whom healthcare professionals have identified as having suspected COVID-19.
The Lucira COVID-19 All-In-One Test Kit is a rapid test, which means that the nasal swab sample doesn’t have to be sent off to a lab. The test kit is available by prescription only and promises results within 30 minutes.
Back on April 21, 2020, the FDATrusted Source authorized the use of the first COVID-19 home collection kit. It’s produced by Pixel by LabCorp.
A cotton swab is provided, and people will be able to collect a nasal sample with it and mail it to a designated laboratory for testing.
It’s authorized for use by people ages 18 years and older.
Emergency use authorizations (EUAs)Trusted Source allow for the use of medical products that haven’t received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA issues EUAs in circumstances where no FDA-approved alternatives are available to help diagnose, treat, or prevent a serious condition
When to see your doctor
Talk with your doctor right away if you think you have COVID-19 or you notice symptoms.
Your doctor will advise you on whether you should:
- stay home and monitor your symptoms
- set up a telehealth visit
- come into the doctor’s office to be evaluated
- go to the hospital for more urgent care
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What treatments are available?
There’s currently no cure for an infection with the new coronavirus. However, many treatments and vaccines are currently under study.
On October 22, 2020, the FDATrusted Source approved its first COVID-19 treatment, the medication remdesivir (Veklury). It’s available by prescription for people ages 12 years and older who’ve been hospitalized. It’s administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion.
In November 2020, the FDA also granted EUAs to monoclonal antibody medications. Monoclonal antibodies are human-made proteins that help to fight off foreign-made substances, such as viruses.
These medications are:
- bamlanivimab, from Eli LillyTrusted Source
- casirivimab and imdevimab, which must be administered together, from Regeneron PharmaceuticalsTrusted Source
Like remdesivir, they’re also administered by IV infusion and intended for people ages 12 years and older. These medications are used for outpatient therapy.
The FDA has also issued EUAs to a few other treatments, such as convalescent plasma, that are intended for people who are hospitalized or at high risk for hospitalization.
Most COVID-19 treatment focuses on managing symptoms as the virus runs its course.
Seek medical help if you think you have COVID-19. Your doctor will recommend treatment for any symptoms or complications that develop and let you know if you need to seek emergency treatment.
Treatments for other coronaviruses
Other coronaviruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) are also treated by managing symptoms. In some cases, experimental treatments have been tested to see how effective they are.
