Symptoms
The illness associated with a diagnosis of COVID-19 ranges from very mild, including no reported symptoms, to very severe, including death. The CDC says older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease, are at higher risk of experiencing serious complications from coronavirus.
The virus is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to the flu. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, and the only treatment is supportive, to help relieve symptoms.
The CDC says the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
The CDC states you should contact your doctor if you:
Develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19.
An individual’s risk for COVID-19 is tied to their recent travel history and the travel history of their immediate contacts.