What Is COVID-19? | coronavirus

COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. The COVID-19 is the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, Hubei province, China.

Since December 2019, cases have been identified in a growing number of countries. The Districts surveillance data can be found here.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are known to cause illnessranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

Public health authorities are learning more every day. We will continue to update as we learn more.

Reported illnesses have ranged frommild symptoms to severe illnessand death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

Symptoms may appear2-14 days after exposure:

The symptoms that are currently being seen with COVID-19 are cough, fever, headache, new loss of taste or smell, repeated shaking with chills, sore throat, shortness of breath, and muscle pain.To help prevent the spread of germs, you should:

You play an important role in stopping the spread of germs, view resources to share with your family, friends and within your community.

Some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, including older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions. If you are in this higher-risk population, the CDC recommends that you:

Learn more at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has information on how to prepare your home and family for COVID-19. Recommendations include:

If you are the family member or caregiver of someone at higher risk, you should:

Everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat:

If you are a healthcare provider, be on the look-out for:

If you are a healthcare provider or a public health responder caring for a COVID-19 patient, please take care of yourself and follow recommendedinfection control procedures.

If you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 and develop symptoms of COVID-19, call your healthcare provider and tell them about your symptoms and your exposure.

If you are a resident in a community where person-to-person spread of COVID-19 has been detected and you develop COVID-19 symptoms, call your healthcare provider and tell them about your symptoms.

For people who are ill with COVID-19, but are not sick enough to be hospitalized, please followCDC guidance on how to reduce the risk of spreading your illness to others. People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to isolate at home during their illness.

If you have been in China or another affected area or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you will facesome limitations on your movement and activityfor up to 14 days. Please follow instructions during this time. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow spread of this virus.

Learn more on the CDC website.

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What Is COVID-19? | coronavirus