Learn more about what it is, what the symptoms are and how to reduce your risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China. This flu-like virus is very serious and contagious.

Know the symptoms involved:

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomitting
• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. The CDC will continue to update the list as they learn more about COVID-19

Similar to influenza, people at a serious risk for developing COVID-19 are those who suffer from chronic disease and weakened immune systems. Older and very young demographics are also at a more serious risk.

Health experts recommend practicing the following:

• Wash hands with soap and water frequently.
• Clean and disinfect any surfaces you frequently touch.
• Always cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing with a tissue, and then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.
• Stay home when you’re feeling sick.
• Avoid close contact of any kind with sick individuals.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Virtual care

We recommend using virtual care for minor symptoms. Virtual care allows you to see a doctor without having to leave home, and is an alternative to urgent care or the ER. Both urgent care and ER locations can become crowded during peak illness periods and are generally more expensive per visit, depending on your health plan. Virtual care is also a good way to help prevent the spread of infections like COVID-19 and influenza. Check with your doctor’s office or health insurance provider to see if they offer virtual care.

Keep up with changing information from the CDC here.