The NATIVE Project staff know you may have many questions about COVID-19. To help give you confident and correct information here is a list of common questions and answers from the CDC.
Common Questions:
What is a novel coronavirus?
A novel coronavirus is a new virus that has not been previously identified. COVID-19 is not the same as the other coronaviruses (like colds) that circulate among humans.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Some of the symptoms include:
- New loss of taste or smell
- Fever over 100.4
- Difficulty Breathing
- Cough
- Persistent Headache
- Diarrhea or Vomiting
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms please schedule a test right away.
How does the virus spread?
The virus is spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person breathes, talks, sings, laughs, coughs or sneezes. The droplets travel through the air and can land on people that are within six feet of one another. These particles can be inhaled into the nose and mouth, which can lead to infection. This is thought to be the main way the virus spreads. However, droplets can also land on surfaces/objects and be transferred by touch as well. The primary means of disease spread is by air and is extremely contagious.
What if I have been exposed to the virus?
After you have been exposed to COVID-19 or another respiratory virus, it can be especially helpful to use respiratory virus prevention strategies, such as wearing masks, taking steps to improve air flow and filtration, practicing good hand hygiene, cleaning regularly, physical distancing, and/or testing. If you develop symptoms, take the steps described above to prevent spreading respiratory virus illness to others, get tested, and get treatment if eligible.
If you have respiratory virus symptoms that are not better explained by another cause (such as allergies) or test positive for COVID-19 or another respiratory virus, follow CDC guidance for staying home and away from others; this includes people you live with who are not sick.
You can go back to your normal activities when both of the following have been true for at least 24 hours:
- Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
You can tell your symptoms are improving when you start to feel better and you feel well enough to fully participate in your activities, such as learning in a classroom or completing tasks at work. A respiratory virus infection can have many types of symptoms, some of which can last beyond when someone is contagious (able to spread the virus), such as a lingering cough. Having a single symptom or a combination of symptoms is not as important as the overall sense of feeling better and the ability to resume activities.
When you go back to your normal activities, wear a mask and take added precautions over the next 5 days, such as taking steps to improve air flow and filtration, practicing good hand hygiene, cleaning regularly, physical distancing, and testing when you will be around other people indoors. You may still be contagious with a respiratory virus after returning to your normal activities, so it is important to take additional precautions.
- People with COVID-19 are often contagious for 5-10 days after their illness begins.
- People with flu may be contagious for up to 5-7 days after their illness begins.
- People with RSV are usually contagious for 3-8 days after their illness begins.
Some people, such as those with a weakened immune system, can be contagious with a respiratory virus for longer periods of time.
If there is an outbreak in a setting such as a workplace or congregate housing, it may be necessary to isolate for a specific period of time longer than you would otherwise to help stop the spread of COVID-19 or another respiratory virus. If you have questions about responding to an outbreak, reach out to your local health jurisdiction for more information.
When should I get tested?
The CDC recommends people get tested in the following scenarios:
- People who have symptoms of COVID-19
- People who have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19, especially if not all people in close proximity were wearing a mask or face shield.
- People who have taken part in activities that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 because they cannot socially distance as needed. The activities include, travel, attending large social or mass gatherings, or being in crowded indoor settings
- People who have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, local health or state health department
Not everyone needs to be tested. If you do get tested, you should self-quarantine/isolate at home pending test results and follow the advice of your health care provider or a public health professional.
When should I get tested?
- Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
- You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
When you leave isolation, wear a mask and take added precautions through 10 days after your symptoms started (or after you tested positive, if you never developed symptoms), such as taking steps to improve air flow and filtration, practicing good hand hygiene, cleaning regularly, and physical distancing.
You can use antigen testing to determine if you can remove your mask and end isolation early. If you test negative with an antigen test on or after day 5, you may leave isolation and stop wearing a mask. Test no sooner than day 5, and only start testing if you are fever free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication and your other symptoms have improved.
If you have symptoms, day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed. If you have not had any symptoms, day 0 is the date you were tested. Day 1 is the first full day after the specimen was collected for your positive test.
Questions? Call us at 509-483-7535. Be Well!