COVID-19

COVID-19 Background
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a respiratory virus first idenitfied in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. COVID-19 is a new virus that hasn't caused illness in humans before. Worldwide, COVID-19 has resulted in thousands of infections, causing illness and in some cases death. Cases have spread to countries throughout the world, with more cases reported daily.

COVID-19 is thought to be able to spread like the cold or flu through:

coughing and sneezing, which creates respiratory droplets
close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
touching an object or surface with the virus on it

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

fever
coughing
shortness of breath
in more severe cases, pneumonia (infection in the lungs)

The vast majority of people recover from this infection. Most people will have mild or moderate symptoms. Older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions have a greater risk for more serious illness.

Prevention
There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19. Many experts are at work developing one. As with any new vaccine, it must be tested to make certain it is safe and effective. It may take over a year for a COVID-19 vaccine to become available.

You can take everyday preventive steps that are always recommended to slow the spread of respiratory illnesses like colds and flu:

wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are not available
cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, your sleeve or your elbow
avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using standard cleaning practices
avoid close contact with people who are sick
if you are sick, stay home, except when seeking medical care

Those at Higher Risk of Becoming Seriously from COVID-19:
Older Adults and Individuals with Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
Older adults (age 60+) and those with pre-existing medical conditions have a greater risk for serious illness, and in some cases death, if they become infected with COVID-19. Examples of pre-existing medical conditions include: cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other conditions that impact the immune system's ability to fight germs.

Currently, people are at risk for contracting COVID-19 who:

recently traveled to geographic areas of concern
have close, personal contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19
care for people with COVID-19

If you are an older adult or you have one and more chronic health conditions, you can take action to reduce your risk of exposure to COVID-19:

take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others
when you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol content
avoid crowds as much as possible

Guidance for Travelers
At this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people who are at risk for serious illness, including older adults and those with pre-existing medical conditions, avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.

If you must travel, CDC is updating travel advisories as warranted and has advised against nonessential travel to some geographic areas of concern. Those with underlying health conditions are advised to avoid nonessential travel to certain areas as well.

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