Early symptoms in most COVID-19 patients include fever, myalgia, cough, and sore throat (5), which are common in other acute respiratory virus infections (6).
Current symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Emergency warning signs include: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Persistent pain or pressure in the chest. New confusion or inability to arouse. Bluish lips or face. This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
Based on available evidence, children do not appear to be at higher risk for COVID-19 than adults. While some children and infants have been sick with COVID-19, adults make up most of the known cases to date.
The virus has been named "SARS-CoV-2" and the disease it causes has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19").
No. Standard cleaning with common household disinfectants (such as Clorox wipes) should be sufficient. As is recommended each year during cold and flu season, be sure to clean high touch areas (e.g. doorknobs, telephones, remote controls, and bathroom surfaces) regularly.
Experts at the National Institutes of Health and other organizations have begun work to develop a vaccine for this new strain of coronavirus. Scientists are just getting started on this work, but their vaccine development strategy will benefit both from work that has been done on closely related viruses.