American Thoracic Society

PATIENT HEALTH | INFORMATION SERIES

What is COVID-19?
(formerly “the Novel 2019-nCOV Coronavirus”)
COVID-19 is a new form of Coronavirus disease due to the novel virus
SARS-CoV-2 that causes acute infection with respiratory symptoms.
This new virus is different than the ones that cause SARS (Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome) or MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome).
It is also different from the Coronavirus that causes seasonal infection in the
U.S. As of April 2020, there are over 2 million confirmed cases worldwide,
and is a pandemic.

The number of cases has been increasing quickly and is What you can do—
considered a pandemic by the World Health Organization As noted, it is very important for people to follow basic
(WHO). This means that the virus is being spread infection control measures to help prevent COVID-19 and/
simultaneously in more than three different geographical or other viruses, like influenza.
regions in the world. For up to date information on this This includes the following actions:
outbreak, go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ■ Avoid close contact with people who are sick unless you
ncov/about/index.html are a healthcare provider.
CLIP AND COPY

■ Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
■ Fever unwashed hands.
■ Stay home when you are sick.
■ Cough
■ Shortness of breath If you are sick with COVID-19, you will need to stay
■ Some people will have additional symptoms such as home until:
fatigue, diarrhea, nasal ‘cold’ symptoms or even loss of ◆ you have no fever for 72 hours (without using fever

smell or taste. reducing medicine)

◆ at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first
Prevention and control of COVID-19 infection: appeared
General principles— ◆ your other symptoms have improved. For additional
■ Illness can range from mild to severe. information, see the CDC website at: https://www.
■ Elderly people and others with pre-existing medical cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-
illnesses like diabetes, heart or lung disease are at the when-sick.html
highest risk of dying from infection. However, anyone ■ Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you

can get the virus and become ill from it. cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw
■ Right now, the best way to lessen the virus’ impact is used tissues in the trash.
to slow its spread. This will ensure that our healthcare ■ Avoid being in large gatherings. Until the pandemic is

systems aren’t overwhelmed and buy time for over, maintain social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet away
researchers who are working hard to develop vaccines ‘like a regular bicycle’ from people. Gatherings are strongly
and treatments for the infection. discouraged. Most states in the US are encouraging
■ Everyone needs to do their best to avoid getting sick as individuals to stay at home except for essential, infrequent
well as spread the virus to other people. trips to purchase food or medicines. However, you can
■ You do not have to be sick or have symptoms to exercise outdoors with social distancing.
transmit the virus. ■ Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds with

soap and water.

Online version updated April 16, 2020

ATS Patient Education Series © 2020 American Thoracic Society
www.thoracic.org
 American Thoracic Society

PATIENT HEALTH | INFORMATION SERIES

■ Rapid progress is being made on vaccines to prevent

infection and treatments for infection
■ Rely on evidence- based sources such as the CDC, WHO,
or local public health departments.
Treatment—
■ There is no specific treatment for COVID-19. However,
there are experimental drugs and treatments being used
in hospitalized patients with severe illness. You may be
asked to take part in a research study of the medicines
to help understand whether they show benefit.
■ People with this illness are treated based upon their
symptoms and the severity of illness. The majority of
people will have a mild illness and get better.
■ Many people can recover at home, but those with more
severe illness may need to receive care in the hospital.
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19 Some people are so sick that they will need care in the
intensive care unit (ICU).
(Sing “Happy Birthday”
■ People who have or are likely to have this virus will need
twice). If soap and water are
to wear a mask to help control the spread of virus to
not available, use an alcohol-
others.
based sanitizer that contains
at least 60% alcohol. Seek medical help—
■ Clean and disinfect frequently ■ If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and
touched items and surfaces you have symptoms (fever or cough or shortness
with a regular household of breath), please call your doctor or healthcare
cleaning spray followed by an professional first! They will assess you and determine if
EPA-approved disinfectant such as diluted bleach (0.1%) you need to be seen and tested. If so, you will be given
or alcohol solution (62-71%) or hydrogen peroxide instructions on what to do next. This will enable the
(0.5%). COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for as long office, clinic or acute care facility to get ready for your
as 5 days. For full list of disinfectants, see https://www. arrival and help you avoid spreading the virus to others.
americanchemistry.com/Novel-Coronavirus-Fighting-
Authors: W. Graham Carlos, MD, Charles S. Dela Cruz MD,
Products-List.pdf
PhD, Bin Cao, MD, Susan Pasnick, MD, Shazia Jamil, MD
■ Wear a facemask if you are sick. If you are not sick, it is
Reviewers: Marianna Sockrider MD, DrPH,
also recommended that you wear a simple cloth (non- Angela Wang, MD
medical) mask when you leave your home, especially if
you will be in contact with others. For more information Resources
about how and when to use masks, go to the CDC American Thoracic Society
website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ • www.thoracic.org/patients
prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
■ No one should be traveling at this time unless it is for
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.
essential business. This is especially important for older html
persons and others at risk for severe illness. The CDC • CDC General Hotline: 1-800-232-4636
maintains a regularly updated travel advisory site. World Health Organization (WHO)
■ It may take up to 14 days to develop symptoms once • https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
exposed to this virus. If you have traveled to an area Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Dashboard
affected by this virus, or have been exposed to someone • https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
with COVID-19, you should stay home for at least 14
Healthdata.org
days. • https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america
Stay informed and do not panic. There is hope.
■ Most cases are mild. This information is a public service of the American Thoracic Society.
The content is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a
■ Most people get better substitute for the medical advice of one’s healthcare provider.

www.thoracic.org