Do you have COVID-19 questions? Our scientists have answers.

Home Symptoms, Tests, and Treatment

Symptoms, Tests, and Treatment

  1. What are the symptoms of the virus?

    People with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have had a wide range of illnesses reported – ranging from mild symptoms...

  2. Can getting the flu shot, or vaccines against pneumonia, help ward off pneumonia brought on by COVID-19?

    There is no evidence that getting the vaccination against influenza will help against COVID-19. They are different viruses and...

  3. Does COVID-19 affect people with different blood types differently?

    There is some evidence that having Type O blood is linked with "a lower risk of getting the coronavirus,...

  4. Do chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine help fight coronavirus?

    None of the well-controlled, randomized clinical studies on the impact of hydroxychloroquine on people with COVID-19 have revealed any...

  5. Are there therapies available to treat COVID-19?

    Scientists are currently testing different types of antivirals. Remdesivir is one treatment that's been shown in a clinical trial...

  6. Is it possible to use convalescent serum - antibodies from those who have recovered from COVID-19 - to treat others?

    This is a strategy that is currently being tested. The concept of giving antibodies from one person to another...

  7. What happens when you get COVID-19 and it’s bad enough that you need to be treated in the hospital?

    Because COVID-19 is a new disease, treatment guidelines are changing quite reguarly. To learn about what you might expect...

  8. How do I treat the symptoms of someone who is sick at home?

    Kindly visit the CDC's website for information on how to care for someone sick at home. Updated: 16 October...

  9. Can a person test negative and later test positive for COVID-19?

    Using the CDC-developed diagnostic test, a negative result means that the virus that causes COVID-19 was not found in...

  10. Should I be tested for COVID-19?

    If you develop symptoms such as fever, cough, and/or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a...

  11. How does the CDC COVID-19 test work?

    CDC recommends collecting and testing a single upper respiratory swab from the nostril. This sample is then processed. Using...

  12. If I get infected, when do symptoms appear?

    Symptoms can appear between 2-14 days after exposure, though some people may not have any symptoms while still being...

  13. How do vaccines work?

    Vaccines work by stimulating a person’s immune system to develop protections against a disease. Sometimes getting a vaccine can...

  14. Why will it take so long for a coronavirus vaccine to be ready?

    Vaccine development takes a long time because there are many steps in the process. Researchers must ensure the vaccine...

  15. Are antibiotics effective in preventing or treating the COVID-19?

    No. According to the World Health Organization, antibiotics do not work against viruses. They only work on bacterial infections....

  16. How do antivirals work?

    Antivirals are a class of medications used for treating viruses. Viruses cannot reproduce on their own so to survive...

  17. How are suspected COVID-19 cases confirmed?

    People suspected of being infected by the COVID-19 virus will have respiratory samples (i.e. mucus) taken by healthcare professionals...

  18. What is serology testing, and can it be used to figure out when to go back to work?

    A serology test is used to show whether a person has antibodies against a germ. If a person has...

  19. What does random testing mean?

    Random testing means selecting people for a test arbitrarily. Take, for example, a test meant to figure out how...

  20. What does pooled testing mean?

    To save supplies, especially in situations where resources are limited, and test more people, pooled testing may be implemented....