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  1. What is the likelihood of dying from COVID-19 as an elderly person?

    In the US, fatality rates are reported as ranging from 10-27 percent for persons 85 and older. For persons...

  2. How might seasonal flu symptoms be different from coronavirus symptoms?

    Symptoms from the seasonal flu and COVID-19 are not very different. A person sick with either the flu or...

  3. Will the coronavirus pandemic start over again when human activity returns to normal?

    A recent study from infectious disease experts at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom modeled how things might...

  4. If a person who is infected with coronavirus, but who does not have symptoms, donates blood, and a patient eventually receives blood from that person, is the patient at risk of infection, and also at risk of spreading the virus themselves?

    To date, there has been no evidence of transfusion-based transmission of the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2), nor of the related...

  5. Does the microwave kill the virus?

    Microwaves kill germs in food by heating up mainly water in an object to high temperatures, which passes heat...

  6. Can UV light be used to inactivate the virus?

    The antimicrobial potential of UVC light has long been established. Its widespread use in public settings is limited due...

  7. Can just hot water kill the COVID-19 virus on surfaces? If yes, for how long?

    No, hot water alone cannot kill the virus that causes COVID-19 on surfaces. The virus (SARS-CoV-2) has a fat-based...

  8. Will there be permanent damage to my lungs or other organs if I’m infected with the COVID-19 virus?

    Doctors in Hong Kong have found that some patients who fully recovered from the coronavirus can be left with...

  9. In what ways could the healthcare system become overwhelmed?

    COVID-19 can lead to dehydration, pneumonia, lung inflammation, and septic shock, and about 20 percent of people with COVID-19...

  10. Does the size of a population make a difference in outcomes during an outbreak (US vs Italy, for example)?

    We often talk about outbreaks in terms of the proportion of a population that is affected. Important factors in...

  11. What symptoms should I look out for when taking care of someone at home? When do I know it is time to seek immediate medical attention for them?

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has thorough guidelines for caring for individuals with COVID-19 at home....

  12. Who should be donating blood now in response to the current blood shortage? What factors should be considered, like blood type and risk?

    The Red Cross is currently facing shortages of all blood types and products due to COVID-19-related cancellations of blood...

  13. Is Bactine effective as hand sanitizer against COVID-19 virus?

    According to the active ingredients list, Bactine uses Benzalkonium as an antiseptic (as substance that stops germs). One recent...

  14. Can COVID-19 be passed from a pregnant woman to the fetus or newborn?

    We still do not know if a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass the virus that causes COVID-19 to...

  15. How much money is the federal government spending to address the coronavirus pandemic, and what is the US spending the money on?

    The federal government is spending billions of dollars to combat COVID-19. Explore who the US is buying from, what...