Who is at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and clinic...
What should people at higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19 do?
If you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, you should:
What should healthcare professionals and health departments do?
For recommendations and guidance on persons under investigation; infection control, including personal protective equipment guidance; home care and isola...
What does more severe illness mean?
Severity typically means how much impact the illness or condition has on your body’s function. You should talk with your healthcare provider if you have...
What does a well-controlled health condition mean?
Generally, well-controlled means that your condition is stable, not life-threatening, and laboratory assessments and other findings are as similar as pos...
What about underlying medical conditions that are not included on this list?
Based on available information, adults aged 65 years and older and people of any age with underlying medical conditions included on this list are at high...
Should I get a flu shot?
While the flu shot won’t protect you from developing COVID-19, it’s still a good idea. Most people older than six months can and should get the flu vacci...
One of the symptoms of COVID-19 is shortness of breath. What does that mean?
Shortness of breath refers to unexpectedly feeling out of breath, or winded. But when should you worry about shortness of breath? There are many examples...
Is a lost sense of smell a symptom of COVID-19? What should I do if I lose my sense of smell?
Increasing evidence suggests that a lost sense of smell, known medically as anosmia, may be a symptom of COVID-19. This is not surprising, because viral ...
How were the underlying conditions for people considered higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19 selected?
This list is based on:
Can I catch the coronavirus by eating food handled or prepared by others?
We are still learning about transmission of the new coronavirus. It’s not clear if it can be spread by an infected person through food they have handled ...
Can COVID-19 affect brain function?
COVID-19 does appear to affect brain function in some people. Specific neurological symptoms seen in people with COVID-19 include loss of smell, inabilit...
Are there any medications I should avoid taking if I have COVID-19?
Currently, there is no evidence to show that taking ibuprofen or naproxen can lead to a more severe infection of COVID-19.
Are people with disabilities at higher risk?
Most people with disabilities are not inherently at higher risk for becoming infected with or having severe illness from COVID-19. Some people with phys...
Should children wear masks?
CDC recommends that everyone 2 years and older wear a cloth face covering that covers their nose and mouth when they are out in the community. Cloth face...
How can I protect my child from COVID-19 infection?
You can encourage your child to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by teaching them to do the same things everyone should do to stay healthy.
What temperature kills the virus that causes COVID-19?
Generally coronaviruses survive for shorter periods at higher temperatures and higher humidity than in cooler or dryer environments. However, we don’t ha...
What should I do if I have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19?
There is information for people who have had close contact with a person confirmed to have, or being evaluated for, COVID-19 available online.
What is the risk of my child becoming sick with COVID-19?
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 CO...
Should I worry about COVID-19?
Illness due to COVID-19 infection is generally mild, especially for children and young adults. However, it can cause serious illness: about 1 in every 5 ...
Should contact lens wearers take special precautions to prevent COVID-19?
Currently there is no evidence to suggest contact lens wearers are more at risk for acquiring COVID-19 than eyeglass wearers.
Is there a vaccine, drug or treatment for COVID-19?
Not yet. To date, there is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019. However, those affected should receive care to r...
Is it okay for me to donate blood?
In healthcare settings across the United States, donated blood is a lifesaving, essential part of caring for patients. The need for donated blood is cons...
Is contact lens disinfecting solution effective against COVID-19?
Hydrogen peroxide-based systems for cleaning, disinfecting, and storing contact lenses should be effective against the virus that causes COVID-19. ...
Does CDC recommend the use of facemask or face coverings to prevent COVID-19?
In light of new data about how COVID-19 spreads, along with evidence of widespread COVID-19 illness in communities across the country, CDC recommends tha...
Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be spread through food, including restaurant take out, refrigerated or frozen packaged food?
Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. Currently, there is no evidence to support transmiss...
Can someone who has had COVID-19 spread the illness to others?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. People are thought to be most contagious when they are symptomatic (the sickest). That...
Can someone who has been quarantined for COVID-19 spread the illness to others?
Quarantine means separating a person or group of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease but have not developed illness (symptoms) from othe...
Can mosquitoes or ticks spread the virus that causes COVID-19?
At this time, CDC has no data to suggest that this new coronavirus or other similar coronaviruses are spread by mosquitoes or ticks. The main way that CO...
Can I get sick with COVID-19 if it is on food?
Based on information about this novel coronavirus thus far, it seems unlikely that COVID-19 can be transmitted through food – additional investigation is...
Are there any medicines or therapies that can prevent or cure COVID-19?
While some western, traditional or home remedies may provide comfort and alleviate symptoms of COVID-19, there is no evidence that current medicine can p...
