The symptoms most commonly experienced include fevers, cough and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Developing body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nasal congestion or diarrhea is also possible. In some cases, people who are infected will not exhibit any symptoms, though most people experience a mild form of the disease, similar to a cold or flu virus. Certain groups of people may experience more serious illness, including older people (over the age of 65) and those with a history of medical conditions such as decreased immunity, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease or diabetes. Pregnant women may also be at increased risk for more severe illness due to changes that occur in the immune system while pregnant.

Health officials continue to study the virus to determine how it is spread. Currently, there are a few different modes of transmission suggested, based on people who have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. This includes human to human transmission via respiratory droplets through sneezing, coughing, and close personal contact such as touching or shaking hands. The virus can also be spread by contact with a surface or object that has the virus on it, followed by touching one’s own mouth, nose, or eyes.

If you've had contact with someone with COVID-19, it is important to self-quarantine to avoid potentially spreading the virus to others. Your specific risk will depend on the type of contact you had with the individual. A "close contact" means being in a confined space with an individual who has the disease, such as in a home, hospital room, or classroom. Take our online assessment here.

• If you took the COVID-19 risk assessment and you were recommended not to seek immediate medical evaluation (either in person or via a remote doctor visit), this indicates that you are currently experiencing mild symptoms and you do not have a history of medical conditions that might increase your risk of a more severe illness. If this does not sound accurate, please ensure you answered the risk assessment questions accurately. For people with mild symptoms and otherwise good health, COVID-19 will often resolve on its own without seeking medical treatment. You can rest at home, stay well hydrated and take over-the-counter medications as needed to treat your symptoms.
• Continue to closely monitor your symptoms. If you feel that your symptoms are worsening, make arrangements to be seen by a healthcare provider for further evaluation. Please consider the hotline 105 when need medical care

• At this time, not everyone that has symptoms or risk of COVID-19 exposure is recommended to complete testing. Due to the limited number of available tests in many regions, testing may only be available to healthcare personnel or those people who are at risk of developing more serious illness due to their pre-existing medical conditions or age (65 years or older). If neither of these situations apply, it is recommended to stay home and care for your illness. This helps prevent the spread to others while ensuring that local healthcare facilities are able to evaluate patients who are sicker.
• If you feel that you need testing for a reason unrelated to your own illness (for example, you are the caregiver for an elderly family member who is at high risk), please contact 105 by phone. Ask for information about local resources such as drive-by testing centers or private testing options in your area. In some areas, you may be able to obtain testing in this manner even when you do not meet the criteria for testing mentioned above.

• It is important to note that the coronavirus, like all viruses, is not treated with an antibiotic. There is no specific drug or vaccination that is effective for the novel coronavirus at this time, but there are studies happening throughout the world to find effective treatments for people with severe symptoms of the virus. Some groups of people are at risk for more serious illness, including older people (over the age of 65) and those with a history of medical conditions such as decreased immunity, high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes.