Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Interim Guidance: Get Your Household Ready for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will update this interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available.

This interim guidance is to help household members plan for community transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages household members to prepare for the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak in their community.

COVID-19 is caused by a new virus. There is much to learn about its transmissibility, severity, and other features of the disease. We want to help everyone prepare to respond to this public health threat.

Create a household plan of action

Before a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community: PlanA COVID-19 outbreak could last for a long time in your community. Depending on the severity of the outbreak, public health officials may recommend community actions designed to help keep people healthy, reduce exposures to COVID-19, and slow the spread of the disease. Local public health officials may make recommendations appropriate to your local situation. Creating a household plan can help protect your health and the health of those you care about in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community. You should base the details of your household plan on the needs and daily routine of your household members.

Talk with the people who need to be included in your plan. Meet with household members, other relatives, and friends to discuss what to do if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community and what the needs of each person will be.

Plan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk for serious complications. There is limited information about who may be at risk for severe complications from COVID-19 illness. From the data that are available for COVID-19 patients, and from data for related coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, it is possible that older adults and persons who have underlying chronic medical conditions may be at risk for more serious complications. Early data suggest older people are more likely to have serious COVID-19 illness. If you or your household members are at increased risk for COVID-19 complications, please

Practice good personal health habits and plan for home-based actions

Be prepared if your child’s school or childcare facility is temporarily dismissed

consult with your health care provider for more information about monitoring your health for symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. CDC will recommend actions to help keep people at high risk for complications healthy if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in your community.

Get to know your neighbors. Talk with your neighbors about emergency planning. If your neighborhood has a website or social media page, consider joining it to maintain access to neighbors, information, and resources.

Identify aid organizations in your community. Create a list of local organizations that you and your household can contact in the event you need access to information, health care services, support, and resources. Consider including organizations that provide mental health or counseling services, food, and other supplies.

Create an emergency contact list. Ensure your household has a current list of emergency contacts for family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers, health care providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department, and other community resources.

Practice everyday preventive actions now. Remind everyone in your household of the importance of practicing everyday preventive actions that can help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue.

• Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles) using a regular household detergent and water.

◦ If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent and water prior to disinfection. For disinfection, a list of products with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved emerging viral pathogens claims, maintained by the American Chemistry Council Center for Biocide Chemistries (CBC), is available at Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fighting Products . Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

Choose a room in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from those who are healthy. Identify a separate bathroom for the sick person to use, if possible. Plan to clean these rooms, as needed, when someone is sick. Learn how to care for someone with COVID-19 at home.

Plan for potential changes at your workplace

During an outbreak in your community, protect yourself and others by:

Put your household plan into action

Learn about the emergency operations plan at your child’s school or childcare facility. During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, local public health officials may recommend temporary school dismissals to help slow the spread of illness. School authorities also may decide to dismiss a school if too many students or staff are absent. Understand the plan for continuing education and social services (such as student meal programs) during school dismissals. If your child attends a college or university, encourage them to learn about the school’s plan for a COVID-19 outbreak.

Learn about your employer’s emergency operations plan. Discuss sick-leave policies and telework options for workers who are sick or who need to stay home to care for sick household members. Learn how businesses and employers can plan for and respond to COVID-19.

During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community: Act

• Staying home from work, school, and all activities when you are sick with COVID-19 symptoms, which

may include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.

• Keeping away from others who are sick.

• Limiting close contact with others as much as possible (about 6 feet).

Stay informed about the local COVID-19 situation. Get up-to-date information about local COVID-19 activity from public health officials . Be aware of temporary school dismissals in your area, as this may affect your household’s daily routine.

Stay home if you are sick. Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms. If a member of your household is sick, stay home from school and work to avoid spreading COVID-19 to others.

• If your children are in the care of others, urge caregivers to watch for COVID-19 symptoms.

Continue practicing everyday preventive actions. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains 60% alcohol. Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily using a regular household detergent and water.

Inform your workplace if you need to change your regular work schedule

Take the following steps to help protect your children during an outbreak

Use the separate room and bathroom you prepared for sick household members (if possible). Learn how to care for someone with COVID-19 at home. Avoid sharing personal items like food and drinks. Provide your sick household member with clean disposable facemasks to wear at home, if available, to help prevent spreading COVID-19 to others. Clean the sick room and bathroom, as needed, to avoid unnecessary contact with the sick person.

• If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent and water prior to disinfection. For disinfection, a list of products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims, maintained by the CBC, is available at Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fighting Products . Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products.

Stay in touch with others by phone or email. If you live alone and become sick during a COVID-19 outbreak, you may need help. If you have a chronic medical condition and live alone, ask family, friends, and health care providers to check on you during an outbreak. Stay in touch with family and friends with chronic medical conditions.

Take care of the emotional health of your household members. Outbreaks can be stressful for adults and children. Children respond differently to stressful situations than adults. Talk with your children about the outbreak, try to stay calm, and reassure them that they are safe.

Notify your workplace as soon as possible if your schedule changes. Ask to work from home or take leave if you or someone in your household gets sick with COVID-19 symptoms, or if your child’s school is dismissed temporarily.

If your child/children become sick with COVID-19, notify their childcare facility or school. Talk with teachers about classroom assignments and activities they can do from home to keep up with their schoolwork.

Keep track of school dismissals in your community. Read or watch local media sources that report school dismissals. If schools are dismissed temporarily, use alternative childcare arrangements, if needed.

Discourage children and teens from gathering in other public places while school is dismissed to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

Evaluate the effectiveness of your household’s plan of action

After a COVID-19 outbreak has ended in your community: Follow UpRemember, a COVID-19 outbreak could last a long time. The impact on individuals, households, and communities might be great. When public health officials determine the outbreak has ended in your community, take time to improve your household’s plan. As public health officials continue to plan for COVID-19 and other disease outbreaks, you and your household also have an important role to play in ongoing planning efforts.

Discuss and note lessons learned. Were your COVID-19 preparedness actions effective at home, school, and work? Talk about problems found in your plan and effective solutions. Identify additional resources needed for you and your household.

Participate in community discussions about emergency planning. Let others know about what readiness actions worked for you and your household. Maintain communication lines with your community (e.g., social media and email lists). Promote the importance of practicing good personal health habits.

Continue to practice everyday preventive actions. Stay home when you are sick; cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue; wash your hands often with soap and water; and clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily.

Take care of the emotional health of your household members. Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories about COVID-19. Connect with family and friends. Share your concerns and how you are feeling with others.

Help your child/children cope after the outbreak. Provide children with opportunities to talk about what they went through or what they think about it. Encourage them to share concerns and ask questions. Because parents, teachers, and other adults see children in different situations, it is important for them to work together to share information about how each child is coping after the outbreak.

COVID-19 Readiness Resources

• Visit cdc.gov/COVID19 for the latest information and resources

• COVID 2019 Situation Summary

• Prevention and Treatment

• What to Do If You Are Sick

• Pregnant Women and COVID FAQs

• Stigma Related to COVID-19

• Handwashing: A Family Activity

• Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives

CDC Interim Guidance for Specific Audiences

• Interim Guidance for Administrators of US Childcare Programs and K-12 Schools to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

• Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

CDC Communication Resources

• Communication Resources

• Print Resources

• Buttons and Badges

Page last reviewed: March 1, 2020Content source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases

Wash Hands Often FREQUENT HANDWASHING HELPS PREVENT GETTING SICK OR SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE!

Wash your hands BEFORE…

• Eating food

or drinking beverages

• Touching your face

Wash your hands for 20 seconds with

hot water and soap!

Wash your hands AFTER…

• Using the restroom • Touching handrails, door knobs • Coughing, sneezing, eating,

drinking • Cleaning/taking out trash • After close contact with another

person • As often as necessary to

remove soil and contamination

Ross County Health District 150 E Second Street, Chillicothe, OH 45601

www.rosscountyhealth.org | 740-779-9652 Updated 3/2/2020

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For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19

What you need to know about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

Can people in the U.S. get COVID-19? COVID-19 is spreading from person to person in China, and limited spread among close contacts has been detected in some countries outside China, including the United States. At this time, however, this virus is NOT currently spreading in communities in the United States. Right now, the greatest risk of infection is for people in China or people who have traveled to China. Risk of infection is dependent on exposure. Close contacts of people who are infected are at greater risk of exposure, for example health care workers and close contacts of people who are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. CDC continues to closely monitor the situation.

Have there been cases of COVID-19 in the U.S.? Yes. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported on January 21, 2020. The current count of cases of COVID-19 in the United States is available on CDC’s webpage at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html.

How does COVID-19 spread? The virus that causes COVID-19 probably emerged from an animal source, but now it seems to be spreading from person to person. It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some diseases are highly contagious (like measles), while other diseases are less so. At this time, it’s unclear how easily or sustainably the virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading between people. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of• fever• cough• shortness of breath

What are severe complications from this virus? Many patients have pneumonia in both lungs.

How can I help protect myself? The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.

There are simple everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. These include• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with

unwashed hands. • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20

seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should• Stay home when you are sick. • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the

tissue in the trash. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects

and surfaces.

What should I do if I recently traveled to China and got sick? If you were in China within the past 14 days and feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, you should seek medical care. Call the office of your health care provider before you go, and tell them about your travel and your symptoms. They will give you instructions on how to get care without exposing other people to your illness. While sick, avoid contact with people, don’t go out and delay any travel to reduce the possibility of spreading illness to others.

Is there a vaccine? There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.

Is there a treatment? There is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 can seek medical care to help relieve symptoms.

This material was developed by CDC. The Life is Better with Clean Hands Campaign is made possible by a partnership between the CDC Foundation, GOJO, and Staples. HHS/CDC does not endorse commercial products, services, or companies. CS310275-A

Handwashing: Keeping Your Family Healthy

Handwashing is an easy, cheap, and effective way to prevent the spread of germs and keep kids and adults healthy. When your family is healthy, you don’t have to worry about missing school, work, or other activities.

Parents and caretakers play an important role in teaching children to wash their hands. Handwashing can become a lifelong healthy habit if you start teaching it at an early age. Teach kids the five easy steps for handwashing—wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry—and the key times to wash hands, such as after using the bathroom or before eating. You can find ways to make it fun, like making up your own handwashing song or turning it into a game.

www.cdc.gov/handwashing

Young children learn by imitating the behaviors of adults in their lives. When you make handwashing part of your routine, you’re setting an example for your children to follow.

Lead by example

Help your child develop handwashing skills

Building handwashing skills takes time. At first, your child will need regular reminders of how and when to wash hands. It is especially important to remind children to wash their hands after using the bathroom, before eating, after touching pets, after playing outside, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose. But once handwashing becomes a habit and a regular part of your child’s day, they will practice it throughout their lives.

Give frequent reminders

Remember to make handwashing a healthy habit at home, school, and at play!

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol.

Handwashing can prevent

cases of diarrheain1 3

respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu

in1 5 What if soap and water aren’t available?

Did you know?Baby wipes may make your hands look clean, but they’re not designed to remove germs from your hands. CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water when possible.

LIFE IS BETTER WITH

www.cdc.gov/handwashingThis material was developed by CDC. The Life is Better with Clean Hands Campaign is made possible by a partnership between the CDC Foundation, GOJO, and Staples. HHS/CDC does not endorse commercial products, services, or companies.

CS3

1104

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LEADBY EXAMPLEWash your hands and

teach kids to scrub hands for at least

20 SECONDS.

Stop Germs! Wash Your Hands.

• After using the bathroom

• Before, during, and after preparing food

• Before eating food

• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea

• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste

• After handling pet food or pet treats

• After touching garbage

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

Rinse hands well under clean, running water.

Dry hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Keeping hands clean is one of the most

important things we can do to stop the spread of germs and stay healthy.

www.cdc.gov/handwashingThis material was developed by CDC. The Life is Better with Clean Hands Campaign is made possible by a partnership between the CDC Foundation, GOJO, and Staples. HHS/CDC does not endorse commercial products, services, or companies. CS310027-A

How?

When?

Stay home when you are sick,except to get medical care.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

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STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS

For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19.

SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019

*Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

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For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19

SHORTNESSOF BREATH

COUGH

If you have been in China or in close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19 in

the past 2 weeks and develop symptoms, call your doctor.

*Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

FEVERSymptoms* can include

Patients with COVID-19 have experienced mild to severe respiratory illness.

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For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19

What to do if you are sick with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

If you are sick with COVID-19 or suspect you are infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, follow the steps below to help prevent the disease from spreading to people in your home and community.

Stay home except to get medical care You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

Separate yourself from other people and animals in your homePeople: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.

Animals: Do not handle pets or other animals while sick. See COVID-19 and Animals for more information.

Call ahead before visiting your doctor If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.

Wear a facemaskYou should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live with you should not stay in the same room with you, or they should wear a facemask if they enter your room.

Cover your coughs and sneezes Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in a lined trash can; immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 to 95% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.

Avoid sharing personal household items You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

Clean your hands oftenWash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every dayHigh touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.

Monitor your symptomsSeek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing). Before seeking care, call your healthcare provider and tell them that you have, or are being evaluated for, COVID-19. Put on a facemask before you enter the facility. These steps will help the healthcare provider’s office to keep other people in the office or waiting room from getting infected or exposed.

Ask your healthcare provider to call the local or state health department. Persons who are placed under active monitoring or facilitated self-monitoring should follow instructions provided by their local health department or occupational health professionals, as appropriate.

If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel that you have, or are being evaluated for COVID-19. If possible, put on a facemask before emergency medical services arrive.

Discontinuing home isolationPatients with confirmed COVID-19 should remain under home isolation precautions until the risk of secondary transmission to others is thought to be low. The decision to discontinue home isolation precautions should be made on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.

COMMUNITY AND FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS

Community- and faith-based organizations include social service agencies, nonprofit organizations, and places of worship that are often sources of critical resources for vulnerable members of our communities. They are essential partners with public health as part of efforts to protect Ohioans from infectious diseases.

As of Feb. 27, 2020, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ohio. We encourage you to prepare for the possibility of community spread in your communities.

The Ohio Department of Health offers these guidelines to prepare for an outbreak of any infectious disease.

Please strive to prevent panic, provide accurate information, and quell rumors and misinformation. Seek to discourage any stigma associated with COVID-19 or any other infectious diseases by speaking out against negative behaviors, statements or exclusionary activities.

PREVENTION • Please encourage staff, volunteers, congregants, and clients to use personal prevention protection methods at all times,

whether at home or at your organization.

• Share informational fact sheets and posters:

o https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/Novel-Coronavirus/resources/Novel-Coronavirus-Fact-Sheet

o https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/Novel-Coronavirus/resources/Prevention-Infographic

o https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html

• Provide supplies such as soap, hand sanitizer, tissues, wipes, trash cans within your organization and within the community if possible.

• Clean high-touch surfaces and objects often.*

• Monitor absences and notify your local public health department of any spikes.

• Keep informed of recommendations of public health officials and inform your staff, volunteers, congregants, and clients.

*CLEAN ALL “HIGH-TOUCH” SURFACES EVERY DAY High touch surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipe according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

PLANNING

• Update or create an emergency operations plan with a specific coordinator or team.

• Consider all staffing, systems, programs, and services and consider various possible scenarios.

• Plan for worker absences by training other in critical roles. Plan for ways to limit non-essential operations/services if needed. Consider alterations of work hours. Plan to provide information that explains the reason.

• Partner with other organizations and agencies in the community, including the local health department and other local agencies, businesses, and other community and faith-based groups.

• Develop flexible sick-leave policies, allowing workers to stay home if they or someone in their home is sick.

• Develop a plan to increase distance between people working or congregating to at least 3 feet whenever possible.

• Develop a plan to separate people exhibiting respiratory symptoms form others and help them get home or to medical care as

soon as possible.

• Plan for the possible cancelling of nonessential travel. Consider telework options, staggered schedules, web-based seminars and postponing meetings or holding them remotely.

• Create or update emergency communication plans.

• Plan for ways to reach people with language, cultural or disability barriers. Translate pertinent documents into languages in

your community.

• Create a necessities bank to collect prevention and care items for people who may need them.

• Plan for ways to continue essential services using methods that eliminate or reduce congregating.

• Plan for modifying or canceling large community events, programs, and non-essential services if necessary.

Developed February 27, 2020, with information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PERSONAL PREVENTION PROTECTION METHODS

FAQs Q: What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

A: COVID-19, or coronavirus disease 2019, is an upper respiratory tract disease caused by one of the seven

coronaviruses known to infect humans. It was first identified in humans in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December

2019. The virus that causes COVID-19 is called SARS-CoV-2.

Q: Who is at risk?

A: The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers risk to the general public in most communities to be

low. People who recently traveled to China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, or Italy, and people who care for patients with

COVID-19 are at higher risk. As of February 28, 2020, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in

Ohio.

Q: What are the symptoms?

A: Symptoms, which generally appear two to 14 days after exposure, include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Most

people who become sick do not require hospitalization, but older adults, people with chronic health conditions, and people

with compromised immune systems are more likely to require more advanced care.

Q: How does it spread?

A: Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets. The virus that causes

coronavirus disease 2019 is spreading from person-to-person and someone who is actively sick with the disease can

spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home

until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

Q: What can I do to prevent it?

A: There are no vaccines to prevent COVID-19. Implement the personal prevention protection methods used to prevent

flu and other infectious diseases:

o Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; dry hands with a clean towel or air dry

hands.

o Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable.

o Cover your mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing.

o Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

o Stay home when you are sick.

o Avoid contact with people who are sick.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Also, clean high-touch areas – counters, tables, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards,

tablets, nightstands – every day using household cleaning spray or wipes according to label directions.

Q: Where is it spreading?

A: While the COVID-19 outbreak began in China, it is now spreading worldwide, threatening to cause a pandemic.

Sustained, ongoing person-to-person spread in the community is occurring in some international locations. In the U.S.,

several instances of infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 have occurred in people with no travel history and no

known source of exposure in several states. This has raised the level of concern about the immediate threat of COVID-19

for certain communities.

Q: Should I wear a face mask?

A: The use of face masks by people who are not sick is not recommended to protect against respiratory diseases. Face

masks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent spread of the disease and by health

care workers and others taking care of someone in a close setting.

Q: Is it still safe to travel internationally?

A: The U.S. Department of State is advising against travel to China and Iran due to COVID-19 outbreaks and advising

that travers reconsider plans to go to South Korea and Italy. Increased caution is advised in traveling to Japan (Level 2

advisory).

Q: What should I do if I had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19?

A: Detailed information for people who have had close contact with a person confirmed to have, or being evaluated for,

COVID-19 are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here.

Q: Should I get tested for COVID-19?

A: Call a health care professional if you develop a fever or symptoms of respiratory illness -- such as cough or shortness

of breath -- within 14 days of travel from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, or Italy, or within 14 days of close contact with a

COVID-19 patient. Testing is also advised for people who have severe, acute lower respiratory illness requiring

hospitalization, and no other diagnosis to explain the symptoms.

Q: Will warm weather stop the outbreak of COVID-19?

A: It is not yet known whether weather and temperature impact the spread of COVID-19. Some other viruses, like the

common cold and flu, spread more during cold weather months, but that does not mean it is impossible to become sick with

these viruses during other months. At this time, it is not known whether the spread of COVID-19 will decrease when

weather becomes warmer.

Developed March 2, 2020, with information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/