WHAT IS A CORONAVIRUS?

A coronavirus describes a large number of viruses that usually cause mild respiratory illness. There are coronaviruses that have caused more severe illness, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Novel coronavirus 2019 is a new coronavirus, first identified in late 2019, and can cause severe illness. Other terms you may see used to name this virus include: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, or 2019-nCoV.

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1. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINATION
2. WHAT IS A CORONAVIRUS?
3. WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS?
4. WHERE DID THIS VIRUS COME FROM AND HOW IS IT SPREAD?
5. WHAT IF I HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS COVID?
6. HOW MANY COVID-19 CASES ARE THERE IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY?
7. ISN’T THIS VIRUS BASICALLY JUST THE FLU?
8. ARE PUBLIC GATHERINGS BEING CANCELED?
9. DO PEOPLE NEED TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS/MASKS?
10. HOW DO I SAFELY DISPOSE OF USED FACE MASKS?
11. WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS?
12. WHAT IS SOCIAL/PHYSICAL DISTANCING?
13. DOES THE HEALTH OFFICER REALLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO RESTRICT ACTIVITIES?
14. WHO SHOULD BE TESTED?
15. WHAT IF I CAN’T GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY PROVIDER?
16. HOW LONG IS SOMEONE CONTAGIOUS?
17. IS THERE A VACCINE FOR 2019 CORONAVIRUS?
18. HOW IS THIS VIRUS TREATED?
19. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I GET SICK?
20. WHAT EARLY TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE?
21. WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT THE SPREAD?
22. WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED OR AT HIGHER RISK?
23. SHOULD I KEEP MY KIDS HOME?
24. WHY ISN’T THERE A LIST OF EXPOSURE LOCATIONS?
25. IS IT SAFE TO DONATE BLOOD?
26. IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY?
27. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION