Visit the Ferris COVID-19 hub for detailed information on the coronavirus, including the University's response
and local, state and national resources.
About COVID-19
COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2
and was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It is very contagious and has
quickly spread around the world.
COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, a flu, or pneumonia. COVID-19 may attack more than
your lungs and respiratory system. Other parts of your body may also be affected by
the disease.
Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill.
Some people including those with minor or no symptoms may suffer from post-COVID conditions — or “long COVID”.
Hundreds of thousands of people have died from COVID-19 in the United States.
Vaccines against COVID-19 are safe and effective. Vaccines teach our immune system to fight the virus that causes COVID-19.
About SARS-CoV-2
the virus that causes COVID-19
COVID-19 is caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. It is part of the coronavirus family,
which include common viruses that cause a variety of diseases from head or chest colds
to more severe (but more rare) diseases like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
Like many other respiratory viruses, coronaviruses spread quickly through droplets
that you project out of your mouth or nose when you breathe, cough, sneeze, or speak.
The word corona means crown and refers to the appearance that coronaviruses get from
the spike proteins sticking out of them. These spike proteins are important to the
biology of this virus. The spike protein is the part of the virus that attaches to
a human cell to infect it, allowing it to replicate inside of the cell and spread
to other cells. Some antibodies can protect you from SARS-CoV-2 by targeting these
spike proteins. Because of the importance of this specific part of the virus, scientists
who sequence the virus for research constantly monitor mutations causing changes to the spike protein through
a process called genomic surveillance.
As genetic changes to the virus happen over time, the SARS-CoV-2 virus begins to form
genetic lineages. Just as a family has a family tree, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be
similarly mapped out. Sometimes branches of that tree have different attributes that
change how fast the virus spreads, or the severity of illness it causes, or the effectiveness
of treatments against it. Scientists call the viruses with these changes “variants”.
They are still SARS-CoV-2, but may act differently.
Symptoms of COVID-19
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild
symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms.
Possible symptoms include:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this
list as we learn more about COVID-19. Older adults and people who have underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk for getting very sick from
COVID-19.
Feeling Sick?
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consider the following options:
Get tested for COVID-19
When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID 19:
Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion
Inability to wake or stay awake
Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
If someone is showing any of these signs, call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency
facility. Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may
have COVID-19.
*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any
other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
What to Do If You Were Exposed to COVID-19
If you have tested positive or are showing symptoms of COVID-19, isolate immediately.
About Being Exposed to COVID-19
If you were exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 or have been told by a healthcare
provider or public health authority that you were exposed, here are the steps that
you should take, regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous
infection. Learn how COVID-19 spreads and the factors that make risk of spread higher or lower.
After Being Exposed to COVID-19
Immediately
Wear a mask as soon as you find out you were exposed
Start counting from Day 1
Day 0 is the day of your last exposure to someone with COVID-19
Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure
10 Full Days
You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed
Take Precautions
Wear a high-quality mask or respirator (e.g., N95) any time you are around others inside your home or indoors
in public 1
Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask, including travel and public
transportation settings.
IF YOU TEST NEGATIVE Continue taking precautions through day 10
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE Isolate immediately
Wear a high-quality mask when around others at home and indoors in public
You can still develop COVID-19 up to 10 days after you have been exposed.
*About negative test results:
As noted in the Food and Drug Administration labeling for authorized over-the-counter
antigen tests, negative test results do not rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection and should
not be used as the sole basis for treatment or patient management decisions, including
infection control decisions.
Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you have COVID-19.
You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do
not yet have test results. If your results are positive, follow the full isolation recommendations below.
If your results are negative, you can end your isolation.
IF YOU TEST NEGATIVE: You can end your isolation
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE: Follow the full isolation recommendations below
When you have COVID-19, isolation is counted in days, as follows:
Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started
If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from
others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days.
End isolation based on how serious your COVID-19 symptoms were.
If you had no symptoms: You may end isolation after day 5.
If you had symptoms: You may end isolation after day 5 if:
You are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication)
Your symptoms are improving
If you still have fever or your other symptoms have not improved: continue to isolate
until they improve.
If you had moderate illness (if you experienced shortness of breath or had difficulty breathing), or severe illness (you were hospitalized) due to COVID-19, or you have a weakened immune system, you
need to isolate through day 10.
If you had severe illness or have a weakened immune system, consult your doctor before ending isolation. Ending
isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you.
If you are unsure if your symptoms are moderate or severe or if you have a weakened
immune system, talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.
Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid being around people who are more likely
to get very sick from COVID-19 until at least day 11. Remember to wear a high-quality
mask when indoors around others at home and in public and not go places where you
are unable to wear a mask until you are able to discontinue masking (see below), including
public transportation and travel settings.
Loss of taste and smell may persist for weeks or months after recovery and need not
delay the end of isolation.
After you have ended isolation, when you are feeling better (no fever without the
use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms improving):
Wear your mask through day 10, OR...
If you have access to antigen tests, you should consider using them. With two sequential
negative tests 48 hours apart, you may remove your mask sooner than day 10.
*Note: If your antigen test results1 are positive, you may still be infectious. You
should continue wearing a mask and wait at least 48 hours before taking another test.
Continue taking antigen tests at least 48 hours apart until you have two sequential
negative results. This may mean you need to continue wearing a mask and testing beyond
day 10.
After you have ended isolation, if your COVID-19 symptoms recur or worsen, restart
your isolation at day 0. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have questions about
your symptoms or when to end isolation.
Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m After Hours Care For Emergencies, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For Non-emergent health issues, please contact your local health provider or hospital.
