COVID-19 Coronavirus

​What is Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

COVID-19, is a respiratory disease caused by a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans. CDC is responding to an outbreak of this disease that was first detected in China, which has now been detected in most countries worldwide, including the United States. 

Reported illnesses caused by COVID-19 have ranged from very mild (including some with no symptoms) to severe, including death. Common symptoms are fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. 

Why Should I Follow Preventative Actions to Stay Healthy?

COVID-19 is now a pandemic. A pandemic is a global outbreak of disease. Pandemics happen when a new virus emerges to infect people and can spread between people sustainably. Because there is little to no pre-existing immunity against the new virus, it spreads worldwide. The virus that causes COVID-19 is infecting people and spreading easily from person-to-person. Cases have been detected in most countries worldwide and community spread is being detected in a growing number of countries.​

• On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern."
  
• On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19.
  
• On March 11, 2020, WHO publicly characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.​
  
• On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared the COVID-19 outbreak a national emergency​.
  

Older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions — like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example — seem to be at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness.

Protecting Yourself and Your Family

Everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat:

• On March 16, the White House announced a program called “30 Days to Slow the Spread,”which is a nationwide effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 through the implementation of social distancing at all levels of society.
  
• Older people and people with severe chronic conditions should take special precautions because they are at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness.​
  

On top of the above efforts, CD​C recommends following everyday preventative actions to stay healthy:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• 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 using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• 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 an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.​

Face masks are now required in Texas:

• Per Executive Order GA-29​, every person in Texas above the age of 10 is required to wear a mask or similar face covering over their nose and mouth when in public. ​​
• CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
  
• Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
  
• The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.​
  
• Find a helpful guide on how to wear a face mask while in public by clicking here! 

More information

• This is a rapidly evolving situation. CDC will provide the most up-to-date information and guidance as it becomes available on the COVID-19 Situation Summary page.
  
• Read up on the latest information about COVID-19 in the U.S.
  
• Learn more about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in communities such as work, schools, events and more by visiting CDC's preparedness and action page.
  
• View the COVID-19 Global Cases Map by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at John Hopkins University
  

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