COVID 19

About COVID 19

COVID 19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and presents with a wide range of symptoms. Common symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. A substantial proportion of infections cause no symptoms. Severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain, new confusion, or bluish lips are a medical emergency; call your local emergency number. Long COVID affects a minority of infected people, with symptoms lasting months including fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, and heart palpitations. The disease spreads through respiratory aerosols and droplets. Vaccines significantly reduce severe disease risk. Antivirals such as nirmatrelvir ritonavir Paxlovid may be prescribed for people at higher risk of severe disease. Public health guidance on isolation and testing has changed over time and varies by country.