Coronavirus FAQs for the General Public

Updated 1/13/2021

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2 first 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, but COVID-19 can also harm other parts of the body. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people can become severely ill. Older adults and people who have certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of severe illness.

How does COVID-19 spread?

COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. These droplets and particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, noses, or mouth. In some circumstances, they may contaminate the surfaces they touch. People who are closer than 6 feet from the infected person are most likely to become infected.

COVID-19 spreads in three main ways:

• Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is breathing out small droplets and particles that contain the virus.
• Having these small droplets and particles that contain the virus land on the eyes, nose, or mouth, especially through coughs and sneezes.
• Touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them.

People are most likely to spread the disease when they have symptoms, but some people may spread the virus before they show symptoms.

What are the 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. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

• 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

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.

How soon after exposure do symptoms start?

In general, symptoms appear 2 – 14 days after exposure.

How long can a person spread COVID-19?

Someone with COVID-19 may be contagious from two days before they show symptoms until 10 days after symptom onset or 72 hours after symptoms stop, whichever is longer.

What are severe complications from this virus?

In severe cases, infection can cause bronchitis (swelling of the tubes into the lungs), pneumonia (infection in the lungs often with fluid build up), kidney failure, and even death.  People over 60 years old and those with other underlying health conditions are more likely to have severe complications.

When should I seek emergency medical attention?

You should seek emergency medical attention if you are experiencing:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake-up or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nails, depending on skin tone

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.

How can I help protect myself and my family?

You can prevent infection by doing the following:

• Get a COVID-19 vaccine for yourself and family members
• Wear a mask while indoors
• Practice social distancing by keeping at least 6 feet between you and others
• Stay home when you are sick
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Wash your hands often with soap and water
• Cover your cough or sneeze
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• Don’t share drinking cups or utensils with other people
• A list of products approved to kill coronavirus can be found HERE

Is it safe to touch delivered items like packages or food delivery?

The risk of getting sick from a package is low. Early experiments suggests the new coronavirus is stable on some surfaces for hours to days; however, the risk of getting a virus from a delivery is lower than the risk of getting the virus from going to the store. Washing your hands after handling delivered items and avoiding touching your face will lower the risk even more.

Is there a vaccine?

At this time, there are three vaccines for COVID-19 in the United States:

1. Comirnaty (Pfizer)
   1. Two-dose vaccine given 21 days apart
   2. Fully approved for use in individuals 16 and older, under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use in individuals 12 to 15
2. Moderna
   1. Two-dose vaccine given 28 days apart
   2. Under EUA for use in individuals 18 and older
3. Johnson and Johnson (J&)
   1. One-dose vaccine
   2. Under EUA for use in individuals 18 and older

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccines, visit www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/

To find a vaccine clinic near you, visit www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/clinic-locations/ or www.vaccines.gov

Is there a treatment?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved one drug, Remdesivir, to treat COVID-19 in certain situations. Most people with mild coronavirus illness will recover on their own by drinking plenty of fluids, resting, and taking pain and fever medications. However, some people have developed pneumonia and require medical care or hospitalization.

Can I take ivermectin to treat COVID-19? 

No. The FDA has not approved ivermectin for use in treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans. Ivermectin tablets are approved at very specific doses for some parasitic worms. Ivermectin is not an anti-viral drug (a drug for treating viruses). Taking large doses of this drug is dangerous and can cause serious harm. There's a lot of misinformation around, and you may have heard that it's okay to take large doses of ivermectin. That is wrong. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/why-you-should-not-use-ivermectin-treat-or-prevent-covid-19

What should I do if I recently traveled?

Please check the KDHE website for the most up-to-date travel restrictions. If you have traveled to one of the places on the dates mentioned, self-report travel by calling (316) 660-7300. If you have questions about recommendations, please call the Sedgwick County Health Department.

What does home quarantine or self-isolation mean?

Home quarantine or self-isolation means that you should remain at home and not attend school, work, or any other setting where you are not able to ALWAYS maintain a 6-foot distance from other people such as stores.

Testing for COVID-19

A laboratory test for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is performed by the state health department laboratory in Topeka or through commercial laboratories.  A small swab from a person’s nose or throat or the person’s saliva is used for the test.

Please check the most up-to-date quarantine and isolation guidance, here. 

For COVID-19 testing through the Sedgwick County Health Department and a list of other testing clinics around Sedgwick County, click here.

Who should be tested?

After infection with a virus, the level of virus in a person’s body increases over time and then decreases when your immune system fights it off. The COVID-19 test will be positive if the amount of virus in your body is high enough to be detected by the test.

• Symptoms are the best indication that the level of virus is detectable, but you can still test positive even if you don’t have symptoms.

A negative COVID-19 test could mean that you do not have the virus OR it could mean that you don’t have enough virus in your body for it to be detectable.

• Testing only indicates what is going on in your body at the time of the test
• A person with a negative test one day can test positive the next day or several days later if the amount of virus in their body increases, or if they are exposed after testing.

Knowing your risk of exposure and your symptoms on the day of testing are important for the lab to properly interpret your results.

What happens if someone tests positive for COVID-19?

• If you test positive for COVID-19, you must remain at home for 5 full days after you first noticed symptoms.
• If after 5 days you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications AND you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving, you can leave your house, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask at home and in public for an additional 5 full days.
• If you still have a fever or your symptoms are not resolving after 5 days, you must remain at home until your symptoms are resolving and you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• A negative antigen test on day 5 or later is recommended before you leave your house on day 6, but is not required.
  • If you are tested and you test positive, remain in isolation for the full 10 days.
• You cannot do any activities or go places where you are unable to wear a mask at all times (ex. restaurants or gyms).
• If you are unable to wear a mask at all times, you must remain at home for 10 days from when you first noticed symptoms.
• You should stay away from other people in your home to avoid spreading the virus to them.
• If you can, isolating in a room by yourself and using a separate bathroom is best. If you can’t do this, you should stay as far away from other household members as possible. 
• Surfaces (like door knobs, tabletops, and bathroom fixtures) in your home should be disinfected daily.
• You should not share food or personal items with other household members.
• Wear a mask when other people are present and maintain six feet distance.
• The Health Department will help identify your close contacts, who will be referred to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for follow-up. This only occurs if you give permission.  Close contacts should complete the in-home quarantine as described below.

Follow the most up-to-date guidance located, here.

The Health Department will help identify your close contacts, who will be referred to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for follow-up. This only occurs if you give permission. Close contacts should complete the modified in-home quarantine as described below or as recommended by KDHE.

How do we test for COVID-19?

A healthcare provider obtains swabs deep in a person’s nose or throat for the test. The provider sends the swabs to a commercial laboratory or the state health department (Kansas Department of Health and Environment). Another option is through saliva testing, where the person being tested spits into a tube for the test.

Antibody and antigen tests are not confirmatory for COVID-19; therefore, the SCHD is not offering these types of tests.

How long do test results typically take?

Results are generally available by the afternoon of the next weekday (see table below). These testes are not antibody tests, but show if you have a current infection.

What is a close contact?

You are considered a “close contact” if any of the following situations happened while you were with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 – even if they did not have symptoms:

• You were within 6 feet of the person for 15 cumulative minutes in a 24-hour period.
• You had contact with the person’s respiratory secretions (sneezing, coughing, sharing a drinking glass, food, towels or other personal items, kissing)
• You live with the person or stayed overnight for at least one night in the person’s house
• You participated in activities that increase respiration (breathing rate), such as sports or singing, with someone who was positive.

Modified Disease Investigation

Please review the isolation and quarantine guidance located, here. 

Should I be concerned about pets or other animals and COVID-19?

To date, CDC has only a few reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19. If you are sick, limit contact with pets and other animals. Though the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 is low, animals can spread other diseases to people. Wash your hands after being around animals.

Should I avoid animals or animal products imported from China?

CDC does not have any evidence to suggest that animals or animal products imported from China pose a risk for spreading COVID-19 in the United States. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available.

I'm having trouble finding child care services and I need to go back to work. What are my options? 

You can contact Child Care Aware of Kansas at 1-877-678-2548 if you need help finding licensed child care options. Additionally, the following child care arrangements do not require a license from KDHE:

• Children receiving care in their own home
• Children cared for by relatives
• Anyone (friend, teacher, relative) caring for 2 children for less than 20 hours per week

Online Resources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Sedgwick County Health Department