What is COVID-19?

Learn all about COVID-19 in plain language.

Made by Rooted in Rights in collaboration with ASAN.

Transcript

NARRATOR: What you need to know about COVID-19.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a disease that has spread around the world.
It is also called, “coronavirus.”
Some people who have COVID-19 do not show it.
They might not even know they are sick.
But some people with COVID-19 have a fever.
They cough.
They may also have a hard time breathing.
[heavy breathing]
Most people who have COVID-19 can get better at home.
But some people with COVID-19 get very sick and need to go to the hospital.
Some people with COVID-19 have died.
How do people get COVID-19?
COVID-19 spreads through germs you cannot see.
People who have COVID-19 can get germs on things they touch.
They can also get germs into the air near them if they sneeze or cough.
Germs get into your body through your nose, mouth, and eyes.
If someone has COVID-19 and they cough near you, you might breathe in the germs
through your nose or mouth.
If someone who has COVID-19 touches a doorknob, germs can get on the doorknob.
If you touch the same doorknob, and then you touch your face,
the germs could get in your eyes and into your body.
How can I avoid getting COVID-19?
Soap can kill the germs that spread COVID-19.
So you should wash your hands with soap and water many times throughout the day.
Make sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds,
especially after you have been outside,
after you go to the bathroom,
and before you eat.
Try not to touch your face.
And If you cough, cough into your elbow.
Your elbow can block germs from spreading.
You should also stay home as much as you can.
When we stay at home, we don’t catch or spread COVID-19.
If you need to go out, stay six feet away from other people.
That means, stay far enough away from another person
so that a bed would fit between you.
Staying six feet away helps make sure other people’s germs can’t reach you.
If you have to go out and you know you might get close to other people,
you can wear a cloth mask over your face.
If lots of people wear masks, it will be harder for us to give each other germs.
Wearing masks can help,
but we should still stay home as much as we can.
What do I do if I feel sick?
If you feel sick or have a cough, check your temperature to see if you have a fever.
You can check your temperature with a thermometer.
If your temperature is over 100.4 degrees, you have a fever.
If you have a fever or a cough, you should tell people who live or work with you
that you are sick.
You should also stay at home.
It’s important to remember that if you have a fever or a cough,
you may have a cold or a flu
and not COVID-19.
These are other diseases that are not as bad.
If you are worried that you might have COVID-19, you can call your doctor.
If you are sick but don’t need to be in the hospital,
your doctor will tell you to stay at home and rest until you feel better.
If you are very sick, your doctor might tell you to go to the hospital,
especially If you have trouble breathing.
Some people who get COVID-19 are more likely to get very sick.
These include people who are older than 65,
people with lung problems, like asthma,
and people who have problems with their immune system;
like people with HIV and people with organ transplants.
If you are worried that COVID-19 could make you very sick, talk to your doctor.
Your doctor can help you make a plan.
What can I do to help stop COVID-19?
The best thing we can do to stop COVID-19 is stay home.
When we stay home we don’t catch COVID-19 or give it to other people.
We should stay home as much as we can,
and keep staying home until doctors and disease experts
say it’s safe to go out.
Until they do, do not go to work unless you work at a place that needs to stay open,
like a grocery store or a doctor’s office.
Also, do not go to school.
Do not go see friends or eat at a restaurant.
And do not travel for fun or to visit family.
It is okay to go out to get food or medicine.
To walk your dog.
And to walk or ride your bike
if you can find a place that isn’t crowded.
But remember, if you are around other people,
stay six feet away.
It is hard to have to stay home.
But we are all in this together!
When we stay home, we stay safe
and we keep each other safe.
Together, we can help stop COVID-19!