Your AdventHealth Coronavirus Resource Hub

Coronaviruses are common throughout the world. The novel coronavirus strain also called COVID-19 was first found in late 2019 in Wuhan City in the Hubei Province of China. 

There are multiple strains of coronaviruses that are common around the world, though there are also more severe strains as well. You may be more familiar with previous outbreaks of severe coronaviruses like MERS (MERS-CoV) or SARS (SARS-CoV). 

Most people who get sick from coronavirus experience mild symptoms, do not develop severe illness and can recover from home. The most common symptoms to watch for are fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Sometimes, severe respiratory issues develop. Overall, though, coronavirus is generally mild, and about 80% of people who get it recover without significant medical intervention, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The virus spreads mainly from person-to-person. If someone has coronavirus, droplets from their coughs or sneezes can be inhaled by the people around them, and that's how the disease spreads. Coronavirus is not airborne, but does spread through droplets. Droplets are different from airborne spread because droplets fall to the ground after a few feet, whereas airborne germs are spread through the air. You can learn more about the person-to-person transmission of coronavirus here. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. They also list that other symptoms can include fatigue, chills, muscle pain and body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, nausea and vomiting, congestion or runny nose and diarrhea. Coronaviruses can also sometimes cause illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis. Learn more about coronavirus symptoms here.  

If you feel sick, call your doctor or make a telemedicine appointment. Your doctor can advise you on your best next steps. Use the AdventHealth app to set up a video visit with your doctor. 

If you're immunocompromised (or have other underlying health conditions) and you have COVID-19 symptoms, please call your primary care physician or schedule an AdventHealth app appointment as soon as possible, even if your symptoms are mild. Your doctor will be able to evaluate your symptoms and advise you on next steps. Use the AdventHealth app to set up a virtual care appointment. 

If you have severe respiratory distress with symptoms that include fever, cough and shortness of breath, go to the ER for immediate care. 

If you don't have any symptoms but are concerned that you might have been exposed to the virus, we recommend monitoring yourself at home. On average, coronavirus symptoms develop within 14 days of exposure to the virus. Call your primary care physician, as they can offer care and testing advice personalized to your specific case. 

Use the AdventHealth app to schedule a video visit with your doctor.  

As a first line of defense, your doctor can evaluate your symptoms. Physicians will also perform additional tests, as appropriate, to rule out other potential illnesses such as the flu or mononucleosis. 

Unless you are experiencing severe respiratory distress, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, please do not go to the ER for a coronavirus test. Instead, contact your care provider or local Centra Care Urgent Care location to schedule an appointment for a test.  

In order to avoid the spread of coronavirus, you should avoid the emergency room at your local hospital except in cases of an emergency. 

Right now, there's no specific treatment for coronavirus. People who have the disease can receive supportive medical care from their doctors to help relieve symptoms. Read more about what to do if you're sick.  

Yes, there are several COVID-19 vaccines now available. We’re following CDC and state guidance that the vaccine is the first and best way to protect people from COVID-19. To sign up for email updates about our community vaccine events, please visit www.CoronavirusVaccineAlerts.com.

The vaccine is the best option for protecting yourself and others against COVID-19. If you have not received a vaccine yet, there are a few things you can do to minimize risk to yourself and help protect others. When you’re in public, always wear your face mask and stay 6 feet away from other people. In public and at home, wash your hands thoroughly and often, and avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose. Disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home frequently, too. If you’re sick, call or video visit with your doctor, stay home and avoid close contact with other people. Read the CDC's steps to protect yourself and others.

Face masks are most effective at slowing the spread of COVID-19 when they are worn properly and used with other safety measures, like social distancing. To wear your mask properly, make sure it covers your nose and mouth, and wear it whenever you're in public. Wearing your mask properly is effective in slowing the spread of respiratory droplets from your breath, coughs and sneezes, which protects everyone around you. New findings from the CDC also show that proper face masks can help protect you from inhaling respiratory droplets from other people, too.  

Wearing your mask over your nose and mouth in public slows the spread of respiratory droplets from your breath, coughs and sneezes. It's important to wear your mask even if you're not sick, because some people have COVID-19 with no symptoms. Because the virus spreads through these respiratory droplets, your mask protects the people around you, just like their masks help protect you. Read more about why and how to wear your mask.  

Yes, our facilities have sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for every team member. 

Coronaviruses and the flu are completely different viruses, but can cause similar symptoms. Since the two share the same indicators, coronavirus can only be confirmed by conducting the appropriate laboratory tests. Read more about the differences between coronavirus, flu and cold.   

Because COVID-19 case numbers are different in each state and the situation is changing rapidly each week, it’s important to examine your priorities with traveling. Different states may have different requirements including quarantine requirements. While staying home is still the best way to keep yourself and other people safe, there are ways to travel safely. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers guidance on traveling by air, bus, train, car and RV, and lists some important questions to ask before you go.  

Unfortunately, antibiotics don't prevent or treat coronavirus. Antibiotics can only treat bacterial infections, and COVID-19 is caused by a virus. Some COVID-19 patients may also develop a bacterial infection, in which case their doctor may prescribe an antibiotic, but the medicine will not treat the coronavirus itself.