Covid-19 spreads when people are within 6 feet from each other and through respiratory droplets when a person with the infection speaks, sneezes, or coughs. When you are showing symptoms stay away from others and get tested. Some people may not show symptoms, but they can still infect others. It is important to wash your hands with soap in warm water for at least 20 seconds before touching your face. You should wear a CDC approved mask in public settings. The mask should be over your nose and mouth and secured under the chin.

If you believe you may be sick, some tips you could personally use for how to self-quarantine could be staying home and maintaining social distance habits (at least 6 feet) until 14 days after their last exposure to the infected patient, in case they also become ill. Whether you are self-quarantining or simply stuck inside, due to the ongoing pandemic, staying inside may be boring after some time. Some good ways to solve this could be: Following online workouts, video chatting with friends/family, online games, etc.

To ensure that you, your friends, and your family are safe, it is highly recommended to get a COVID-19 test. There are three vaccines in Phase 3 of clinical trials in the United States which are mRNA vaccines, Protein subunit vaccines, Vector vaccines. Healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities would get the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.

As of right now, the two most common tests are the COVID-19 rapid test and the PCR tests. A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) is a test in which a sample from your respiratory tract is taken to detect protein fragments that are expressed by COVID-19. The time in which you may receive your results is fairly quick and in most cases, you'll receive them within 15 minutes. On the other hand, a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test is a more intricate test that searches for the presence of the genetic material that makes up COVID-19. For both tests, a sample from either your nose or the back of your throat is taken and sent to a laboratory. For this test, the time in which you receive results is around 2-3 days, or even longer.

Click to Find the Nearest COVID-19 Testing Sites

Through the ongoing pandemic, workers in the medical field have been overwhelmed by the surge of patients and those in need. In the video listed above, healthcare providers describe what it’s like to be a first responder and how COVID-19 has affected them. They explain how their job's criteria have changed, how they have adapted, and how the pandemic has affected individuals and patients within the workplace.