Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
1. What is a coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Many of them infect animals,
but some coronaviruses from animals can evolve (change) into a new human
coronavirus that can spread from person-to-person. This is what happened
with the new coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease
known as COVID-19. Diseases from coronaviruses in people typically cause
mild to moderate illness, like the common cold.
Key Points
2. How are coronaviruses spread?
Like other respiratory illnesses, human coronaviruses most commonly • COVID-19 is spread through
spread to others from an infected person who has symptoms through: close personal contact or by
• Droplets produced through coughing and sneezing touching an object or surface
• Close personal contact, such as caring for an infected person with the virus on it.
• Everyone should stay home
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then unless you need to access
touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands essential services or are an
essential worker.
• Always stay home and self-
3. What are the symptoms of COVID-19? isolate from all others if you
have a fever and cough or
Reported illnesses have ranged from people with mild symptoms to shortness of breath
people becoming severely ill, requiring admission to the hospital, and • Public Health needs your help
dying. practicing social distancing to
Symptoms may include cough, fever, shortness of breath or difficulty slow the spread of novel
breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, coronavirus in LA County.
sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell. • Call 211 if you have additional
questions
For more information:
4. What should I do if I have these symptoms?
If you develop these symptoms stay home at least 3 days Los Angeles County Department
(72 hours) after recovery, which means your fever has resolved without the use of Public Health
of fever-reducing medications and there is an improvement in your respiratory
Call 2-1-1
symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath), AND at least 7 days have passed
since your symptoms first appeared. Speak to your provider about getting http://publichealth.lacounty.g
tested for COVID-19 or visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/ ov/media/Coronavirus/
Centers for Disease Control and
If you only have muscle pain, headache, or sore throat Prevention (CDC)
speak with your provider about the need to get tested or to stay in isolation http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/
since these symptoms may be present as part of other medical conditions novel-coronavirus-2019.html
you may have.
Older adults, and those with compromised immune systems
or underlying medical problems who experience COVID-19 symptoms should call
their doctor early.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
www.publichealth.lacounty.gov
04/27/2020 FAQ (English)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
If you are having difficulty breathing, feel pain or pressure in your chest, have bluish lips or face or are
experiencing a new onset of confusion or difficulty waking up call 911 or go to an emergency room, otherwise call
your doctor before going in to seek care.
For more guidance, read Home Care Instructions for People with Respiratory Symptoms.
If you are confirmed to have COVID-19, follow the Home Isolation Instructions for People with Coronavirus-2019
(COVID-19) Infections.
Be sure to tell all of your close contacts that they need to be in quarantine for 14 days after their last contact with
you. Close contacts include all household members, any intimate contact, and all individuals who were within 6
feet of you for more than 10 minutes, starting 48 hours before your symptoms began until your isolation period
ends. In addition, anyone who had contact with your body fluids and/or secretions (such as were coughed
on/sneezed on, shared utensils or saliva or provided care to you without wearing protective equipment) needs to be
in quarantine. See the Home Quarantine Guidance for Those Exposed to COVID-19 for additional guidance.
5. Can I get tested for the coronavirus?
If you are having symptoms and would like to get tested call your doctor or visit covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.
We do not recommend that asymptomatic individuals get tested for COVID-19 but in the event that you do get
tested even though you don’t have symptoms and your test comes back positive you should stay home and away
from the public for at least 7 days from when you were tested. If your test comes back negative, you should
continue to stay at home unless you are an essential worker or need to obtain essential services. When leaving your
home, follow recommended physical distancing practices by staying at least 6 feet away from others and using a
cloth face covering when you are in contact with others outside your home. It is important to note that a negative
test result may just mean that you were not infected at the time the test was done but you could still become
infected at a later point so it is important to continue to practice prevention measures such as physical distancing
and washing your hands frequently.
If you were tested while in quarantine even though you were asymptomatic, and your test is positive you should
stay home and away from the public for at least 7 days from when you were tested. Your quarantine period will
also end on that day.
On the other hand, if you got tested even though you don’t have symptoms and your test is negative you still have
to remain in quarantine for the full 14 days from the last contact with the person who either has COVID-19 or has
symptoms of COVID-19. See the test result guidance on the public health webpage for more details.
6. How is novel coronavirus treated?
There is no specific treatment for illness caused by COVID-19. However, many of the symptoms can be treated.
Treatment is based on the patient’s condition.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent novel coronavirus. Be aware of scam products for sale that make false
claims to prevent or treat this infection.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
www.publichealth.lacounty.gov
04/27/2020 FAQ (English)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
7. What can I do to protect myself and others from COVID-19?
There are steps that everyone can take daily to reduce the risk of getting sick or infecting others with COVID-19.
You should:
• Practice social distancing in compliance with health officer orders. This means everyone should stay home
unless they need to access essential services or are an essential worker. Whenever you are out, keep 6 ft.
apart from everyone else as much as possible.
• If you are an essential worker, stay home when you are sick.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom;
before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash
hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact, like kissing and sharing cups or utensils, with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning product.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, use
your elbow (not your hands).
• Wear a cloth face covering whenever you are outside of your home and around others.
• Get a flu shot to prevent influenza if you have not done so this season.
• Avoid all non-essential travel
8. Should I wear a facemask?
Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 or who have COVID-19 may use a facemask (if available) or a face
covering when they need to leave their home for medical appointments.
Cloth face coverings like a bandana or towel should be used by the general public to cover the nose and mouth
when they need to leave their home for a short period of time to obtain essential services or goods. It is important
to note that these face covering are not a substitute for social distancing and other prevention measures like
washing your hands regularly. These face coverings are used to help protect others if you have the infection and
are not showing signs of infection yet. Remember it is important to save respirators and surgical masks for
healthcare providers and those providing care to those with COVID-19. See cloth face covering guidance for more
information.
Infants and children under the age of 2 should not wear cloth face coverings. Those between the ages of 2 and 8
should use them but under adult supervision to ensure that the child can breathe safely and avoid choking or
suffocation. Anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove
the mask or cloth face covering without assistance should not wear one.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
www.publichealth.lacounty.gov
04/27/2020 FAQ (English)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
9. How can I protect myself when I travel?
Currently, all international travelers arriving in the US should stay home for 14 days after their arrival. At home,
they are expected to monitor their health and practice social distancing. Any traveler developing symptoms of
fever and cough or shortness of breath are advised to call their provider and let them know about their symptoms
and their travel history
Check the CDC COVID-19 Information for Travel webpage https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/travelers/index.html for up-to-date recommendations.
10. What should I know about school and business closures?
Given the evidence of community spread of COVID-19, the Los Angeles County Health Officer and the Governor
of California have closed non-essential businesses where large numbers of people come into close contact, to help
slow the spread of disease. These businesses include movie theaters, event arenas, bars and nightclubs, gyms,
bowling alleys, arcades, playgrounds, hair and nail salons, non-essential retail stores, indoor shopping malls, and
others. In addition, restaurants and other food-serving facilities are limited to delivery, pick up, or drive-thru with
no on-site service. Essential services will remain in operation, such as public transportation, grocery stores,
congregate living, and healthcare facilities. See the Safer at Home Frequently Asked Questions for Businesses for
additional details on which businesses remain open.
Public health is encouraging organizations and schools to provide critical services if on-site operations are
temporarily reduced. Speak with your children’s school or daycare center to learn about their emergency operation
plan and prepare ahead for possible alternate childcare arrangements. Also, speak with employers and learn about
what you might be asked to do if there are closures or reduced operations at your worksite.
11. What can I do if I get stressed about COVID-19?
When you hear, read, or watch news about an outbreak of an infectious disease, it is normal to feel anxious and
show signs of stress. It is important to care for your own physical and mental health. For tips on what you can do
to help cope, read "Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks" on the Public Health website. For
help, call the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Access Center 24/7 Helpline at (800) 854-7771 or
call 2-1-1.
12. What can I do if I am feeling harassed or discriminated against?
The county is committed to assuring that all residents affected by COVID-19 are treated with respect and
compassion and that we all separate facts from fear and guard against stigma. The outbreak is no excuse for
spreading racism and discrimination. If you are being harassed or experiencing discrimination based on race,
nation of origin or other identities, you should report it. 2-1-1 takes reports (by phone or online) of hate crimes,
hate acts, and incidents of bullying that have occurred within Los Angeles County regardless of whether or not a
crime has been committed. Call 2-1-1 or file a report online at https://www.211la.org/public-health-and-
safety/anti-hate.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
www.publichealth.lacounty.gov
04/27/2020 FAQ (English)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
13. What else can I do?
• Find a healthcare provider if you don’t already have one.
• Update your emergency kits with food and supplies to last 14 days in case there is a need for quarantine. It is
important to be prepared as you would for any other emergency.
• Always check with reliable sources for the up-to-date, accurate information about novel coronavirus.
o Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH, County)
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/
o California Department of Public Health (CDPH, State)
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/nCOV2019.aspx
o Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, National)
http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/novel-coronavirus-2019.html
o World Health Organization (WHO, International)
https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
If you have questions and would like to speak to someone, call 2-1-1
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
www.publichealth.lacounty.gov
04/27/2020 FAQ (English)
