What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2. It can be very contagious and spreads quickly. Over one million people have died from COVID-19 in the United States.

COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, the flu, or pneumonia. COVID-19 may attack more than your lungs and respiratory system. Other parts of your body may also be affected by the disease. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill.

Some people including those with minor or no symptoms will develop Post-COVID Conditions – also called “Long COVID.”

How does COVID-19 spread?

COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. Other people can breathe in these droplets and particles, or these droplets and particles can land on their eyes, nose, or mouth. In some circumstances, these droplets may contaminate surfaces they touch.

Anyone infected with COVID-19 can spread it, even if they do NOT have symptoms.

The risk of animals spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to people is low. The virus can spread from people to animals during close contact. People with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should avoid contact with animals.

What are antibodies and how do they help protect me?

Antibodies are proteins your immune system makes to help fight infection and protect you from getting sick in the future. A positive antibody test result can help identify someone who has had COVID-19 in the past or has been vaccinated against COVID-19. Studies show that people who have antibodies from an infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 can improve their level of protection by getting vaccinated.

What are ways to prevent COVID-19?

There are many actions you can take to help protect you, your household, and your community from COVID-19. CDC’s COVID-19 hospital admission levels help individuals and communities decide when to take action to protect yourself and others based on the latest data and information from your area.

In addition to staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and basic health and hygiene practices like handwashing, CDC recommends some prevention actions at all COVID-19 hospital admission levels.

Who is at risk of severe illness from COVID-19?

Some people are more likely than others to get very sick if they get COVID-19. This includes people who are older, are immunocompromised, have certain disabilities, or have underlying health conditions. Understanding your COVID-19 risk and the risks that might affect others can help you make decisions to protect yourself and others.

What are variants of COVID-19?

Viruses are constantly changing, including the virus that causes COVID-19. These changes occur over time and can lead to new strains of the virus or variants of COVID-19 . Slowing the spread of the virus, by protecting yourself and others, can help slow new variants from developing. CDC is working with state and local public health officials to monitor the spread of all variants, including Omicron.

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 surfaces they touch.

About Variants

Many viruses are constantly changing, including the virus that causes COVID-19. These changes occur over time and can lead to the emergence of variants that may have new characteristics, including different ways of spreading.

Anyone infected with COVID-19 can spread it, even if they do NOT have symptoms.

COVID-19 and Animals

COVID-19 can spread from people to animals in some situations. Pet cats and dogs can sometimes become infected by people with COVID-19.

Food and Water

Food

There is no evidence to suggest that handling food or consuming food can spread COVID-19. Follow food safety guidelines when handling and cleaning fresh produce. Do not wash produce with soap, bleach, sanitizer, alcohol, disinfectant, or any other chemical.

Drinking Water

There is also no current evidence that people can get COVID-19 by drinking water. The virus that causes COVID-19 has not been detected in drinking water. Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or kill the virus that causes COVID-19.​

Natural Bodies of Water (Lakes, Oceans, Rivers)

There are no scientific reports of the virus that causes COVID-19 spreading to people through the water in lakes, oceans, rivers, or other natural bodies of water.

Wastewater

Genetic material from the virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in untreated wastewater (also referred to as “sewage”). There is no information to date that anyone has become sick with COVID-19 because of direct exposure to treated or untreated wastewater. Wastewater treatment plants use chemical and other disinfection processes to remove and degrade many viruses and bacteria. The virus that causes COVID-19 is inactivated by the disinfection methods used in wastewater treatment.

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. Possible symptoms include:

• 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

This list does not include all possible symptoms. Symptoms may change with new COVID-19 variants and can vary depending on vaccination status. Older adults and people who have underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19.

Feeling Sick?

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consider the following options:

• Get tested for COVID-19
• If you have already tested positive for COVID-19, learn more about CDC’s isolation guidance

When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID 19:

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

If someone is showing any of these signs, 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.

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Difference Between Flu and COVID-19

Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2, and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. You cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by symptoms alone because some of the symptoms are the same. Some PCR tests can differentiate between flu and COVID-19 at the same time. If one of these tests is not available, many testing locations provide flu and COVID-19 tests separately. Talk to a healthcare provider about getting tested for both flu and COVID-19 if you have symptoms.

Reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 occurs when you are infected, recover, and then get infected again. You can be reinfected multiple times.

Reinfections are most often mild, but severe illness can occur. If you are reinfected, you can also spread the virus to others. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccine and treating COVID-19 illness within a few days of when symptoms start decreases your risk of experiencing severe illness.

Once you have had COVID-19, your immune system responds in several ways. This immune response can protect you against reinfection for several months, but this protection decreases over time. People with weakened immune systems who get an infection may have a limited immune response or none at all. Protection against severe COVID-19 illness generally lasts longer than protection against infection. This means even if you get infected again, your immune response should help protect you from severe illness and hospitalization.

As the virus evolves, new variants with the ability to evade your existing immunity can appear. This can increase your risk of reinfection. Reinfection can occur as early as several weeks after a previous infection, although this is rare.

COVID-19 Testing for People with a Recent History of Infection

Interpreting test results in the first 90 days after a previous infection (that is, reinfection) can be challenging.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days and are testing for a possible new infection:

• Use an antigen test.
• Consult a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.

Protecting Yourself and Others – What You Can Do

If you were exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, you should follow exposure guidance, regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous infection. For those who have previously been infected, vaccination offers added protection, especially against reinfection leading to hospitalization. CDC recommends that people ages 6 months and older, including those with previous infections, stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

Regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous infection:

• COVID-19 treatments are available for those eligible.
• You should start treatment as soon as possible, especially if you have COVID-19 symptoms or risk factors that make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
• If you don’t have a healthcare provider, visit a Test to Treat location or contact your local community health center or health department.

What CDC is doing

We continue to learn more about reinfections, especially as new SARS-CoV-2 variants emerge. CDC is working with partners and using data to better understand reinfections, including:

• Who is at higher risk of reinfection, especially reinfections that lead to hospitalization
• How soon reinfections occur after a previous infection
• How severe reinfections are compared to initial infections
• How reinfections are associated with Long COVID

Long COVID Definition

Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions (PCC). Long COVID is broadly defined as signs, symptoms, and conditions that continue or develop after acute COVID-19 infection. This definition of Long COVID was developed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in collaboration with CDC and other partners.

People call Long COVID by many names, including Post-COVID Conditions, long-haul COVID, post-acute COVID-19, long-term effects of COVID, and chronic COVID. The term post-acute sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection (PASC) is also used to refer to a subset of Long COVID.

What You Need to Know

• Long COVID can include a wide range of ongoing health problems; these conditions can last weeks, months, or years.
• Long COVID occurs more often in people who had severe COVID-19 illness, but anyone who has been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience it.
• People who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and become infected may have a higher risk of developing Long COVID compared to people who have been vaccinated.
• People can be reinfected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, multiple times. Each time a person is infected or reinfected with SARS-CoV-2, they have a risk of developing Long COVID.
• While most people with Long COVID have evidence of infection or COVID-19 illness, in some cases, a person with Long COVID may not have tested positive for the virus or known they were infected.
• CDC and partners are working to understand more about who experiences Long COVID and why, including whether groups disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 are at higher risk.

About Long COVID

Long COVID is a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems that people experience after being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Most people with COVID-19 get better within a few days to a few weeks after infection, so at least 4 weeks after infection is the start of when Long COVID could first be identified. Anyone who was infected can experience Long COVID. Most people with Long COVID experienced symptoms days after first learning they had COVID-19, but some people who later experienced Long COVID did not know when they got infected.

There is no test that determines if your symptoms or condition is due to COVID-19. Long COVID is not one illness. Your healthcare provider considers a diagnosis of Long COVID based on your health history, including if you had a diagnosis of COVID-19 either by a positive test or by symptoms or exposure, as well as based on a health examination.

Symptoms

People with Long COVID may experience many symptoms.

People with Long COVID can have a wide range of symptoms that can last weeks, months, or even years after infection. Sometimes the symptoms can even go away and come back again. For some people, Long COVID can last weeks, months, or years after COVID-19 illness and can sometimes result in disability.

Long COVID may not affect everyone the same way. People with Long COVID may experience health problems from different types and combinations of symptoms that may emerge, persist, resolve, and reemerge over different lengths of time. Though most patients’ symptoms slowly improve with time, speaking with your healthcare provider about the symptoms you are experiencing after having COVID-19 could help determine if you might have Long COVID.

People who experience Long COVID most commonly report:

General symptoms (Not a Comprehensive List)

• Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
• Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (also known as “post-exertional malaise”)
• Fever

Respiratory and heart symptoms

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Cough
• Chest pain
• Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)

Neurological symptoms

• Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
• Headache
• Sleep problems
• Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
• Pins-and-needles feelings
• Change in smell or taste
• Depression or anxiety

Digestive symptoms

• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain

Other symptoms

• Joint or muscle pain
• Rash
• Changes in menstrual cycles

Symptoms that are hard to explain and manage

Some people with Long COVID have symptoms that are not explained by tests or easy to manage.

People with Long COVID may develop or continue to have symptoms that are hard to explain and manage. Clinical evaluations and results of routine blood tests, chest X-rays, and electrocardiograms may be normal. The symptoms are similar to those reported by people withmyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and other poorly understood chronic illnesses that may occur after other infections. People with these unexplained symptoms may be misunderstood by their healthcare providers, which can result in a delay in diagnosis and receiving the appropriate care or treatment.

Health conditions

Some people experience new health conditions after COVID-19 illness.

Some people, especially those who had severe COVID-19, experience multiorgan effects or autoimmune conditions with symptoms lasting weeks, months, or even years after COVID-19 illness. Multi-organ effects can involve many body systems, including the heart, lung, kidney, skin, and brain. As a result of these effects, people who have had COVID-19 may be more likely to develop new health conditions such as diabetes, heart conditions, blood clots, or neurological conditions compared with people who have not had COVID-19.

People experiencing any severe illness may develop health problems

People experiencing any severe illness, hospitalization, or treatment may develop problems such as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS).

PICS refers to the health effects that may begin when a person is in an intensive care unit (ICU), and which may persist after a person returns home. These effects can include muscle weakness, problems with thinking and judgment, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a long-term reaction to a very stressful event. While PICS is not specific to infection with SARS-CoV-2, it may occur and contribute to the person’s experience of Long COVID. For people who experience PICS following a COVID-19 diagnosis, it is difficult to determine whether these health problems are caused by a severe illness, the virus itself, or a combination of both.

People More Likely to Develop Long COVID

Some people may be more at risk for developing Long COVID.

Researchers are working to understand which people or groups of people are more likely to have Long COVID, and why. Studies have shown that some groups of people may be affected more by Long COVID. These are examples and not a comprehensive list of people or groups who might be more at risk than other groups for developing Long COVID:

• People who have experienced more severe COVID-19 illness, especially those who were hospitalized or needed intensive care.
• People who had underlying health conditions prior to COVID-19.
• People who did not get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Health Inequities May Affect Populations at Risk for Long COVID

Some people are at increased risk of getting sick from COVID-19 because of where they live or work, or because they can’t get health care. Health inequities may put some people from racial or ethnic minority groups and some people with disabilities at greater risk for developing Long COVID. Scientists are researching some of those factors that may place these communities at higher risk of getting infected or developing Long COVID.

Preventing Long COVID

The best way to prevent Long COVID is to protect yourself and others from becoming infected. For people who are eligible, CDC recommends staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccination, along with improving ventilation, getting tested for COVID-19 if needed, and seeking treatment for COVID-19 if eligible. Additional preventative measures include avoiding close contact with people who have a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 illness and washing hands or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Research suggests that people who get a COVID-19 infection after vaccination are less likely to report Long COVID, compared to people who are unvaccinated.

CDC, other federal agencies, and non-federal partners are working to identify further measures to lessen a person’s risk of developing Long COVID.

Living with Long COVID

Living with Long COVID can be hard, especially when there are no immediate answers or solutions.

People experiencing Long COVID can seek care from a healthcare provider to come up with a personal medical management plan that can help improve their symptoms and quality of life. In addition, there are many support groups being organized that can help patients and their caregivers.

Although Long COVID appears to be less common in children and adolescents than in adults, long-term effects after COVID-19 do occur in children and adolescents.

Data for Long COVID

Studies are in progress to better understand Long COVID and how many people experience them.

CDC is using multiple approaches to estimate how many people experience Long COVID. Each approach can provide a piece of the puzzle to give us a better picture of who is experiencing Long COVID. For example, some studies look for the presence of Long COVID based on self-reported symptoms, while others collect symptoms and conditions recorded in medical records. Some studies focus only on people who have been hospitalized, while others include people who were not hospitalized. The estimates for how many people experience Long COVID can be quite different depending on who was included in the study, as well as how and when the study collected information. Estimates of the proportion of people who had COVID-19 that go on to experience Long COVID can vary.

CDC and other federal agencies, as well as academic institutions and research organizations, are working to learn more about the short- and long-term health effects associated with COVID-19, who gets them and why.

Scientists are also learning more about how new variants could potentially affect Long COVID. We are still learning to what extent certain groups are at higher risk, and if different groups of people tend to experience different types of Long COVID. CDC has several studies that will help us better understand Long COVID and how healthcare providers can treat or support patients with these long-term effects. CDC will continue to share information with healthcare providers to help them evaluate and manage these conditions.

CDC is working to:

• Better identify the most frequent symptoms and diagnoses experienced by patients with Long COVID.
• Better understand how many people are affected by Long COVID, and how often people who are infected with COVID-19 develop Long COVID
• Better understand risk factors and protective factors, including which groups might be more at risk, and if different groups experience different symptoms.
• Help understand how Long COVID limit or restrict people’s daily activity.
• Help identify groups that have been more affected by Long COVID, lack access to care and treatment for Long COVID, or experience stigma.
• Better understand the role vaccination plays in preventing Long COVID.
• Collaborate with professional medical groups to develop and offer clinical guidance and other educational materials for healthcare providers, patients, and the public.

Note that Long COVID is referred to by a wide range of names, including:

• Post-COVID conditions
• Post-acute COVID-19
• Long-term effects of COVID
• Post-acute COVID syndrome
• Chronic COVID
• Long-haul COVID
• Late sequelae
• Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)

For purposes of this discussion, we use “Long COVID”.

Having Long COVID or supporting someone with Long COVID can be challenging. It can be difficult to care for a loved one with Long COVID, especially when there are few or no immediate answers or solutions available yet. However, there are ways to help relieve some of the burden of caring for someone with a new and unknown condition.

Caring for Adults with Long COVID

Experiencing Long COVID can be confusing and frustrating. If you know or care for someone with Long COVID, you know they may be feeling isolated, depressed, and even angry.

People experience Long COVID in different ways and may want different types of support or even no support at all. To determine the most helpful steps you can take to help someone with Long COVID, first listen with compassion and ask questions about what they need.

1. Listen with compassion

The unknown and long-term nature of Long COVID can create stress. Taking steps to understand the person’s experiences might make them feel less isolated.

What to do:

• When listening, give feedback that acknowledges and validates what they are going through.
• Get tips on how to communicate compassionately while listening to their experiences.

2. Start a conversation to gain understanding

Support can look different to different people. To best understand what type of support a person needs, start by asking them to talk and ask questions about their experiences.

What to do:

• When having these conversations, start with an open-ended question, like “How’s it going for you these days?” Then, work to narrow down what you can do to help.
• After taking time to compassionately listen to their responses, directly ask what they need or what you can do to help.

3. Determine how you can help with what they need

After you have listened and worked to understand what support looks like for the person, determine your role in that support.

• Some people may want someone to listen to their experiences more frequently.
• Others may need more physical support (help with household chores, running errands).

There will be times where you may not be able to support a person exactly as they need, and it’s ok to acknowledge that. Just be direct in saying what you can and can’t do.

For example:

• “I understand that you need help getting groceries because you are not feeling up to grocery shopping. I don’t have a car, but I can recommend the delivery service I use.”

In the meantime, know that scientists from many public health and research agencies around the world are hard at work studying this illness, especially among those with a lived experience of Long COVID. Many of these scientists are working hard to determine which types of medications or treatments can help to relieve some of the worst effects of Long COVID. We are working to have more answers quickly.

If you care for someone with Long COVID, remember to take steps to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Caring for Children or Adolescents with Long COVID

Although Long COVID appears to be less common in children and adolescents than in adults, long-term effects after COVID-19 do occur in children and adolescents. Young children may have trouble describing the problems they are experiencing.

If your child has Long COVID and it impacts their ability to attend school, complete schoolwork, or perform their usual activities, it may be helpful to discuss possible accommodations with your child’s healthcare provider and school. Such accommodations may include extra time on tests, scheduled rest periods throughout the day, a modified class schedule, and others. School administrators, school counselors, and school nurses can work with families and healthcare professionals to provide learning accommodations for children with Long COVID, particularly those experiencing thinking, concentrating, or physical difficulties. You may also request similar accommodations for activities outside of school, such as day care, tutoring, sports, scouting, etc.

Other Ways to Help

There are different ways to manage the stress, anxiety, and uncertainty of a new illness. Some people find that taking an active role in understanding this condition can be a comfort for managing an ongoing illness. Both caregivers and those suffering from Long COVID may benefit from engaging in one of the following activities.

• Read about the experiences of other people with Long COVID.
  Understanding other people’s experiences with Long COVID and reflecting on how these experiences may be similar or different than your own can help confirm you are not alone.
• Contribute to ongoing scientific research.
  Participating in research studies can build a larger understanding of new and unknown illnesses. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is conducting a research project called the RECOVER Initiative to understand how people recover from a COVID-19 infection and why some people do not fully recover and develop Long COVID.

The Importance of Self-Care for Caregivers

Here are some steps you can do to help manage and cope with stress:

• Take care of your body.
  • Take deep breaths, stretch, meditate, or practice mindfulness.
  • Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
  • Exercise, if you can. Listen to signs from your body.
  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Avoid alcohol and drugs.
  • Spend time in nature. It has been shown to improve mental health.
• Make time to unwind. If you feel able to, try to do some activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

If you are a caregiver, remember that maintaining healthy behaviors and seeking additional support is an important part of helping other people.

When you get tested:

• Make sure to test at the right time
• Choose the right type of test for your circumstance
• Follow test directions as recommended by FDA

If you do not, your results may be less likely to correctly indicate whether you have COVID-19 or not.

Types of Tests

Viral tests look for a current infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, by testing specimens from your nose or mouth. All tests should be performed following FDA’s requirements.

There are two main types of viral tests:

• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests
• Antigen tests

PCR Tests

PCR tests are the “gold standard” for COVID-19 tests. They are a type of nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), which are more likely to detect the virus than antigen tests. Your sample will usually be taken by a healthcare provider and transported to a laboratory for testing. It may take up to 3 days to receive results.

Antigen Tests

Antigen tests* are rapid tests that usually produce results in 15-30 minutes. Positive results are very accurate and reliable. However, in general, antigen tests are less likely to detect the virus than PCR tests, especially when symptoms are not present. Therefore, a single negative antigen test cannot rule out infection. To be confident you do not have COVID-19, FDA recommends 2 negative antigen tests for individuals with symptoms or 3 antigen tests for those without symptoms, performed 48 hours apart. A single PCR test can be used to confirm an antigen test result.

*Self-tests, or at-home tests, are antigen tests that can be taken anywhere without having to go to a specific testing site. Read self-test package inserts thoroughly and follow the instructions closely when performing the test.

When to Get Tested for COVID-19

Key times to get tested:

If you have symptoms, test immediately.

• If you are only going to take a single test, a PCR test will provide a more reliable negative test result.
• If you use an antigen test, a positive result is reliable, but a negative test is not always accurate.
• If your antigen test is negative, take another antigen test after 48 hours or take a PCR test as soon as you can.

If you do not have symptoms but have been exposed to COVID-19, wait at least 5 full days after your exposure before taking a test.

• If you are only going to take a single test, a PCR test will provide a more reliable negative test result.
• If you use an antigen test, a positive result is reliable, but a negative test is not always accurate.
• If your antigen test is negative, take another antigen test after 48 hours or take a PCR test as soon as you can.
• If your second antigen test is also negative, wait another 48 hours and test a third time.

Testing can be helpful even when you don’t have symptoms or a recent exposure to COVID-19, such as before an event or visiting someone at higher risk. Test as close to the time of the event as possible (at least within 1-2 days) to help you make informed decisions about your health and your risk of spreading COVID-19 to others. If you use an antigen test, follow recommendations for repeat testing to be confident in a negative result. Additionally, some places may test people without symptoms or a recent exposure to help keep COVID-19 from spreading to others, especially those who are at higher risk for severe illness.

Choosing a COVID-19 Test

I am in a circumstance where I should get tested and:

I have not had COVID-19 or I have not had a positive test within the past 90 days.

You may choose a PCR or antigen test.
If you use an antigen test and your result is negative, repeat testing following FDA recommendations.

I tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days.

My first positive test result was within: 30 days or less

I have symptoms
Use an antigen test. Repeat negative tests following FDA recommendations.

I do not have symptoms
Testing is not recommended to detect a new infection.

My first positive test result was within: 31-90 days

I have symptoms
Use an antigen test. Repeat negative tests following FDA recommendations.

I do not have symptoms
Use an antigen test. Repeat negative tests following FDA recommendations.

After a positive test result, you may continue to test positive for some time. Some tests, especially PCR tests, may continue to show a positive result for up to 90 days. Reinfections can occur within 90 days, which can make it hard to know if a positive test indicates a new infection. Consider consulting a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your circumstances.

Getting a COVID-19 Test

Buy self-tests (at-home tests)

Buy self-tests (at-home tests) online or in pharmacies and retail stores. Private health insurance may reimburse the cost of purchasing self-tests. Visit FDA’s website for a list of authorized tests. Self-tests are antigen tests.

Go to a testing location

• Visit a community-based testing location, such as a pharmacy or health center near you. These locations may offer PCR or antigen tests, and provide low- or no-cost testing for everyone, including people without insurance. Free PCR or antigen tests may also be available through your local health department.
• Talk to a doctor or healthcare provider about other testing options that may be available to you.
• If you are a person with a disability, the Disability Information and Access Line can help you access a test or find a test location.

Interpreting Your Results

If Your COVID-19 Test Is Positive

Any positive COVID-19 test means the virus was detected and you have or recently had an infection.

• Isolate and take precautions, including wearing a high-quality mask or respirator, to protect others around you from getting infected.
• Tell people you had recent contact with that they may have been exposed.
• Monitor your symptoms. If you have any emergency warning signs, seek emergency care immediately.
• Contact a healthcare provider, community health center, or pharmacy to learn about treatment options that may be available to you. Treatment must be started within the first few days to be effective.
  • You are more likely to get very sick if you are an older adult or have an underlying medical condition. Treatment is available. Talk with your healthcare provider to determine what is the best option for you.

If Your COVID-19 Test Is Negative

A negative COVID-19 test means the test did not detect the virus, but this doesn’t rule out that you could have an infection. If you used an antigen test, follow FDA recommendations for repeat testing.

• If you have symptoms:
  • You may have COVID-19 but tested before the virus was detectable.
  • Consider that you may have another viral infection or illness that you need to get tested for. For many diseases, including flu, early diagnosis and prompt treatment is very important for preventing severe illness.
  • Take everyday preventive actions to prevent spreading an illness to others.
  • Contact a healthcare provider if you have any questions about your test result or if your symptoms worsen.
• If you do not have symptoms but were exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, you should continue to take recommended steps after exposure.
• If you do not have symptoms and have not been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, you may return to normal activities.
  • Continue to take steps to protect yourself and others, including monitoring for symptoms. Get tested again if symptoms appear.

Testing for Antibodies

Antibody tests detect antibodies that your body makes to fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibody tests should never be used to diagnose a current infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. An antibody test may not show if you have a current infection, because it can take 1 to 3 weeks after the infection for your body to make antibodies. Antibody tests can be used for public health surveillance or to test for conditions associated with COVID-19.

What You Need to Know

• New variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, will continue to occur.
• CDC coordinates collaborative partnerships which continue to fuel the largest viral genomic sequencing effort to date.
• The Omicron variant, which emerged in November 2021, has many lineages. New lineages continue to emerge and spread in the United States and globally.
• We have the tools to fight variants. Take steps to protect yourself and others.
• For the most up to date information on current variants, visit CDC’s COVID Data Tracker.

Variants Are Expected

Viruses constantly change through mutation and sometimes these mutations result in a new variant of the virus. Some changes and mutations allow the virus to spread more easily or make it resistant to treatments or vaccines. As the virus spreads, it may change and become harder to stop.

Understanding Variants

How Variants Work

If you think about a virus like a tree growing and branching out, each branch on the tree is slightly different than the others. By comparing the branches, scientists can label them according to the differences. These small differences, or variants, have been studied and identified since the beginning of the pandemic. Some variations allow the virus to spread more easily or make it resistant to treatments or vaccines. Those variants must be monitored more carefully.

How the Virus May Change

As a virus spreads, it has a chance to change. As genetic changes happen over time, the virus that causes COVID-19 begins to form genetic lineages. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can be mapped out similar to a family tree. All lineages have names to help scientists talk about them.

SARS-CoV-2 lineages with similar characteristics may affect how fast the virus spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or the effectiveness of treatments against it; some of these may be classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) or the U.S. SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group (SIG). All lineages currently circulating are classified as part of the Omicron variant.

No matter the variant, a surge in cases can impact healthcare resources.
Even if an infection caused by a particular variant is less likely to cause severe disease compared to other variants, an increase in the total number of cases could cause an increase in hospitalizations, put more strain on healthcare resources, and potentially lead to more deaths.

Variants in the United States

CDC is working with many public health officials and partners to monitor all variants. CDC’s COVID Data Tracker publishes estimates of how common variants are at national and regional levels. This data can change over time as more information is available.

Monitoring Variants

CDC uses viral genomic surveillance to quickly identify and track COVID-19 variants, and acts upon these findings to protect the public’s health. Some variants spread more easily and quickly than others, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. For the most up to date information about current variants, visit CDC’s COVID Data Tracker.

Over the course of the pandemic, CDC has established multiple pathways to generate and share viral genomic sequence data using publicly accessible databases. These collaborations have been instrumental to fueling the largest viral genomic sequence effort to date.

Can I travel if I recently had COVID-19?

Yes, you can travel once you have ended isolation. Check CDC guidance for additional precautions, including testing and wearing a mask around others. If you recently had COVID-19 and are recommended to wear a mask, do not travel on public transportation such as airplanes, buses, and trains if you are unable to wear a mask whenever around others.

What can travelers do to prevent COVID-19?

Get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel and take steps to protect yourself and others. Consider wearing a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs. Take additional precautions if you were recently exposed to a person with COVID-19. Don’t travel while sick.

If you have a weakened immune system or are at increased risk for severe disease talk to a healthcare professional before you decide to travel. If you travel, take multiple prevention steps to provide additional layers of protection from COVID-19, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. These include improving ventilation and spending more time outdoors, avoiding sick people, getting tested for COVID-19 if you develop symptoms, staying home if you have or think you have COVID-19, and seeking treatment if you have COVID-19.

Consider getting a COVID-19 test if you:

• Develop COVID-19 symptoms before, during, or after travel.
• Will be traveling to visit someone who is at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
• Were in a situation with a greater risk of exposure during travel (e.g., in an indoor, crowded space like an airport terminal while not wearing a mask).

If you traveled and feel sick, particularly if you have a fever, talk to a healthcare professional, and tell them about your recent travel.

What you need to know

• The risk of animals spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to people is low.
• The virus can spread from people to animals during close contact.
• More studies and surveillance are needed to understand how SARS-CoV-2 is spread between people and animals.
• People with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should avoid contact with animals, including pets, livestock, and wildlife.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some coronaviruses cause cold-like illnesses in people, while others cause illness in certain types of animals, such as cattle, camels, and bats. Some coronaviruses, such as canine and feline coronaviruses, infect only animals and do not infect people. Some coronaviruses that infect animals can be spread to people and then spread between people, but this is rare. This is what happened with SARS-CoV-2, which likely originated in bats.

Risk of people spreading SARS-CoV-2 to animals

People can spread SARS-CoV-2 to animals, especially during close contact.

Animals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have been documented around the world. Most of these animals became infected after contact with people with COVID-19, including owners, caretakers, or others who were in close contact. We don’t yet know all of the animals that can get infected. Animals reported infected worldwide include

• Companion animals, including pet cats, dogs, hamsters, and ferrets.
• Animals in zoos and sanctuaries, including several types of big cats (e.g., lions, tigers, snow leopards), otters, non-human primates, a binturong, a coatimundi, a fishing cat, hyenas, hippopotamuses, and manatees.
• Mink on mink farms.
• Wildlife, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, a black-tailed marmoset, a giant anteater, and wild mink near mink farms.

Risk of animals spreading SARS-CoV-2 to people

The risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered low.

There is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to people. There have been a few reports of infected mammalian animals spreading the virus to people during close contact, but this is rare. These cases include farmed mink in Europe and the United States, white-tailed deer in Canada, pet hamsters in Hong Kong, and a cat in Thailand. In most of these cases, the animals were known to be first infected by a person who had COVID-19.

It’s important to remember that people are much more likely to get COVID-19 from other people than from animals. There is no need to euthanize or otherwise harm animals infected with SARS-CoV-2.

There is a possibility that the virus could infect animals, mutate, and a new strain could spread back to people and then among people (called spillback). More studies and surveillance are needed to track variants and mutations and to understand how SARS-CoV-2 spreads between people and animals.

Mink and SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 has been reported in farmed mink in multiple countries. Currently, there is no evidence that mink are playing a significant role in the spread of COVID-19 to people.

In the United States, respiratory disease and increases in mink deaths have been seen on most affected mink farms. However, some infected mink might also appear healthy. Infected workers likely introduced SARS-CoV-2 to mink on the farms, and the virus then began to spread among the mink. Once the virus is introduced on a farm, spread can occur between mink, as well as from mink to other animals on the farm (dogs, cats). One wild mink and a small number of escaped farm mink trapped near affected farms in Utah and Oregon were found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Although there is no evidence that mink are playing a significant role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to people, there is a possibility of mink spreading SARS-CoV-2 to people and other animals on mink farms. Mink-to-human spread of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Poland, and data suggest it might have occurred in the United States.

• Investigations found that mink from a Michigan farm and a small number of people were infected with SARS-CoV-2 that contained unique mink-related mutations (changes in the virus’s genetic material). This suggests mink-to-human spread might have occurred.
• Finding these mutations in mink on the Michigan farm is not unexpected because they have been seen before in mink from farms in the Netherlands and Denmark, and also in people linked to mink farms worldwide.
• To confirm the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from mink to people, public health officials would need more information on the epidemiology and genetics of the virus in mink, mink farm workers, and the communities around mink farms.
• These results highlight the importance of routinely studying the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 in susceptible animal populations like mink, as well as in people.

Research on animals and COVID-19

More studies and surveillance are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19.

Many studies have been done to learn more about how this virus can affect different animals, including if they are susceptible to infection and if they can spread infection to other animals. Studies on animals do not show whether animals can spread infection to people.

Based on these studies, we know that invertebrates, birds, reptiles, and amphibians are not susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2.