Transmission electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first U.S. case of COVID-19, formerly known as 2019-nCoV. The spherical viral particles, colorized blue, contain cross-section through the viral genome, seen as black dots.
Public Health Image Library / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Public Health Image Library / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Transmission electron microscopic image of an isolate from the first U.S. case of COVID-19, formerly known as 2019-nCoV. The spherical viral particles, colorized blue, contain cross-section through the viral genome, seen as black dots.
What you should know
» Day-by-day look at coronavirus disease cases in Pa.
» It’s time to get serious about social distancing. Here’s how.
Here are some answers to common questions. We will continue to update this resource as we learn more about the coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.
Ahn Young-joon / AP Photo
A worker cleans his goggles to spray disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illness in animals and people. Some of those are responsible for the common cold, while others can lead to severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) or COVID-19.1
The coronavirus first identified in December 2019 is the SARS-CoV-2 virus.2 You may have seen it referred to as a “novel coronavirus” or “the new coronavirus,” meaning it had not been previously identified.2
The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes a disease that has been named coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19 by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 was first identified in December 2019. 1
Editor’s note: This section was updated on April 27 to include new symptoms recognized by the CDC.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes the following symptoms of the coronavirus:
Some people may show little to no symptoms.
The CDC warns patients should seek emergency care if they experience difficulty breathing, persistent pain in the chest, confusion, and bluish lips or face. 2
The first infections were linked to a live animal market, but the coronavirus is now spreading from person to person. 1
The coronavirus can be transmitted through small droplets from a patient’s nose or mouth — for example, as the result of a cough or sneeze. A healthy person could contract the virus after touching an object or surface where those droplets landed, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. 1
Research shows the virus can also be transmitted through close contact with a sick person, even if they are not showing symptoms. Health officials offer different guidance on exactly how close that is. The World Health Organization recommends staying at least 3 feet away from a person who is sick, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends staying at least 6 feet apart. 2
Though both the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say coughing and sneezing are the most common sources of viral transmission, there is evidence that tiny particles of the virus can remain in the air after a sick person goes through the area. Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Laboratory of Virology found that the coronavirus can float or drift in the air for up to three hours. It is unclear how common the virus is transmitted from these aerosolized particles.
Practice basic hygiene:
See this guide for how to prepare your home.
The CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health initially said the general public did not need to wear masks, but on April 3 issued new guidance: Everyone should wear cloth face coverings in public settings, such as grocery stores.
Recent studies have shown the virus can be spread by people showing no symptoms (asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic) through regular actions, such as talking.
A cloth mask adds a layer of protection for everyone near the wearer, but it does not protect the wearer themselves. This one-way protection is why health officials recommend broad usage–the more people wearing masks, the more protection. 2
Editor’s note: This section was updated on March 14 to include details from a new study.
The World Health Organization says SARS-CoV-2 appears to behave like other coronaviruses and may last on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days, under certain conditions.1 Research conducted at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana found this coronavirus remained viable for up to three days on plastic and stainless steel surfaces.
The CDC says contaminated surfaces are not the main way the virus has been spreading, but it is possible someone could get sick after touching an object that has the virus on it, then touching their own face. 2
If you think a surface may be infected, clean the surface and wash your hands.
Some viruses spread more during the winter, but it is still possible to become sick with a cold or the flu during warmer months. Because this virus is new, the CDC says it is not known if warm weather will affect its spread.2
Research shows that high-intensity ultra-violet light can disrupt the genetic material inside viruses, but the sun’s rays do not have the UV intensity needed for such purpose. Hospitals use specific types of UV lights designed for disinfecting surfaces. Those specialized lights can also be severely harmful to a person’s health, leading to conditions including cancer and cataracts, so they should only be used by trained professionals. 4
Viruses are not living creatures, so environmental conditions we experience throughout the day or year will not affect them in the same ways they affect us humans. 5
No. Vaccines are developed to protect people against specific viruses and bacteria. 1
The pneumonia vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States are made to protect against 13 or 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria, depending on which of two vaccines are administered.
The coronavirus is so new that there is not a vaccine for it.
Fourteen days is the longest incubation period recorded for similar coronaviruses, so that is the timeline health officials are using for quarantine periods. 2
Doctors and public health officials will decide when to release someone from isolation on a case-by-case basis. Current guidelines from the CDC require the patient has no fever, is no longer showing symptoms, and has tested negative for the disease on at least two consecutive tests taken at least 24 hours apart. 2
The main way the disease spreads is through droplets resulting from a sick person’s cough. The risk of exposure is lower but still possible around people who are not showing symptoms. 1
Ted S. Warren / AP Photo
Two women wearing masks walk away from the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., near Seattle, where health officials are monitoring patients. An outbreak of the coronavirus is cited as the cause for two deaths of patients who received care at the center.
“Two weeks is probably the maximum,” said Dr. John Goldman, infectious disease specialist at UPMC Pinnacle. “It generally occurs within the first week so if you contract the virus you probably start to get sick within the first week. If you’re not sick after two weeks, we consider them to be non-infected.” 6
There is a wide range of how this disease presents. The CDC says the information so far indicates most COVID-19 illnesses are mild.2 A report published in the New England Journal of Medicine that analyzed 1,099 patients in China showed about 16% of those patients had severe illness. Those patients were older and more likely to have another health concern.
People who are older or who have chronic health conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, seem to be at higher risk of developing severe illness from the coronavirus.
This can vary significantly, depending on how severe of symptoms a patient experiences. Harvard Health says people with mild cases recover in one to two weeks, while those with severe symptoms can take six weeks or more to recover. 7
Scientists still don’t know if people who recover from COVID-19 will be immune to the disease, or how long that immunity would last. More research needs to be done on the effectiveness and duration of antibodies found in recovered patients, as well as the accuracy of antibody tests that have been developed. 8
There is some evidence that a person who recovers from the illness can contract it again. Reinfections have been reported in China, Japan and South Korea, but those reports remain rare. Scientists say testing errors — contaminated samples, human error and false negatives— are more likely than a patient recovering from the disease and later contracting it again. 9
Elaine Thompson / AP Photo
A staff member holds a sheet as a privacy screen as a person on a stretcher is taken to an ambulance from Life Care, a nursing facility where dozens of people are being tested for the COVID-19 virus in Kirkland, Wash., northeast of Seattle.
Data available so far indicates the coronavirus is deadlier than seasonal influenza. The seasonal flu has a mortality below 0.1%. 10
The World Health Organization says death has occurred in 3% to 4% of reported cases of the coronavirus so far. Keep in mind that preliminary 3% to 4% mortality rate is a worldwide figure, not specific to the United States. 10
The true mortality rate of the coronavirus is likely lower, because health officials don’t know how many mild or asymptomatic cases are not being reported. 11
The CDC says there is no known risk of simply being near someone who died of COVID-19. But the agency recommends avoiding kissing, washing or shrouding the body of someone who died of the disease. If those activities are important to the family, disposable gloves and other protective gear are encouraged. 2
But social distancing recommendations mean funerals might be much smaller than usual. The Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association is encouraging funeral homes to limit services to just immediate family members and postpone memorials. 12
Call your doctor or hospital if you know you had close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, are showing symptoms, or if you have traveled from an area with an ongoing spread of the disease. During that phone call, be sure to tell them you may have COVID-19 so they can take proper precautions. 2
Healthcare professionals are working with state health officials and the CDC throughout this epidemic. If a test is deemed necessary, your doctor can take a sample and send it to the state laboratory or a commercial lab.
Dr. John Goldman, infectious disease specialist at UPMC Pinnacle, says that is why officials are encouraging people to call their doctor first. “And that’s why we encourage people who are only mildly ill to call their doctor and not go directly to urgent care or go to an emergency room,” he said. “So, if someone only has a fever or mild respiratory, call their doctors first so they can get instructions – sometimes over the phone.” 6
Currently, the only tests that can detect an active infection are conducted by obtaining a nasal swab from a patient and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. 13
Scientists have developed blood tests to detect antibodies, which would indicate a person previously had the disease. The accuracy of these tests varies. The World Health Organization continues to research how effective these antibodies are at preventing future infection. 9
Gov. Tom Wolf / Flickr
Pennsylvania Commonwealth microbiologist Kerry Pollard performs a manual extraction of the coronavirus inside the extraction lab at the Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories on Friday, March 6, 2020.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced that all major health insurers in the commonwealth will cover medically appropriate testing and treatment for the coronavirus. This includes Highmark, UPMC Health Plan, Geisinger, Independence BlueCross, Capital Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Pennsylvania Health & Wellness, and Oscar. 15
The Pennsylvania Department of Health answers more common questions about insurance coverage on its website.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is working to ensure that everyone who is tested for the coronavirus gets tested at no cost to them: “Testing sent to our state health lab is free of charge. If someone believes they were exposed and has symptoms, they should call 1-877-PA-HEALTH and we can help ensure they get tested.” 16
Commercial laboratories and hospital laboratories are also operating within the commonwealth, and began doing most of the testing after the first couple weeks. Health Secretary Levine said on March 17 that if a doctor believes a patient should be tested for COVID-19, they can order the test without first consulting the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
“If the provider consults with us [the Department of Health] and we don’t recommend a test because of CDC criteria, but the provider really wants to do a test, then order it and send it to a commercial laboratory,” Levine said. “You do not need our approval to send tests to the commercial laboratories.”
No labs in the commonwealth are currently doing broad, population-based testing. They are only testing people who show certain symptoms. 17
Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine has said repeatedly there is no backlog of tests in Pennsylvania and that the state labs have capacity to test 125 people per day. On March 12, she said that the state is not triaging samples because of a shortage of tests. As of that afternoon, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported that 219 tests have been completed or are in progress in Pennsylvania.
But WESA reported on March 13 that health providers in Pittsburgh have wanted to test patients but had no way to do so. Across the state, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said that limited availability of tests has made identifying cases difficult. 18
Yes, it is safe to take a walk in the park or go for a bike ride, as long as you follow certain precautions. The same recommendations apply as if you were going to any other public place:
As of March 13, Pennsylvania has required closure of state-licensed day care centers only in Montgomery County, but other schools have begun to voluntarily close across the commonwealth. 20
At this point, the state legislature has not passed any bills addressing supplemental assistance to families. The U.S. Congress is working on a coronavirus bill that, according to a letter from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, would include 14 days of paid sick leave and tax credits for small- and medium-sized businesses, as well as unemployment benefits and aid for food assistance programs. The House is expected to vote on the bill Friday. If it passes, it will head to the Senate early next week. 21
There are options for workers who are experiencing a loss of income, whether the result of decreased hours or not working at all, during this pandemic.
You may be eligible for unemployment compensation if:
Learn more and apply on the Office of Unemployment Compensation website. 22
Gov. Wolf’s shutdown orders have involved asking non-“life-sustaining” businesses like gyms, hair salons and convert venues to close.
After initially trying to rely on businesses to “self-enforce” the order, the governor is now directing police to warn and fine business owners who violate the order. The administration recommends two main enforcement options:
If you are aware of a business that’s operating even though it’s supposed to be shut down, tell the Department of Health through its website contact form.
The governor’s order is meant to limit person-to-person interaction and potential exposure to the virus. Though the order refers to physical places of business, it applies just the same to independent contractors–like painters–who do not operate a storefront. 24
Alexis Campbell from PennDOT stated that privately owned truck stops remain open, as well as gasoline and convenience stores. Some restaurants are staying open during this time for carry-out and delivery services. 25
The Pennsylvania Turnpike placed portable toilets at their rest stops. After outcry, the Turnpike Commission decided to reopen the bathrooms at all of its service plazas. 26
Thank you for wanting to help.
This article from The Washington Post details a range of nonprofits that could use your support during this crisis: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/03/21/how-you-can-help-during-coronavirus/
If you prefer to keep your support focused on the central Pennsylvania community, you can donate to one of these organizations:
Editor’s note: This section was updated on March 27.
Lawmakers passed a bill that will postpone the primary to June 2, which the governor signed on March 27. With that move, Pennsylvania joins a dozen states that have postponed their presidential primaries in response to the coronavirus outbreak. 27
Check the CDC’s latest guidance on travel risks.
Countries with widespread, ongoing spread of the coronavirus are designated with a Level 3 travel health notice. You should avoid nonessential travel to these destinations.
Level 2 travel notices indicate sustained community spread. Travelers at high risk of severe illness should consider postponing their plans. If you decide to keep your travel plans, avoid contact with sick people, wash your hands regularly, monitor your health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning home.
Level 1 travel notices mean there is limited community spread. If you travel to one of these countries, avoid close contact with others and wash your hands regularly. 28
The CDC does not generally issue travel advisories for within the United States, but it has issued some guidance to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
Before traveling to another region or state, you should consider these points:
If you must travel, practice the same precautions you would be doing at home. Wash your hands often with soap and water and try to avoid close contact with others. 28
Ted S. Warren / AP Photo
A housekeeping worker wears a mask as she cleans a room, Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at an Econo Lodge motel in Kent, Wash. King County Executive Dow Constantine said Wednesday that the county had purchased the 85-bed motel south of Seattle to house patients for recovery and isolation due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Isolation separates people who are sick from people who are not. Patients can be in isolation at a hospital or at their home. Isolation is usually voluntary, but the Pennsylvania Department of Health has the legal authority to require someone to be quarantined.
Quarantine restricts the movement of people who have been exposed to a contagion but are not yet showing symptoms. It is designed to stop the spread of a contagion during the incubation period. A person in quarantine may not become sick at all. Like isolation, it is usually voluntary, but the Pennsylvania Department of Health has the legal authority to require someone to be quarantined.
People in isolation or quarantine are not being locked inside their homes, nor do they have a guard monitoring every action. They can go out in their yard, for example, but are told not to go to the store other public places. State health officials check on these people with regular phone calls. 29
People who may have been exposed to the virus but are not yet showing symptoms may be directed to self-monitor their health and avoid social situations. 3
After a person tests positive for the coronavirus, health officials reach out to people who may have been exposed. Those individuals will be assessed and may also be tested for the virus. 3
This is done to help control the spread of the virus.
Read more about how the process works.
“Community exposure is when the person presents and we really can’t identify how they got sick,” Dr. Sharon Watkins said at a Pennsylvania Department of Health press conference. “Which means that — if they weren’t traveling internationally, if they weren’t somewhere in another state, if they didn’t have close contact with another case — they must have gotten it from virus circulating in the community that we haven’t been testing or identifying.” 29
As of March 10, all of Pennsylvania’s cases have known exposures.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Health is sending all positive tests to the CDC for confirmation. Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine has said she is not aware of any tests performed in any states that were later found by the CDC to be incorrect. 30
Commonwealth Media Services
Gov. Tom Wolf speaks at a press conference in Harrisburg about the arrival of coronavirus in Pennsylvania. At rear is state Health Secretary Rachel Levine. (Courtesy Commonwealth Media Services)
Our reporters are regularly speaking with doctors, government officials and staff at the Pennsylvania Department of Health. We’ll try to help answer any questions you have.
1 World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
3 Pennsylvania Department of Health, https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
4 Washington Post, March 23, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/health/coronavirus-sars-cov-2-structure/
5 https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
6 Smart Talk episode, March 9, 2020, https://www.witf.org/2020/03/06/the-coronavirus-in-pennsylvania-whats-the-latest/
7 Harvard Health Publishing, March 15, 2020, https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/coronavirus-resource-center
8 World Health Organization, April 24, 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/immunity-passports-in-the-context-of-covid-19
9 Los Angeles Times, March 13, 2020 https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-13/china-japan-korea-coronavirus-reinfection-test-positive
10 World Health Organization update, March 6, 2020, https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200306-sitrep-46-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=96b04adf_2
11 STAT News, March 3, 2020, https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/03/who-coronavirus-different-than-influenza-can-be-contained/
12 Spotlight PA, March 18, 2020, https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2020/03/pennsylvania-coronavirus-funeral-directors-recommendations/
13 CNN, March 4, 2020, https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/04/health/coronavirus-test-what-happens-explainer/index.html
14 The Guardian, March 17, 2020 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/17/testing-for-coronavirus-what-being-done-in-uk
15 Gov. Tom Wolf press release, March 9, 2020, https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-states-major-health-insurers-are-covering-covid-19-testing-resources-available-related-to-covid-19-and-insurance-coverage/
16 Pennsylvania Department of Health email, March 10, 2020
17 Pennsylvania Department of Health press conference, March 13, 2020
18 Philadelphia Inquirer, March 12, 2020, https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-testing-denied-pennsylvania-state-lab-cdc-20200312.html
19 BBC, March 25, 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52022743
20 Office of Governor Tom Wolf, March 12, 2020, https://www.governor.pa.gov/newsroom/gov-wolf-sec-of-health-outline-covid-19-mitigation-guidance-for-montgomery-county-commonwealth-of-pennsylvania/
21 New York Times, March 12, 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/business/economy/coronavirus-response-wall-street.html
22 Office of Unemployment Compensation, https://www.uc.pa.gov/Pages/covid19.aspx
23 PA Post, March 24, 2020, https://papost.org/2020/03/24/coronavirus-and-business-restrictions-in-pennsylvania-possible-penalties-waivers-and-what-else-you-need-to-know/
24 Gov. Tom Wolf, March 24, 2020, Life-sustaining business FAQ
25 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 17, 2020, https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2020/03/17/Truck-drivers-PennDOT-rest-stops-COVID-19-Owner-Operator-Independent-Drivers-Association/stories/202003170146
26 Associated Press, March 20, 2020, https://www.witf.org/2020/03/20/your-morning-update-on-the-coronavirus-in-pa-governor-tom-wolf-orders-1000s-of-businesses-to-shut-down-over-virus/
27 PA Post, March 25, 2020, https://papost.org/2020/03/24/wolf-legislature-set-to-delay-primary-to-early-june/
28 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
29 Pennsylvania Department of Health press conference, March 10, 2020
30 York Daily Record, March 6, 2020, https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2020/03/06/coronavirus-in-pa-first-covid-19-case-confirmed-in-pennsylvania-wayne-delaware-county/4966026002/
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
