What is the source of the virus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause disease in humans and others, such as canine and feline coronaviruses, only infect animals. Rarely, animal coronaviruses that infect animals have emerged to infect people and can spread between people.

How does the virus spread?

Viruses spread from person to person mainly as droplets that fly out when you cough or sneeze. These tiny droplets from a sick person move through the air and land on the mouth or nose of other people nearby.
Germs are also transmitted when you touch someone else's mucus droplets on a surface like a desk, then touch your own eyes, mouth, or nose before washing your hands. Viruses like the flu can live 24 hours or more on plastic and metal surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and cups.

Can someone who has had COVID-19 transmit the disease to others?

The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads from person to person. People are believed to be most contagious when they are symptomatic (most sick). This is why it is recommended that these patients be isolated in hospital or at home (depending on their health condition) until they are better and no longer at risk of infecting others. More recently, the virus has also been detected in asymptomatic people.
The duration a person is actively ill can vary, so the decision to release someone from isolation is made using a strategy based on testing or not (i.e., time elapsed since the onset of illness and time elapsed since recovery). The decision involves considering the specifics of each situation, including the severity of the illness, signs and symptoms of the disease, and the results of laboratory tests for that patient.

Can a person quarantined for COVID-19 transmit the disease to others?

Quarantine involves separating a person or group of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease but have not developed illness (symptoms) from other people who have not been exposed, to prevent the possible spread of that disease. Quarantine is usually established for the incubation period of the transmissible disease, which is the period of time during which people have developed illness after exposure. For COVID-19, the quarantine period is 14 days from the last date of exposure because the incubation period of this virus is 2 to 14 days. A person who has been released from COVID-19 quarantine is not considered a risk of spreading the virus to others because they did not develop illness during the incubation period.

Symptoms

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists the most common COVID-19 symptoms as:
A dry cough
A fever
Shortness of breath
The disease can also cause other symptoms, including:
Aches and pains.
A runny or stuffy nose.
A sore throat.
A headache.
Diarrhea.

What to do when symptoms appear

If a person develops symptoms of COVID-19, they should follow the steps below to stay safe and help protect others from the virus.
Once a person begins to suspect they may have COVID-19, they should:
Self-isolate: Self-isolation means staying home and staying away from other family members to avoid spreading the virus. Ideally, people who have symptoms of COVID-19 should stay in one room and use a separate bathroom from other household members.
Seek medical help if necessary: A person should contact a doctor by phone to report their symptoms and request further advice. They should not go to a doctor's office without prior agreement from the facility. People should call emergency services if their symptoms are severe or include breathing difficulties.
Currently, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19. However, the following home self-care measures can help alleviate symptoms and prevent complications:
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
Eat a healthy diet to help the body fight the infection.
Get plenty of rest to facilitate recovery.
Take medication to relieve cough.
Use acetaminophen to reduce fever and relieve aches and pains.
It is important to monitor all symptoms and take action if they start to worsen.
If a person begins to develop breathing difficulties, they should call a doctor or hospital for advice. A person should call emergency services if their breathing difficulties are severe or worsening.