Patient Coronavirus Resources

Also known as the SARS-CoV-2 (the virus) or COVID-19, the coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Coronavirus is known to be transmitted between animals and people.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.

The CDC recommends that you should seek medical attention when you show signs of early emergency warning signs: 

• Trouble breathing
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face
• Loss of smell or taste
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

The practice of social distancing and covering your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover is key in the prevention of spreading the virus to others. It is still possible to spread the virus to others before showing symptoms. It is encouraged that individuals: 

• Avoid crowded public spaces and remain six-feet away from others
• Wear a cloth face cover in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain
• Avoid public transportation
• Avoid public bathrooms
• Only visit grocery stores, pharmacies, etc., when needed
• Avoid congregating in groups of more than two people and limit your interaction to those that you live with
• Routinely clean and disinfect common surfaces in your home and avoid sharing personal household items such as dishes, towels, and bedding

The WHO recommends standard preventative measures such as regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. They also recommended that you routinely clean and disinfect common surfaces in your home and avoid sharing personal household items such as dishes, towels, and bedding.

If you or a family member are experiencing one or more symptoms, you may now take an at home test. If you test positive, please call your primary doctor or a local urgent care hotline to seek treatment. Telemedicine has allowed doctors and nurses to assess your risk and direct you to the proper health professional for treatment. The CDC recommends that you: 

• Stay home and only go to the hospital if you are experiencing severe symptoms, so as to avoid causing more individuals to become exposed.
• Stay in touch with your doctor and share updates if your symptoms continue to worsen or you have trouble breathing. They will be able to recommend next steps.

Most cases of coronavirus are mild and symptoms can be managed and treated at home with over-the-counter remedies.

The CDC is now recommending that anyone with coronavirus-like symptoms or have been in contact with someone exposed to COVID-19 to get tested. Doctors may recommend for or against testing based on your exposure risk.

The testing process is easy for the individual with an at-home tests, but PCR test results can take up to 72 hours.

Yes. The incubation period for COVID-19 can be up to 24 days, meaning that an individual may have been exposed to the virus, be a carrier, and not know it. That is why it is recommended that everyone practice at-home quarantine and self-isolation to avoid infecting others. It is important to avoid being around individuals that are considered high-risk as well.

Everyone is at risk of contracting the virus; however, those who are immunocompromised or have pre-existing conditions are considered to be higher risk, including:

• People aged 65 or older
• Those living in assisted care facilities or nursing homes
• People with lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
• People with serious heart conditions
• People with cancer, chronic kidney disease, or immunocompromised state
• People with obesity and diabetes

More people are able to recover from the virus than not. The mortality rate has ranged from 1-3 percent of the total infected.

In many cases, people have been asymptomatic or have suffered mild symptoms. There is a possibility that some may have been infected in the past and have recovered.

Travel has been restricted at varying levels around the globe with some governments closing borders or limiting travel. It is recommended that individuals stop or cancel non-essential travel. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website.

There are several vaccines available in limited quantities around the world. As more doses are being manufactured and the potential of new COVID-19 strains making the vaccines less effective, it’s important to keep in mind treatment options should you or a loved one contract COVID-19. There are means of treatment that can be administered by healthcare professionals. Seraph 100 is available for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in Europe and has been granted Emergency Use Authorization by the US FDA. Trials in the U.S. and Europe for the treatment of COVID-19 patients are underway. Seraph 100 has been used to treat multiple COVID-19 patients, for information on Seraph 100 and COVID-19, please download the Seraph 100 and COVID-19 Information Sheet – US.

The virus has been traced to Wuhan, China. It is suspected that the virus was transmitted to a human from an animal.