WHAT IS COVID-19?

"COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. Most cases of COVID-19 are mild to moderate, like the common cold. But it can be more severe in older adults and people with chronic health conditions. The virus is most likely to be spread from person to person by droplets when coughing and from contact with surfaces where those droplets have landed. Since this virus is new, health authorities continue to carefully watch how this virus spreads." - NJ Health Department

HOW IT BEGAN

The novel COVID-19 virus began on December 31, 2019 in Wuhan, China when it affected dozens of people after they visited a live animal market. From there, it started spreading all across the globe, eventually making its way to the United States on February 26, 2020 in Washington. 

SYMPTOMS ​

According to the CDC, symptoms that may appear after 2-14 days of exposure 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 and/or runny nose

• Nausea and/or vomiting