COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales air, droplets containing the virus go into the air and onto surfaces and objects around them. Other people are exposed to the virus by breathing in these droplets or by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth after touching infected surfaces.

There is currently no treatment for COVID-19. Not all patients with COVID-19 will require medical attention, and most people recover within 2 weeks without any specific treatment. For severe cases, hospitalization may be required. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms.

If you have any symptoms concerning for COVID-19 and any of the following conditions or risk factors, which may put you at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19, you should consult with your healthcare provider before using this test:

• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
• Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Sickle cell disease
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
• Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
• Liver disease
• Pregnancy
• Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
• Smoking
• Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Children who are medically complex, who have neurologic, genetic, metabolic conditions, or who have congenital heart disease

COVID-19 is very contagious. The risk of getting COVID-19 depends on many factors, including where you live, recent travel history, and close contact with people who have symptoms. It is important to comply with any local travel restrictions and to protect yourself from exposure if you are in a city or area where the disease is spreading.

There are currently no vaccines for COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself is to avoid situations in which you may be exposed to the virus. Everyday actions can help protect you and prevent the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water aren’t available. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

If you test positive for COVID-19 and have mild symptoms, the following steps can help prevent the disease from spreading to others:

● Stay home
﹣ Stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home
﹣ Restrict any activities outside your home, except for getting medical care
﹣ Avoid public areas, including work and school
﹣ Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis

● Cover your nose and mouth
﹣ If you are sick, wear a facemask when you are around other people or pets
﹣ Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw away used tissues

● Wash hands
﹣ Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
﹣ Wash your hands especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, going to the bathroom, or before eating or preparing food
﹣ If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
﹣ Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth, and other people with unwashed hands

● Do not share
﹣ Do not share dishes, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets
﹣ After using personal items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water

● Clean and disinfect
﹣ Clean high touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables
﹣ Clean any surfaces that may come in contact with body fluids, blood, or stool
﹣ Use a household cleaning spray or wipes
﹣ Immediately remove and wash clothes or bedding that have body fluids, blood, or stool on them

No. This test is not yet approved or cleared by the United States FDA. When there are no FDA-approved or cleared tests available, and other criteria are met, FDA can make tests available under an emergency access mechanism called an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The EUA for this test is supported by the Secretary of Health and Human Service’s (HHS’s) declaration that circumstances exist to justify the emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for the detection and/or diagnosis of the virus that causes COVID-19. This EUA will remain in effect (meaning this test can be used) for the duration of the COVID-19 declaration justifying emergency of IVDs, unless it is terminated or revoked by FDA (after which the test may no longer be used).

What are the approved alternatives?

There are no approved available alternative tests. FDA has issued EUAs for other tests that can be found at:

https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization.