What is COVID-19 and How is it Spread?

COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease 2019, is a new virus that causes fever, cough, and shortness of breath. While 80-85% of individuals infected with COVID-19 appear to have mild illness, the virus can cause severe illness including pneumonia in high risk populations like older adults and people who have chronic medical conditions. COVID-19 has affected a large number of people across multiple continents and is being transmitted simultaneously worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

There are many different types of coronaviruses that are known to cause human illness. This virus is able to be passed person-to-person through respiratory droplets when an ill individual coughs, sneezes, or talks. Research also suggests that the virus is spread from person to person before an individual has symptoms. The virus can survive for a limited time on commonly touched surfaces.

COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be available for the public in 2021.

COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
• These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into lungs
• Studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms

What Are Symptoms of COVID-19?

Can I Get a COVID-19 Vaccination?

CDC recommends COVID-19 primary series vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older, and COVID-19 boosters for everyone ages 5 years and older, if eligible.

Learn CDC COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, health department vaccine locations, what to expect, and more.

Can I Get Tested?

Testing is available at different locations around the county

The Georgia Department of Public Health has testing location options listed on their website: https://dph.georgia.gov/covidtesting

Many doctors’ offices and urgent cares also have COVID-19 testing available.

COVID-19 Home Test Kits are provided by the federal government in partnership with the United States Postal Service (USPS). Learn more here: https://www.covid.gov/tests

What is contract tracing?

What is contact tracing?
Contact tracing is a tool used by Public Health to quickly identify people who have been exposed to an infectious disease (COVID-19, measles, Ebola, TB, STDs) and alert their contacts of their exposure.

Why is contact tracing done?
The goal of contact tracing is to help prevent the further spread of infection, to identify hotspots of infection, and to protect friends, families and communities from potential infection.

Is contact tracing confidential?
Contact tracing is confidential — the identity of the person who tests positive + information about others who may have been exposed is kept confidential per HIPAA (HIPAA is the law that protects an individual’s personal health information.) Georgia’s contact tracing does not use GPS or Bluetooth technology to track movements.

How is contact tracing done?
Trained public health staff work with people diagnosed with an infectious disease to help them recall everyone who they have had close contact with while they were infectious. Public health staff then alert these exposed individuals (contacts) as quickly as possible to prevent additional spread of the disease.