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COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

Below are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to COVID-19. Always follow guidance from your medical provider and local installation and public health officials.
  • Q. What do Van Pools do if someone may be sick?
  • A. Each Van has a "Van Manager" who is overall responsible for the Van operation. This person is responsible to tell one of their passengers they cannot ride / drive the van if they smell alcohol or other dangerous characteristics. If the Van Manager feels a passenger is sick and needs to call into the Utah COVID-19 Hotline, they should deny them access to the van, until the passengers status is resolved.
  • Q. What is novel coronavirus?
  • A. It is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. It is not the same as the coronaviruses which caused the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), or the common cold. The current outbreak originated in 2019 and has been named coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19.
  • Q. How does COVID-19 spread?
  • A. It spreads from person-to-person in close contact, especially through coughing, sneezing, and contact with contaminated surfaces.
  • Q. What are the symptoms?
  • A. Symptoms can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath appearing in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Severe illness may develop into pneumonia and may even be fatal.
  • Q. Can someone without symptoms be contagious?
  • A. Possibly. There have been some documented cases of transmission from asymptomatic people, but how commonly this occurs is still unknown.
  • Q. How long is someone contagious?
  • A. This can vary by individual; each case is evaluated by a medical provider. In general, a person must be free from fever and all other symptoms, and they must have negative results on two consecutive lab tests at least 24 hours apart.
  • Q. Does a person released from isolation or quarantine pose a risk of spreading infection of COVID-19 to other people?
  • A. No. They do not pose a risk to others. The medical provider releases someone only after he/she meets the criteria of being free from fever and all other symptoms; they must have negative results in two consecutive lab tests at least 24 hours apart.
  • Q. Will the seasonal flu vaccine also protect against COVID-19?
  • A. No. The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19
  • Q. When will a COVID-19 vaccine become available?
  • A. Research into a vaccine is underway but an availability date is unknown at this time.
  • Q. Why does it take so long to develop a vaccine?
  • A. The process of vaccine development requires a series of important studies (12-18 months on average) to ensure effectiveness and safety prior to use in humans.
  • Q. Will warmer weather stop the outbreak of COVID-19?
  • A. It is not known whether the spread of COVID-19 will decrease when weather becomes warmer.
  • Q. Should I be tested for COVID-19?
  • A. If you have symptoms or questions related to COVID-19, please CALL your local health provider first, so that a healthcare professional can determine if you need to be tested.
  • Q. Can a person test negative and later test positive for COVID-19?
  • A. In the early stages of infection, it is possible the virus will not be detected. However, a negative test result of a sample collected while a person has symptoms likely means that the COVID-19 virus is not causing their current illness.
  • Q. Can COVID-19 be spread through food or water?
  • A. Currently there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread in food or water. Routine handwashing re preparing or eating food with soap and water for 20 seconds is always important for general food safety.
  • Q. Can COVID-19 be spread through packages in the mail?
  • A. In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks. Currently, there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with imported goods; there have not been any cases of COVID-19 in the United States associated with imported goods.
  • Q. What are the HPCON action level designations?
  • A. The COVID-19 HPCON DOD risk-based framework uses designations of: 0-Routine (prior to community disease transmission), A-Limited (community disease transmission beginning), B-Moderate (increased community disease transmission), C-Substantial (sustained community disease transmission), D-Severe (widespread community disease transmission).
  • Q. What is community transmission or spread?
  • A. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.
  • Q. Does COVID-19 present any specific health risks to pregnant women or the unborn child?
  • A. There are no specific studies available regarding the risk posed to pregnant women; the likelihood of transmission to the unborn child or of increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes are unknown. Routine prevention measures, such as frequent handwashing, are strongly encouraged.
  • Q. What is the treatment for COVID-19
  • A. At this time, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19. Treatment focuses on symptom management. Patients with COVID-19 who are severely or critically ill are given supportive care.
  • Q. Should I be concerned about pets or other animals and COVID-19?
  • A. Although the virus is believed to have emerged from an animal source, the greater threat is from person-to-person spread. There is currently no evidence that pets can acquire or spread COVID-19. However, out of an abundance of caution as we learn more about the dynamics of this virus, you should try to limit close contact with pets and other animals while you are sick with COVID-19, just like you would around other people. If you are the only caretaker for your pets and you become ill, wash your hands before and after touching your pets.
  • Q. What sort of supplies should I keep on hand if I am placed in quarantine?
  • A. Gather items for an emergency kit similar to what you would need if you were affected by a hurricane. It should include things like an adequate supply of medicine, non-perishable food, pet food, diapers, and so forth: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html
  • Q. What does it mean when an individual is quarantined?
  • A. Individuals who have had possible exposure to someone with COVID-19 or who recently traveled to an area with community transmission of COVID-19 within the past 14 days, may be asked to self-quarantine. This means staying at home away from others to prevent possible transmission. You may also monitor yourself for symptoms, such as checking for fever twice daily.
  • Q. What does it mean when an individual is isolated?
  • A. Individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who are awaiting test results for COVID-19 may be isolated at a hospital or in their home. Patients who have COVID-19 will be isolated until symptoms resolve and they have two negative laboratory tests for COVID-19


SOURCES: DPG Coronavirus Working Group (first Q/A only), MEDCOM APHC