Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) - WHO | World Health Organization

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Overview

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Most people infected with the virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention. Older people and those with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. Anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die at any age.

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the disease and how the virus spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by staying at least 1 metre apart from others, wearing a properly fitted mask, and washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently. Get vaccinated when it’s your turn and follow local guidance.

The virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols. It is important to practice respiratory etiquette, for example by coughing into a flexed elbow, and to stay home and self-isolate until you recover if you feel unwell.

Stay informed:

• Advice for the public
• Myth busters
• Questions and answers
• Situation reports
• All information on the COVID-19 outbreak

Prevention

To prevent infection and to slow transmission of COVID-19, do the following:

• Get vaccinated when a vaccine is available to you.
• Stay at least 1 metre apart from others, even if they don’t appear to be sick.
• Wear a properly fitted mask when physical distancing is not possible or when in poorly ventilated settings.
• Choose open, well-ventilated spaces over closed ones. Open a window if indoors.
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or clean them with alcohol-based hand rub.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• If you feel unwell, stay home and self-isolate until you recover.

Symptoms

COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.

Most common symptoms:

• fever
• cough
• tiredness
• loss of taste or smell.

Less common symptoms:

• sore throat
• headache
• aches and pains
• diarrhoea
• a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes
• red or irritated eyes.

Serious symptoms:

• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• loss of speech or mobility, or confusion
• chest pain.

Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility.

People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should manage their symptoms at home.

On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days.

Fact sheets

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
• Post COVID-19 condition (long COVID)

Questions and answers

• Q&As on COVID-19 and related health topics

Databases and tools

• WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard
• COVID-19 Clinical Care Pathway
• COVID-19 Impact on nutrition analytical framework
• COVID-19 Vaccine delivery toolkit
• Global Clinical Platform for COVID-19

Emergency situations

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic

Initiatives and groups

• Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator
• COVID-19 Technology access pool
• ACT-Accelerator Ethics & Governance Working Group
• Advisory Group on Therapeutics Prioritization for COVID-19
• COVID-19 IHR Emergency Committee
• COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidance Development Group
• Facilitation Council for the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator
• International Travel and Health (ITH) guideline development group (GDG) for COVID-19
• Technical Advisory Group on the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool
• Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition
• Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution
• Working Group on Ethics and COVID-19

Training

• COVID-19 Training

News

All → 2 February 2026 Statement

Six years after COVID-19’s global alarm: Is the world better prepared for the next pandemic?

24 December 2025 Departmental update

WHO prequalifies the first two rapid antigen detection tests for COVID-19

18 December 2025 Statement

Statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines

3 December 2025 Departmental update

WHO launches new, unified plan for countries to manage coronaviruses: COVID-19 and beyond

Publications

All →

25 December 2025

Heat, air pollution and solar ultraviolet radiation: mass gathering-specific considerations and research...

The annually averaged global mean near-surface temperature in 2024 was 1.55 °C ± 0.13 °C above the 1850–1900 average. This made it...

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2 December 2025

Framework and toolkit for infection prevention and control outbreak preparedness, readiness and response

As observed in recent large-scale outbreaks, health facilities (HFs) with limited or no infection prevention and control (IPC) capacities can amplify emerging...

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2 December 2025

Strategic plan for coronavirus disease threat management: advancing integration, sustainability, and...

The WHO strategic plan for coronavirus disease threat management sets out the global framework for the sustained, integrated and evidence-based management...

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28 November 2025

Tailoring event-based surveillance using open sources: practical guide for mass gatherings

Public health intelligence (PHI) is key to early warning alert and response (EWAR), and is vital in protecting the health of the populations in the context...

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WHO documents

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5 December 2025

Risk evaluation for SARS-CoV-2 variant under monitoring: BA.3.2

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16 September 2025

COVID-19 Global Risk Assessment

WHO regularly conducts risk assessments for graded emergencies in accordance with the WHO Emergency Response Framework. Since January 2020, WHO conducted...

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5 August 2025

Manual for strengthening monitoring of respiratory virus immunization coverage - draft

The Manual for strengthening monitoring of respiratory virus immunization coverage provides technical guidance to support immunization programmes...

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25 July 2025

Strategic and operational plan for coronavirus disease threat management

The WHO strategic and operational plan for coronavirus disease threat management sets out the global framework for supporting Member States in the sustained,...

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Our work

Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants

Promoting a fair and equitable response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Promoting the health of refugees and migrants during COVID-19 pandemic

Preparing and preventing epidemics and pandemics

Feature stories

All → 4 September 2025

What's in a vaccine?

28 March 2025

Donors making a difference to maternal health & newborn health: the urgent drive to save women’s lives across the world

Infographics

Infographic

Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection

Infographic

Why testing is important?

Videos

20 October 2023

Pandemic preparedness: Introducing WHO's Investigations and Studies (Unity Studies) approach

5 June 2023

Nurses Facing COVID - 2023 Health Emergencies "GRAND PRIX" at the 4th Health for All Film Festival

14 October 2022

WHO's Science in 5: Older adults and COVID-19 vaccines - 14 October 2022

3 June 2022

WHO’s Science in 5 on COVID-19: Genome Sequencing

Events

Post COVID-19 condition: Science, Research and Policy

20 November 2024 16:00 – 17:00 CET

Webinar program on mental health and post COVID-19 condition

24 – 26 July 2024

Related links

COVID-19 vaccinesVaccines explained series