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)

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 → 7 October 2024 Statement

Types of data requested to inform December 2024 COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition deliberations

2 October 2024 Joint News Release

The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank Group, and the World Health Organization step up cooperation on pandemic preparedness

13 June 2024 Departmental update

WHO and Switzerland strengthen partnership for global BioHub System

24 May 2024 News release

COVID-19 eliminated a decade of progress in global level of life expectancy

Publications

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14 November 2024

Gatherings in the context of the 2024 mpox outbreak: public health guidance

This document examines the risk-based approach to gatherings, mpox-associated risks during the current public health emergency of international concern,...

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16 October 2024

Preparing and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia

This report highlights the strategic, technical and operational support of WHO to COVID-19 preparedness and response in Cambodia, and how past capacity-building...

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2 October 2024

WHO SEAR 20th Epidemiological Bulletin 2024

This epidemiological bulletin aims to provide the situation of key infectious diseases in the WHO South-East Asia region to inform risk assessments and...

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3 September 2024

Clinical characteristics of pregnant and nonpregnant women hospitalized with suspected or confirmed COVID-19

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WHO documents

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6 November 2024

COVID-19 epidemiological update – 6 November 2024

During the four-week reporting period from 16 September to 13 October 2024, weekly SARS-CoV-2 PCR percent test positivity changed from 5.0% in the...

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9 October 2024

COVID-19 epidemiological update – 9 October 2024

During the four-week reporting period from 19 August to 15 September 2024, weekly SARS-CoV-2 PCR percent test positivity decreased from 8.2% in the beginning...

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17 September 2024

COVID-19 epidemiological update – 17 September 2024

During the four-week reporting period from 22 July to 18 August 2024, weekly SARS-CoV-2 PCR percent test positivity decreased from 12.4% in the beginning...

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13 August 2024

COVID-19 epidemiological update – 13 August 2024

SARS-CoV-2 PCR percent positivity during the four-week reporting period from 24 June to 21 July 2024, as detected in integrated sentinel surveillance as...

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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 → 31 October 2024

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

23 October 2024

UHC-Partnership: Bolivia strengthens social participation in health for indigenous population

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

INB-related interactive dialogues

3 – 4 September 2024

Related links

COVID-19 vaccinesVaccines explained series