Search for COVID-19 Information Here

Testing
Vaccine Info
Quarantine Info

About the Virus FAQs

  • Is the coronavirus airborne?

    Yes, COVID-19 can spread via airborne transmission. When people with the COVID-19 infection breathe out, clear their throats, cough, sneeze, speak, or otherwise move air out through their nose or m...
    Learn More

  • Where is COVID-19 in New Jersey? How many cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have there been?

    Last Updated: 02/06/2023
    The Department of Health maintains a dashboard with information about COVID-19 cases in New Jersey including case counts, variants, hospitalizations, and deaths by location. The dashboard also feat...
    Learn More

  • Are ammonia-based wipes an effective disinfectant for COVID-19?

    Neither the American Chemistry Council nor the EPA recommend ammonia for killing COVID-19 on surfaces. Bleach is a much better option. More information can be found in the sources below: https://ww...
    Learn More

  • If I get infected, when do symptoms appear?

    Symptoms can appear between 2-14 days after exposure, though some people may not have any symptoms while still being contagious. It's also important to consider whether you've been in contact with ...
    Learn More

  • Can the COVID-19 virus be spread through food, including refrigerated or frozen food?

    Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets. Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. Before ...
    Learn More

  • Is COVID-19 a biological weapon?

    There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 virus is a biological weapon. Scientific evidence suggests the COVID-19 virus spilled over from animals to people. One paper showed that the COVID-19 v...
    Learn More

  • What is the likelihood of dying from COVID-19 as an elderly person?

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an individual who is 85 years of age or older is 630 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than an individual who is between 18 and 29 ...
    Learn More

  • What is the official name of the novel coronavirus?

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to name the disease caused by the novel coronavirus "COVID-19" and refers to the virus that causes it as the "COVID-19 virus." CO for corona, VI for ...
    Learn More

  • Why do viruses survive outside the human body?

    Viruses survive outside our bodies because of how they are built. Specifically, they are pieces of genetic material (RNA or DNA) contained in a special coating of proteins called capsids. Viruses c...
    Learn More

  • Will there be permanent damage to my lungs or other organs if I’m infected with the COVID-19 virus?

    While most people who have COVID-19 recover within a few weeks, some have prolonged symptoms which has been called post-COVID-19 syndrome. These prolonged symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of...
    Learn More

  • When is someone infectious?

    Last Updated: 04/10/2023
    Generally, those infected with SARS-CoV-2 are most likely to be highly infectious a few days before COVID-19 symptoms start and the following five days. If you've been exposed to COVID-19 or test p...
    Learn More

  • Can the virus be transmitted through mosquito bites?

    There is no evidence to suggest so far that this virus can be transmitted through mosquitoes. References https://www.mosquito.org/news/492656/Can-Mosquitoes-Transmit-the-Coronavirus.htm https://www...
    Learn More

  • Is the virus transmitted better in cold weather because of its fat layer?

    All coronaviruses possess a fat layer as a component of the viral envelope. There is, however, no evidence yet that the SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) fat envelope in particular facili...
    Learn More

  • Will vodka or other hard alcohols work as disinfectants against the coronavirus? What about vinegar?

    Vodka, or other hard alcohols, are not recommended for disinfecting surfaces. Furthermore, there is no evidence that vinegar is effective against coronavirus. It would be best to use diluted bleach...
    Learn More

  • Where did the coronavirus come from?

    Researchers have found that three quarters of new diseases come from animals. This is because every time a virus replicates, its genes can mutate and make it possible to spread from animals to peop...
    Learn More

  • Can UV light be used to inactivate the virus?

    The antimicrobial potential of UVC light has long been established. Its widespread use in public settings is limited due to the ability of conventional UVC light to cause cancer and cataracts. New ...
    Learn More

  • Is it safe to use a swimming pool during the COVID-19 outbreak?

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as long as the swimming pool is properly maintained with the appropriate levels of chlorine and bromine, pools and also hot tubs should ...
    Learn More

  • Why would someone blame or avoid individuals and groups because of COVID-19?

    People in the U.S. may be worried or anxious about friends and relatives who are living in or visiting areas where COVID-19 is spreading. Some people are worried about the disease. Fear and anxiety...
    Learn More

  • How do antivirals work?

    Antivirals are a class of medications used for treating viruses. Viruses cannot reproduce on their own so to survive they seek out healthy cells in the human body and use these to make 'copies' of ...
    Learn More

  • Why is washing hands with soap and water so important?

    Soap destroys germs by wedging into them and essentially pulling them apart. The coronavirus can be thought of as a grease ball. Soap is a bit like a magnet: One part of soap molecules is attracted...
    Learn More

  • Where can I ask additional questions about COVID-19 or find more resources?

    Last Updated: 05/04/2020
    Find contact information and resources here.
    Learn More

  • How might seasonal flu symptoms be different from coronavirus symptoms?

    Symptoms from the seasonal flu and COVID-19 are not very different. However, COVID-19 is much deadlier than the flu. Please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the late...
    Learn More

  • Do chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine help fight coronavirus?

    None of the well-controlled, randomized clinical studies on the impact of hydroxychloroquine on people with COVID-19 have revealed any benefit of the drug. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are no...
    Learn More

  • What is known about the clinical severity of COVID-19?

    When infected with COVID-19, some people may exhibit no or minor symptoms, while others may become very sick, or even die. The severity of the virus ranges from person to person. Older people and p...
    Learn More

  • Does the size of a population make a difference in outcomes during an outbreak (US vs Italy, for example)?

    We often talk about outbreaks in terms of the proportion of a population that is affected. Important factors in determining the proportion of a population that is affected include population densit...
    Learn More

  • Was the COVID-19 virus made in a laboratory?

    The COVID-19 virus was not designed in a laboratory. The COVID-19 virus is most closely related (96% identical) to a coronavirus that was previously identified in bats. Scientists are working aroun...
    Learn More

  • What do funeral home workers need to know about handling decedents who had COVID-19?

    A funeral or visitation service can be held for a person who has died of COVID-19. Funeral home workers should follow their routine infection prevention and control precautions when handling a dece...
    Learn More

  • How do hand sanitizers work?

    For a virus, sanitizers work by disrupting the virus's outer coat, including the novel coronavirus. For bacteria, they work by disrupting its cell membrane. According to the CDC, hand sanitizers ar...
    Learn More

  • How can people help stop stigma related to COVID-19?

    People can fight stigma and help, not hurt, others by providing social support. Counter stigma by learning and sharing facts. Communicating the facts that viruses do not target specific racial or e...
    Learn More

  • What is Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)? Is my child at risk of MIS-C from COVID-19?

    Last Updated: 02/15/2023
    Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) is a rare but serious condition associated with COVID-19 where different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, ...
    Learn More

  • Are pregnant healthcare personnel at increased risk for adverse outcomes if they care for patients with COVID-19?

    Pregnant HCP should follow risk assessment and infection control guidelines for HCP exposed to patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Adherence to recommended infection prevention and contr...
    Learn More

  • Is this virus really more dangerous for older people / the elderly / seniors? Why?

    One of the main reasons that this virus (as well as many others) is especially dangerous to older individuals is that our immune system becomes less effective as we age. This process is called immu...
    Learn More

  • How are the coronaviruses that cause the common cold different from the COVID-19 virus?

    Unlike the four strains of coronavirus behind about 20% of the cases of common cold, COVID-19 virus can cause severe illness, and even death. This is because while coronaviruses causing the common ...
    Learn More

  • Could the tap water I drink have coronavirus in it?

    The virus that causes COVID-19 has not been detected in treated drinking water. Water treatment plants use filters and disinfectants to remove or kill germs, like the virus that causes COVID-19. Th...
    Learn More

  • Do imported animals or animal products pose a risk?

    CDC does not have any evidence to suggest that imported animals or animal products pose a risk for spreading COVID-19 in the United States. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will...
    Learn More

  • If someone has a cold or the flu, can he/she still become infected with COVID-19?

    Yes, you can be infected with multiple viruses at once, this is called co-infection. It is currently unknown how common co-infection is with COVID-19. COVID-19 virus, the virus that causes the flu,...
    Learn More

  • In what ways could the healthcare system become overwhelmed?

    As COVID-19 cases surge in the U.S., some hospitals are struggling with an increase in patients and a shortage of nurses and doctors to care for them, in addition to shortages of hospital beds and ...
    Learn More

  • What should healthcare workers be wearing to be protected when dealing with patients?

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that healthcare workers use a combination of standard procedures to protect themselves, including wearing gowns, gloves, eye/face...
    Learn More

  • Are there different strains or variants of COVID-19?

    Last Updated: 02/17/2023
    Viruses constantly change or mutate, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur overtime. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Other times, new variants emerge and persist. The CDC a...
    Learn More

  • What are the symptoms of COVID-19? How do I know if I have it?

    Last Updated: 02/06/2023
    People with COVID-19 have reported a variety of symptoms – ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: F...
    Learn More