About COVID-19
COVID-19 is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is a respiratory virus that affects humans. Coronaviruses can cause illnesses that range in severity; from symptoms similar to the common cold and then others causing more serious diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
Everyone who gets COVID-19 will experience it differently.
Most people who are vaccinated will experience mild symptoms. People are not vaccinated can expect more severe symptoms.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Feeling unusually tired
- Sore throat with or without runny nose
- Vomiting or feeling ill
- Cough
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of taste
- Trouble breathing
- Prolonged headache
If you get any symptoms of COVID-19, get tested.
No matter the result of your test, you should stay home until you are well again.
Prevention
To protect yourself, your family and the community from getting COVID-19 you must maintain good hygiene and practice social distancing (also called physical distancing).
Do
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Get tested if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.
- Wash your hands often using soap and water or hand sanitiser.
- Sneeze or cough into your arm or a tissue. Put the tissue in the bin.
- Wear a face mask when you can't socially distance or whenever face masks are required.
- Get vaccinated.
Do not
- Go near people if you are coughing or sneezing.
People most at risk of serious illness
Some people are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19. People need to take extra steps to protect themselves and those most at risk.
Those at greatest risk are: