What You Need to Know About COVID-19
Lincoln P. Miller, MD, Section Chief of Infectious Disease, RWJBarnabas Health
What is a novel coronavirus?
A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not the same as the coronavirus that commonly circulates among humans and causes mild illness like the common cold.
What is COVID-19?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person that was first identified in Wuhan, China.
How does COVID-19 spread?
COVID-19 spreads from person to person. The virus is thought to spread between people who are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It may also be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes; however, this is not the main way the virus is thought to spread.