Coronavirus and COVID-19

Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath — similar to the flu. They've also experienced chills or shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and loss of sense of smell or taste. While information so far indicates that most cases are mild, symptoms appear to be more severe in the elderly and people with chronic conditions. Most people who get it will not need to visit their doctor and will recover on their own.

COVID-19 causes a mild illness in many people. But some people may be at higher risk for having severe symptoms from COVID-19. A recent study found that 88% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients had more than one chronic condition,* and other factors can also increase your risk. You may be at high risk if you:

• Are 65 or older
• Live in a long-term care facility
• Have an ongoing serious health condition, such as:
  • Lung disease or asthma
  • Heart conditions
  • High blood pressure
  • Severe obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Kidney or liver disease 
  • A weakened immune system
    
  • Cancer treatment
• Smoke or vape tobacco/nicotine or marijuana (Kaiser Permanente members can get help quitting with a personalized online plan or from a wellness coach by phone)

If you’re pregnant, it may be safest to consider yourself at higher risk because information on how COVID-19 affects pregnant women is limited. To learn more about how the virus could affect you or your care, visit kp.org/maternity-covid.  

If you have an ongoing health condition, here are some ways you can help keep yourself safe.

• Stay home as much as you can.
• Have supplies on hand, like food, household items, medical supplies, and over-the-counter and prescription medications. 
• Routinely clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, and phones.
• Limit visitors.
• When you leave home, keep 6 feet of space between yourself and others.
• Wear a cloth face cover when you’re near other people.
• Wear gloves or carry tissues or paper towels with you to protect your hands when you need to touch things like door handles, shopping carts, and handrails.
• Don’t touch your face, and wash your hands often.
• Have a plan in case you get sick

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 — such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath — call your doctor.

*Safiya Richardson et al., “Presenting Characteristics, Comorbidities, and Outcomes Among 5700 Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 in the New York City Area,” Journal of the American Medical Association, April 22, 2020.

Kaiser Permanente is prepared to test patients for COVID-19 if testing is necessary, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health agency criteria. If you're worried that you or a family member are showing symptoms of COVID-19, please call us first before coming in, as you need a referral from a Kaiser Permanente doctor and an appointment to get tested. First, we recommend checking the best ways to get care in your area.

Coronavirus is spread from person to person — mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) — through tiny droplets made when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It’s possible, but not likely, 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 possibly eyes. It’s important to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

To help protect yourself and others when you leave home for groceries or other essential items, you can make a simple face mask using towels, scarves, or T-shirts. If you have a sewing machine, you can make masks using our step-by-step instructions or instructional video. If you have an appointment and need to come in to one of our facilities, we encourage you to wear your mask.

COVID-19 is a new disease, so information on how the virus affects pregnant women is limited. Based on the most current information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pregnant women don’t appear to be more likely to get infected with COVID-19 than other people. Current reports also show that pregnant women who get the virus don’t have more severe symptoms than the general public. At this time, we don’t know if the virus can be transmitted during pregnancy or childbirth.

For more information on how COVID-19 could affect you or your care if you’re pregnant, visit kp.org/maternity-covid. You’ll find a detailed breakdown of what we know about COVID-19’s effect on pregnancy and newborn care, as well as changes to your pregnancy care.