FAQs

FAQs

COVID-19 is the same type of coronavirus as MERS and SARs, both of which originated in bats. Many of the first people to contract COVID-19 in Wuhan either worked or frequently shopped at a large seafood and live-animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread.

February 29, 2020

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms of COVID-19 include fever greater than 100.4°F (38.0°C), chills, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sudden loss of sense of smell or taste, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, nausea or diarrhea, muscle or body aches, and headache. These symptoms typically begin gradually.

Not all affected individuals will exhibit all symptoms, and there is now evidence that up to 40 percent of infected individuals will have no symptoms at all. If you are concerned about symptoms you are experiencing, call MIT Medical’s COVID-19 hotline at 617-253-4865 to speak with a clinician and get advice about what to do next.

August 20, 2020

The CDC defines “close contact” as either: 

1.  being “within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) for at least 15 cumulative minutes within a 24-hour period” of an individual who has been positively diagnosed with the virus or
2.  “direct contact with infectious secretions.” Examples include sharing eating or drinking utensils, close conversation, or kissing, hugging, and other direct physical contact.

“Close contact” does not include activities such as walking by a person or briefly sitting across a waiting room or office.

January 30, 2020

The risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 increases steadily with age. Eight out of 10 COVID-19 deaths reported in the United States have been among individuals aged 65 years and older. Certain underlying medical conditions also increase your risk for severe illness. These include type 2 diabetes, serious heart conditions, sickle cell disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), chronic kidney disease, immune deficiency, and obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Other medical conditions, such as asthma, smoking, and pregnancy, may also increase an individual’s risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

September 8, 2020

Yes, evidence indicates that people who are infected with 2019-nCoV may be at their most contagious in the 48–72 hours before symptoms are noticeable. In addition, it is now estimated that up to 25 percent of infected individuals remain asymptomatic and may unwittingly infect others. For that reason, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending that individuals wear non-medical-grade, cloth face coverings in public settings where it may be difficult to maintain social distancing, such as grocery stores. If everyone wears masks, this might help prevent those who are unknowingly infected from spreading the illness.

June 8, 2020

While it is theoretically possible to It may also be possible to get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching your own mouth, nose, or eyes, this is not the main way the virus spreads.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that, in laboratory tests, the virus was detectable for up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel surfaces, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to four hours on copper. But a “detectable” amount of virus may not be enough to cause infection. In fact, most viral particles die relatively quickly outside of the body. Even on stainless steel and plastic, the half-life of the virus — the length of time it takes for half of the microbes in a given sample to die — was 5.6 and 6.8 hours respectively. On cardboard it was less than four hours.

While mail and packages could have small amounts of infectious viral particles on them, the risk is relatively low. To be safe, wash your hands after opening packages or mail. Similarly, any small risk from take-out containers can be mitigated by transferring the food to your own dishes, disposing of the packaging in which it was delivered, and washing your hands before eating.

Probably not. While we are still learning more about the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. 

This is not surprising based on what we know about the varying paths organisms take to make people sick. Respiratory viruses, like COVID-19, typically attach to cells in places like the lungs and cannot survive the acidic environment of the digestive system. In contrast, the microorganisms that cause digestive illnesses, like norovirus and salmonella, survive the acid in stomachs and make people ill by attaching to the cells inside people’s guts. 

In addition, any viral particles landing on food would not be expected to remain viable for long. Unlike bacteria, viruses cannot grow inside food, so any amount of virus in food would diminish over time, rather than grow.

When it comes to food and COVID-19, the biggest risk is contact with other people — like cashiers, restaurant staff, or people delivering food. Minimizing or completely eliminating those contacts will greatly reduce any risk associated with food.

No, there is no there is no recommendation from any public health agency that members of the general public wear N95 masks.

An N95 mask, or an “N95 particulate-filtering facepiece respirator,” is a medical-grade respirator that is designed to fit tightly around the nose and mouth. When worn correctly, it forms a tight seal on the wearer’s face and blocks out at least 95% of small airborne particles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While very uncomfortable to wear, this type of heavy-duty mask is recommended for any healthcare provider who is caring for a patient with an illness that may be transmitted through particles or droplets in the air. 

When it comes to face coverings, you should still pay attention to layers, filtration, and fit. And there are lots of ways to elevate your “mask game” without buying an N95. Read more: New variants of the virus are here; do I need a better mask?

March 16, 2021

If you have been exposed to a person with COVID-19, it could take up to 14 days to know if you will get sick. During that time, it will be important for you to self-monitor for symptoms and practice social distancing to avoid infecting other people if you do have the virus: 

• Take your temperature twice a day, morning and night (and at least 30 minutes after eating, drinking, or exercising and 6 hours after taking any temperature-lowering medication, such as Ibuprofen or aspirin). Write down your temperature in a log.
• Be alert for any other symptoms of COVID-19, including cough or difficulty breathing.
• Call your healthcare provider if you have a cough, trouble breathing, or a fever (temperature of 100.4°F or 38°C). DO NOT go to an emergency room, urgent care clinic, or healthcare provider’s office without calling ahead.
• Stay home as much as possible, and avoid close contact with other people, even people you live with.

April 7, 2020

Maybe. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Taking into account your individual risk of complications from contracting the virus, such as age or underlying medical conditions, it may make sense to suspend house-cleaning services during the pandemic. However, recognizing that house-cleaners are often immigrants and low-wage workers, you may want to consider continuing to pay them if you can afford to do so. 

If you do continue to use house-cleaning services, it’s important to take precautions that protect both you and the cleaners. Even though they are there to make your house clean, they could still transmit the virus to you, or you to them, if either of you were infected. Make sure your cleaners don a fresh pair of disposable gloves when they enter your home and change them often while they are working. Stay at least six feet away from your cleaners while they are in your home. Ask them not to come if they feel sick, or if you become ill. You might also think about trying to limit the amount of time they spend in your home each time they visit; perhaps more time-consuming cleaning jobs, like washing windows, can be done during a separate visit. 

There’s no way to remove all risks associated with having people come into your house to clean, but being vigilant about following these precautions will mitigate these risks if you continue to use house-cleaning services during this time.