COVID-19 FAQ
What are the symptoms and complications of COVID-19? Current symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, as well as new loss of taste or smell. Consult DPH's About COVID-19 and read CDC's Guide.
How does COVID19 spread? The virus spreads largely by respiratory droplets. These spread by coughing, sneezing, or through respiratory secretions.
The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others as much as 48 hours before they have symptoms. That is why it’s so important to practice social distancing. The CDC recommends patients who have symptoms or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 should be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer a risk of infecting others.
How long someone is actively sick can vary so the decision on when to release someone from isolation is made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with doctors, infection prevention and control experts, and public health officials and involves considering specifics of each situation including disease severity, illness signs and symptoms, and results of laboratory testing for that patient.
Current CDC guidance for when it is OK to release someone from isolation is made on a case by case basis and includes meeting all of the following requirements:
The patient is free from fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
The patient is no longer showing symptoms, including cough.
Someone who has been released from isolation is not considered to pose a risk of infection to others.
Is there a treatment? There is no specific antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Studies are currently ongoing to determine the efficacy of different antiviral treatments. People with COVID-19 can seek medical care to help relieve symptoms.
Is there a vaccine? Yes. For the latest updates on the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in Massachusetts, please visit Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Information.
Why are COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts being reported at the city/town level? As our testing efforts have greatly increased, we know that every community in Massachusetts has experienced the impact of coronavirus and it is important to make data available statewide by municipality.
As is standard public health practice, we will not release the number of positive cases if there are fewer than five cases in populations of 50,000 or less, in order to protect individual privacy.
Having the ability to look at this virus through the lens of its impact on specific cities and towns will help us identify potential “hot spots,” inform the public health response, assist cities and towns working to slow the spread of this disease, and help the state appropriately deploy resources.
Should I be tested? You should get a test if you develop any symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild, or you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. You may also need to be tested if you have recently traveled out of Massachusetts and do not meet one of the exemptions outlined in the Governor’s Travel Order. Visit www.mass.gov/GetTested to learn about testing for COVID-19 in Massachusetts.
You can also call 2-1-1, a 24-hour state-supported telephone hotline.
What should I do if someone in my household is quarantined? If someone in your household is identified for quarantine due to an exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19 or due to recent travel:
Establish a room (and a bathroom if possible) which only the quarantined person can use.
The quarantined person should not leave home at all, except for urgent medical care. If urgent care is needed, they should wear a surgical mask at all times while outside of the home. Do not take buses, subways or ride shares like Uber or Lyft. Use a personal vehicle or call an ambulance to get to the provider’s location. And call ahead to your provider so they can be ready.
All household members should practice strict personal hygiene. That means washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water. When you cough or sneeze, use a tissue every time. Then wash your hands.
Do not share plates, glasses, cups, or utensils. Wash all these items in a dishwasher or with dishwashing liquid and warm water.
Wipe down frequently used surfaces with a household disinfecting cleaner – especially if they’ve come in contact with bodily fluids like spit, mucus, urine, feces, or vomit.
Do not allow visitors in your home.
If the remaining household members are not contacts of a confirmed case and are not quarantined due to recent travel, then they are not required to quarantine at this time. However, all household members should practice strict personal hygiene in the home and socially distance as much as possible from the individual in quarantine. All household members should monitor their own health and call their healthcare provider if they develop symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough, shortness of breath). If the individual in quarantine does become a case, then the remaining household members may be identified as close contacts and would have to quarantine at that time.
In addition, the CDC has provided a list of recommendations for how to best care for someone at home which can be found on the CDC website.
Should I wear a mask when I go out in public? Yes! Governor Baker issued a revised Mask Order effective November 6, 2020 requiring all people in Massachusetts over 5 years of age to wear face masks or cloth face coverings in all public places, whether indoors or outdoors, even where they are able to maintain 6 feet of distance from others. Masks or face coverings are encouraged but not required for children between the ages of 2 and 5. Read the full DPH Guidance.
The revised order still allows for an exception for children under the age of 2 and for residents who cannot wear a face-covering due to a medical or disabling condition, but it allows employers to require employees to provide proof of such a condition. It also allows schools to require that students participating in in-person learning provide proof of such a medical or disabling condition.
It is critical to emphasize that social distancing measures remain in effect and keeping 6 feet apart from others remains important to slowing the spread of the virus.
Learn more on www.mass.gov/MaskUpMA
How will the phases of reopening be determined? Reopening is driven by public health data. Before Massachusetts can move forward with each phase in the reopening, key public health metrics must indicate it is appropriate to do so.
When will it be safe to move to the next phase? During each phase of reopening, public health metrics must indicate it is appropriate to move to the next phase. These metrics include the 7-day average of positive COVID-19 test rates, the 3-day average of COVID-19 patients in hospitals, the number of hospitals using surge capacity, and the 3-day average of COVID-19 related deaths.
How can we track these metrics? The COVID-19 Command Center publishes a weekly dashboard showing the status of the public health indicators that are most critical to reopening.
Is it safe to attend events and gatherings? Gatherings should be in accordance with Limits on Gatherings Orders and the Department of Public Health COVID-19 Prevention recommendations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Is it safe to travel/fly in the United States? A number of states have issued travel restrictions. The situation is rapidly changing. For national travel information, please visit www.travel.state.gov.
View the COVID-19 Travel Order for information for all travelers arriving to Massachusetts – including Massachusetts residents returning home.
Is it safe to travel internationally?All nonessential international travel is discouraged at this time. Please refer to the CDC website for ongoing data on worldwide transmission in different countries: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers.
What if I am pregnant? CDC-issued guidance for People Who Are Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Caring for Young Children, including resources on how to protect yourself and your family from COVID-19.
What if I am having anxiety and stress? The CDC has resources for Manage Anxiety & Stress, including information about reducing stress in yourself and others.
The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health has resources and tips for Maintaining Emotional Health & Well-Being During the COVID-19 Outbreak.
The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster, including disease outbreaks like COVID-19. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories.
What resources are available to me if I am struggling with issues related to sexual or domestic violence during this time? Help and support are available to you. Many services for people struggling with issues related to sexual and domestic violence are available remotely during this COVID-19 public health emergency. Visit the Domestic Violence Program and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Survivor Services page for more information.