Coronavirus
Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause either mild illness, such as a cold, or can make people sick with pneumonia.
If you are a medical provider, see our 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) — Information for Providers page.
2019 Novel Coronavirus
Recently, a novel (new) coronavirus was detected in thousands of people worldwide, primarily in China. The infection, called COVID-19, can be spread from person to person. A “novel coronavirus” is a strain that has not been previously found in humans.
Five people have been diagnosed with this novel coronavirus in New York City (see up-to-date case count). If you are experiencing fever, cough and/or shortness of breath, and traveled to an area where COVID-19 is spreading, call or go to your health care provider. Your provider will work with the Health Department to determine if you need COVID-19 testing.
There are no specific vaccines or treatments available for this novel coronavirus, or any other coronavirus. However, medication and vaccine research is underway.
If you are planning any travel outside the U.S., visit CDC’s Travelers’ Health webpage for the latest travel health notices.
Symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough and/or shortness of breath. An infection can result in death, but that is a rare outcome.
Prevention
You should go about your daily life, but take the same precautions that you would during cold and flu season:
- Get your flu shot — it’s not too late. Although the flu shot will not protect you from COVID-19, it will help prevent the flu which has similar symptoms to this coronavirus.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing — do not use your hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
- Stay home if you are not feeling well.
Returning Travelers
If you recently returned to New York from China, Iran, South Korea, Italy or Japan, review the following documents for information about self-monitoring and how and when you can go back to work or school.
- Doctor’s Note to Excuse Absence from Work or School (PDF)
Other Languages: 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Español | 한국어 | 日本語 | Русский |
Kreyòl ayisyen | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو | فارسى
Case Count in NYC
Testing to determine whether the pending cases are confirmed as positive or negative can take hours or days, depending on what lab performs the test.
People Under Investigation in NYC
Case Count in NYC
Testing to determine whether the pending cases are confirmed as positive or negative can take hours or days, depending on what lab performs the test.
As of March 7, 2020 at 5:30 p.m.:
| People Under Investigation in NYC | |
|---|---|
| Positive | |
| Negative | |
| Pending | |
| Total |
* “Non-NYC resident” means someone who does not live in NYC but was tested for the infection or cared for in a hospital in NYC. These people may not be included as NYC cases in national case counts of the novel coronavirus.
Additional Resources for Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Commissioner’s Order To Test Educators, First Responders and Health Care Workers for COVID-19 (PDF, March 5)
- Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Factsheet (PDF, March 5)
Other Languages: 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Español | Русский | 한국어 | Kreyòl ayisyen | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو | فارسى | 日本語 - Travel Poster (PDF)
Other Languages: Español | 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Русский | Kreyòl ayisyen | 한국어 | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو | فارسى | 日本語 - Stay Healthy Poster (PDF)
Other Languages: 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Español | Русский | Kreyòl ayisyen | 한국어 | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو | فارسى | 日本語 - Cover Your Cough (PDF)
Other Languages: 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Español | 한국어 | Русский | Kreyòl ayisyen | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو - Wash Your Hands Poster for Adults (PDF)
Other Languages: 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Español | Русский | Kreyòl ayisyen | 한국어 | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو | فارسى | 日本語
Guidance for Communities
- Letter to Community Partners from Commissioner of Health (PDF, February 19)
- Commercial or Residential Building General Disinfection Guidance (PDF, March 5)
- Non-Healthcare Setting General Disinfection Guidance (PDF, March 6)
- Homeless Shelter Interim Guidance (PDF, March 4)
- Congregate Setting Interim Guidance (PDF, March 4)
- Schools and Families Guidance (PDF, February 27)
- Business and Employer Guidance (PDF, February 14)
- Update for NYC Businesses (PDF, March 5)
- College and University Interim Guidance (PDF, February 9)
Other Coronaviruses
Human coronaviruses usually cause mild-to-moderate illness in people. Symptoms can include:
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Fever
To reduce your risk of infection:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Two human coronaviruses — MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV — can frequently cause severe illness. MERS symptoms usually include fever, cough, and shortness of breath which often progress to pneumonia. About three out of every 10 patients reported with MERS have died. MERS cases continue to occur, primarily in the Arabian Peninsula.
SARS symptoms often include fever, chills and body aches. These symptoms usually progress to pneumonia. No human cases of SARS have been reported anywhere in the world since 2004.
MERS and SARS are different coronaviruses from the 2019 outbreak that started in China.
Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause either mild illness, such as a cold, or can make people sick with pneumonia.
If you are a medical provider, see our 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) — Information for Providers page.
2019 Novel Coronavirus
Recently, a novel (new) coronavirus was detected in thousands of people worldwide, primarily in China. The infection, called COVID-19, can be spread from person to person. A “novel coronavirus” is a strain that has not been previously found in humans.
Five people have been diagnosed with this novel coronavirus in New York City (see up-to-date case count). If you are experiencing fever, cough and/or shortness of breath, and traveled to an area where COVID-19 is spreading, call or go to your health care provider. Your provider will work with the Health Department to determine if you need COVID-19 testing.
There are no specific vaccines or treatments available for this novel coronavirus, or any other coronavirus. However, medication and vaccine research is underway.
If you are planning any travel outside the U.S., visit CDC’s Travelers’ Health webpage for the latest travel health notices.
Symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough and/or shortness of breath. An infection can result in death, but that is a rare outcome.
Prevention
You should go about your daily life, but take the same precautions that you would during cold and flu season:
- Get your flu shot — it’s not too late. Although the flu shot will not protect you from COVID-19, it will help prevent the flu which has similar symptoms to this coronavirus.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing — do not use your hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
- Stay home if you are not feeling well.
Returning Travelers
If you recently returned to New York from China, Iran, South Korea, Italy or Japan, review the following documents for information about self-monitoring and how and when you can go back to work or school.
- Doctor’s Note to Excuse Absence from Work or School (PDF)
Other Languages: 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Español | 한국어 | 日本語 | Русский |
Kreyòl ayisyen | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو | فارسى
Case Count in NYC
Testing to determine whether the pending cases are confirmed as positive or negative can take hours or days, depending on what lab performs the test.
People Under Investigation in NYC
As of March 6, 2020 at noon:
| NYC Residents | Non-NYC Residents* | |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | 4 | 1 |
| Negative | 24 | 2 |
| Pending | 55 | 8 |
| Total | 83 | 11 |
* “Non-NYC resident” means someone who does not live in NYC but was tested for the infection or cared for in a hospital in NYC. These people may not be included as NYC cases in national case counts of the novel coronavirus.
Additional Resources for Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Commissioner’s Order To Test Educators, First Responders and Health Care Workers for COVID-19 (PDF, March 5)
- Novel Coronavirus Outbreak Factsheet (PDF, March 5)
Other Languages: 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Español | Русский | 한국어 | Kreyòl ayisyen | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو | فارسى | 日本語 - Travel Poster (PDF)
Other Languages: Español | 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Русский | Kreyòl ayisyen | 한국어 | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو | فارسى | 日本語 - Stay Healthy Poster (PDF)
Other Languages: 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Español | Русский | Kreyòl ayisyen | 한국어 | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو | فارسى | 日本語 - Cover Your Cough (PDF)
Other Languages: 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Español | 한국어 | Русский | Kreyòl ayisyen | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو - Wash Your Hands Poster for Adults (PDF)
Other Languages: 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Español | Русский | Kreyòl ayisyen | 한국어 | বাংলা | Italiano | Polski | ײִדיש | العربية | Français | اردو | فارسى | 日本語
Guidance for Communities
- Letter to Community Partners from Commissioner of Health (PDF, February 19)
- Commercial or Residential Building General Disinfection Guidance (PDF, March 5)
- Non-Healthcare Setting General Disinfection Guidance (PDF, March 6)
- Homeless Shelter Interim Guidance (PDF, March 4)
- Congregate Setting Interim Guidance (PDF, March 4)
- Schools and Families Guidance (PDF, February 27)
- Business and Employer Guidance (PDF, February 14)
- Update for NYC Businesses (PDF, March 5)
- College and University Interim Guidance (PDF, February 9)
Other Coronaviruses
Human coronaviruses usually cause mild-to-moderate illness in people. Symptoms can include:
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Fever
To reduce your risk of infection:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Two human coronaviruses — MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV — can frequently cause severe illness. MERS symptoms usually include fever, cough, and shortness of breath which often progress to pneumonia. About three out of every 10 patients reported with MERS have died. MERS cases continue to occur, primarily in the Arabian Peninsula.
SARS symptoms often include fever, chills and body aches. These symptoms usually progress to pneumonia. No human cases of SARS have been reported anywhere in the world since 2004.
MERS and SARS are different coronaviruses from the 2019 outbreak that started in China.
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/coronavirus.page
