When it comes to Coronavirus concerns, K has you covered

To protect yourself and those around you, you can:

• Wash your hands often using soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Keep a 6-feet distance between yourself and other people.
• Wear a mask around others, making sure to cover your mouth and nose.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue immediately.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Wear masks in public settings and when around people outside of your household.

If you feel any of the symptoms associated with Coronavirus, you should:

• Speak to a doctor—you can do so in the K app
• Stay home, except to get medical care. Call ahead before visiting your doctor
• If you must step outside, or if you are near other people, wear a mask to avoid spreading germs
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
• Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and eat enough food to maintain energy

Watch out for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. These signs include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or sleepiness, or bluish lips or face. If you develop these, get medical attention immediately.

Coronavirus spreads mainly from person to person, typically through respiratory droplets expelled from coughing, sneezing or talking. It is possible, but rarer, to get coronavirus from touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching your own mouth, nose or eyes. 

There is currently no cure for COVID-19. There are, however, two coronavirus vaccines approved by the FDA that will help protect you from getting the virus. Additionally, the anti-viral medication remdesivir (Veklury) is approved for COVID-19 treatment in hospitalized patients.

The FDA approved vaccines for COVID-19 are based on mRNA technology, and therefore contain synthetic mRNA designed to encode the instructions for a specific protein produced by the coronavirus. In addition these vaccines contain some fatty acids, some salts, and some sugar which together create particles which stabilize the mRNA until it is administered. For more information on the exact ingredients, click here.

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has prioritized the limited supply of currently approved vaccines, as follows: 

• Health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities
• Adults ages 75 and older and frontline essential workers.
• Adults between 65 and 75, those between 16 and 64 with high-risk medical conditions and other essential workers.
• The general population.

The precise timeline for these stages is currently unknown, as this depends on the manufacturing rate and availability of vaccines.