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Go to accessible site Close modal windowIf you don't have a fever and your eyes aren't itchy, it's probably the common cold, not COVID-19.
It's probably allergies -- not COVID-19 -- if you don't have a fever but your eyes are itchy, you're sneezing, and you have a runny nose.
Experts say testing of a vaccine for the new coronavirus will be much faster than for a typical vaccine. But it will still last 12 to 18 months, at best.
Scientists studying an experimental vaccine for the new coronavirus have gotten a boost from research on similar coronaviruses that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
The companies working on vaccines are also looking at ways to ramp up production quickly. One company says that once a vaccine is approved, it could put out 100 million doses a year if it focused all its efforts on that one product.
Experts say the new coronavirus could turn out to be seasonal, like colds and the flu. A vaccine might not be ready until after the current pandemic is over, but it may be vital if the cycle begins again.
Numerous clinical trials are under way to explore treatments used for other conditions that could fight COVID-19 and to develop new ones.
Unless you have serious symptoms or your condition gets worse quickly, you can most likely treat your symptoms at home, like you would for a cold or the flu. Most people can recover from COVID-19 without the need for hospital care. Your doctor can help you decide whether it's best to stay home or go the hospital.
Right now, scientists are trying to develop new medicines and test some existing antiviral drugs to see if they can help in the treatment of COVID-19.
If your symptoms are mild enough to recover at home, you should:
The most important thing to do is to avoid infecting other people.
If you have serious symptoms, like trouble breathing, or if your symptoms get worse suddenly, you may need to go to the hospital for treatment. If you think you need help right away, call your doctor's office or hospital and tell them you're on the way and that you think you might have COVID-19. That will help them prepare for your arrival.
Doctors will check you for more serious problems. They might:
You may get oxygen to breathe through two small tubes that go just inside your nostrils. In very serious cases, doctors will connect you to a machine that can breathe for you, called a ventilator.
You may also get fluids through an IV to keep you from getting dehydrated. Doctors will also closely monitor your breathing.
If you have serious symptoms, like trouble breathing, or if your symptoms get worse suddenly, you may need to go to the hospital for treatment. If you think you need help right away, call your doctor's office or hospital and tell them you're on the way and that you think you might have COVID-19. That will help them prepare for your arrival.
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