It has been six months since the first U.S. Novel Coronavirus 2019 case was confirmed in Washington State on January 21, 2020. During this time we have learned a lot about COVID-19. But many aspects of this virus are still unknown such as how many virus particles must a person be exposed to before they get sick.
We do know that the virus spreads by respiratory droplets. Coughing, sneezing, singing, talking and breathing release droplets. Infected people can spread the virus up to 48 hours before they get symptoms. Some people become infected but do not develop symptoms and it is unknown what role these people have in viral spread.
The most effective ways to protect yourself include washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available, and physically distancing yourself from others. Wearing a face covering when in public and unable to maintain a physical distance of six feet does offer protection against the spread of COVID-19. Because it’s possible to have coronavirus without showing symptoms, it is best to wear a face covering even if you think you are healthy. A mask worn over the nose and mouth helps contain small droplets that come out of your mouth and/or nose when you talk, sneeze or cough. If you have COVID-19 and are not showing symptoms, a face mask reduces your chance of spreading the infection to others. If you are healthy, a mask may protect you from larger droplets from people around you.
Coronavirus.iowa.gov provides current statistics about COVID-19 activity in each county, resources, guidance and Test Iowa information. County case numbers may fluctuate. Cases are assigned to counties by zip code. When local public health departments complete the case interview, the county of residence is verified and the county case number is adjusted accordingly.
