COVID-19 is mostly spread by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough, or sneeze. The virus may spread to hands from a contaminated surface and then to the nose or mouth, causing infection. That’s why personal prevention practices (such as hand washing and staying home when sick) and environmental cleaning and disinfection are important practices covered in this Health and Safety Manual.
Any scenario in which many people gather together poses a risk for COVID-19 transmission. While children generally experience mild symptoms with COVID-19, and, to date, have not been found to contribute substantially to the spread of the virus, transmission from even those with mild or no apparent symptoms remains a risk.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
Fever or chills
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
New loss of taste or smell
Congestion or runny nose
Cough
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Sore throat
Headache
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
This list is not all possible symptoms. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Fever is determined by measuring a temperature of 100.4°F or greater, or feeling warm to the touch, or giving a history of feeling feverish.
While symptoms in children are similar to adults, children may have milder symptoms. Reported symptoms in children include cold-like symptoms, such as fever, runny nose, and cough. Children with COVID-19 may not initially present with fever and cough as often as adult patients.
Relying upon guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDS), the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), we have developed the following policies in order to take measures aimed at maintaining a safe environment that lowers the risk of viral spread.
