COVID comes from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It spreads through tiny particles in the air that an infected person breathes out. These particles can stay in the air for hours, even after the person has left the room. You can catch the virus from someone who looks completely healthy, because many people spread it before they feel sick.
Example:
A coworker coughs in a meeting room at 9 AM, and you enter that same room at noon. The virus particles are still floating in the air, and you breathe them in without knowing.
Why COVID is Not Just Another Cold
A first infection might feel mild, but the virus can still harm the body. It enters the bloodstream and can reach different organs. It can affect the brain and lead to memory problems or trouble focusing. It can also raise the risk of long-term health issues, including heart problems and weaker immunity. Anyone, at any age, can face these problems even after a light or silent infection.
Example:
A healthy 30-year-old gets COVID with only mild symptoms for three days. Months later, they struggle to remember work tasks and feel their heart racing when climbing stairs.
Long COVID
Long COVID is the name for the lasting health problems that can show up after a COVID infection. These problems can affect:
- Heart
- Lungs
- Brain
- Stomach
- Skin
- Hormones
- And more
Many people with Long COVID deal with fatigue, brain fog, and pain that make daily life hard. Each new infection raises the chance of developing Long COVID. There is no cure for it yet, so the best protection is to avoid getting infected.
Example:
After their second COVID infection, someone can no longer work full-time due to extreme fatigue. Simple tasks like grocery shopping leave them exhausted for days.
COVID Symptoms
COVID can show up in many ways. Common symptoms include:
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Rashes
- Red or irritated eyes
- Fever
- Loss of smell
- Cough
Example:
- One person gets COVID and only has stomach problems and a rash.
- Another person in the same household gets a high fever and loses their sense of smell completely.
A person can spread the virus days before symptoms show. Some never feel sick at all but can still pass it to others.
COVID Prevention in 2025
If you want to lower your risk, here are the steps that help the most:
1. Wear a well-fitted N95 in indoor public places
Example: Wearing an N95 mask at the grocery store protects you from virus particles. The mask filters out 95% of airborne particles when worn correctly with no gaps.
2. Avoid crowded rooms with poor air flow
Example: Choosing outdoor dining instead of eating inside a packed restaurant. Meeting friends at a park rather than in someone’s small apartment.
3. Improve air quality with ventilation or HEPA purifiers
Example: Opening windows during family gatherings to let fresh air circulate. Running a HEPA air purifier in your bedroom while you sleep.
4. Stay up to date on vaccines to cut the risk of severe illness
Example: Getting the updated vaccine in fall before the winter surge begins. A vaccinated person who gets COVID is less likely to need hospitalization.
5. Use COVID tests before gatherings or after a possible exposure
Example: Testing negative on day 2 after exposure, then testing positive on day 5. Taking two tests, 48 hours apart, before visiting elderly relatives. Remember that early test results can be false negatives.
6. Stay home when you feel sick or test positive
Example: Working from home for 5 days after testing positive, even with mild symptoms. Canceling dinner plans when you wake up with a scratchy throat.
7. Protect yourself by avoiding repeat infections
Example: Someone who has had COVID twice starts wearing N95 masks to prevent a third infection. A family limits indoor activities during high transmission periods to avoid reinfection.