What it means
A respiratory illness first identified in 2019 that caused a worldwide pandemic. It spreads mainly through the air from an infected person's breath, coughs and sneezes. Many people have mild cold- or flu-like illness; older adults and people with chronic illness or weak immune systems are at higher risk of pneumonia, blood clots and death. Vaccines lower the risk of severe illness.
For the nurse
Follow the agency's current transmission-based precautions, including an N95 respirator, eye protection, gown and gloves as directed. Watch oxygen saturation and breathing closely.
At a glance
| Spanish | COVID-19 |
|---|---|
| Also written | COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019 |
Related terms
vaccine
A product that trains the immune system to protect the body against a specific disease.
infectious disease
An illness caused by a germ such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite.
pneumonia
An infection of one or both lungs in which the air sacs fill with fluid or pus.
isolation precautions
Extra infection-control measures, added to standard precautions, for clients known or thought to have certain contagious infections.