COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 is mainly spread through small droplets that are too small to see but come from the nose and mouth of an infected person when they sneeze, cough, or talk. These droplets scatter and can reach the eyes, nose, or mouth of another person, causing the infection to spread. Another way that COVID-19 can spread is when someone who has the virus sneezes or coughs, and the infected droplets fall onto surfaces around them. If someone touches contaminated surfaces and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth, they could become infected too.

Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms 2 to 14 days after being exposed to someone with COVID-19.  Symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chills
• Headache,
• Muscle pain
• Congestion / runny nose
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Loss of taste or smell
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea these symptoms are less common.
• No symptoms (asymptomatic)

For more information, speak with your health care provider and visit Symptoms of COVID-19 | COVID-19 | CDC  .

Anyone can get COVID-19, but some people are more likely than others to get very sick.

This includes older people, those who are immunocompromised (weakened immune systems), have certain disabilities  , or who have certain medical conditions  .

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older get at least one dose of the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.
• Doses and timing of doses are different for people who are 65 years of age and older,  those who are  moderately or severely immunocompromised (weakened immune system)  , and young children. 
• For questions about your COVID-19 vaccine, like when you are considered to be up to date, talk with your health care provider and visit Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine | COVID-19 | CDC  , and Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines | COVID-19 | CDC  .

The CDC defines Long COVID as signs, symptoms, and conditions that continue or develop after COVID-19 infection. These conditions can last weeks, months, or years. People not vaccinated against COVID-19 and who become infected may have a higher risk of developing Long COVID or post-COVID conditions compared to people previously vaccinated. If you are concerned about Long COVID, speak with your health care provider and visit Long COVID Basics | COVID-19 | CDC  .

In New Jersey, face masks are no longer required in most outdoor and indoor settings.

The Department of Health recommends wearing a face mask whenever you have symptoms of COVID-19, tested positive, were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19, or live in a county with elevated or "high" COVID community levels.

In addition, businesses may continue to require face coverings for employees, customers, and guests. Businesses are not permitted to restrict the use of face masks by their staff, customers, or visitors.

You can buy self-tests (at-home tests) online or in pharmacies and retail stores. If you have health insurance, it may reimburse the cost of purchasing self-tests.

The CDC maintains a website that allows you to find free testing near you  .

If you test positive for COVID-19, or have respiratory virus symptoms follow these steps to avoid spreading it:

• Stay home and isolate yourself from others, including those you live with.
• Resume normal activities only after 24 hours of improved symptoms and no fever without using fever-reducing medication.
• Wear a mask and take extra precautions for 5 days after returning to activities.
• Consider the contagious periods: COVID-19 (5-10 days), flu (5-7 days), RSV (3-8 days). Those with weakened immune systems may be contagious longer.
• During outbreaks in settings like workplaces or congregate housing, follow extended isolation guidelines to prevent further spread.

Follow CDC guidance   for more information.

Though the State of New Jersey is not maintaining a statewide test locator, there are a number of resources to help you find COVID-19 testing:

• The CDC maintains a website that allows you to find free testing near you  .
• Pharmacies with testing and medications in the federal Test-to-Treat program  .
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) provide care for those who are uninsured and do not have the ability to pay . Please visit the FQHC Finder to contact the nearest FQHC to see how they may be able to assist you.
• Your local health department may also be able to assist you in finding testing.

Home test kits are available in pharmacies, grocery stores, and other retail locations.

Before You Throw Out "Expired" Tests: Check to see if your COVID-19 tests' expiration dates have been extended  .

Medicaid enrollees may still receive free at-home tests. Please check with your insurer for more information.

If you want to find out if you are currently infected with COVID-19, get an over-the-counter at-home test or visit a free testing site near you  . Take a test if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

There are two types of tests:

PCR (Polymerase chain reaction)

• The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test detects the virus's genetic material.
• It is highly accurate and considered the gold standard.
• Results are usually available within 24-48 hours.

Antigen

• Antigen tests detect specific proteins from the virus.
• They offer quick results but slightly less accurate than PCR tests.
• Results are often available within 15-30 minutes.

According to the World Health Organization  , antibiotics do not work against viruses; they only work on bacterial infections. COVID-19 is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not work. Antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

In hospitals, physicians will sometimes use antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections, which can be a complication of COVID-19 in severely ill patients. They should only be used as directed by a physician to treat a bacterial infection.

If you test positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms, you may be eligible for antiviral treatment. It is particularly recommended if you are at higher risk of severe illness. This includes older adults, unvaccinated individuals, or those with underlying health conditions. Always consult a health care provider to assess your situation and determine the best course of action.

The Treatment Locator (hhs.gov)   can help you find a location that offers testing and treatment, or a pharmacy where you can refill your prescription.

On June 27, 2024, based on the guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older receive the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine regardless of whether they have previously received a COVID-19 vaccine. This is to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 during the upcoming fall and winter. This recommendation will come into effect as soon as the new vaccines are available.

Updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer are expected to be available in fall 2024. For more information, visit cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-t0627-vaccine-recommendations.html  .

To find COVID-19 vaccine locations near you, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233.

To schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine, reach out to the location where you normally receive vaccines such as the flu shot. Now that the vaccines are available commercially, they may be available at the locations other vaccines are administered. Check with your health care provider, pharmacist or community health center to see if they have the COVID-19 vaccine. To schedule an appointment, visit the vaccine provider's online scheduling service. If you have a question about scheduling your appointment, contact the vaccination provider directly. Some locations might accept walk-ins.

Visit vaccines.gov or contact your health care provider, Local Health Department, or Federally Qualified Health Centers to see if you qualify for free or low-cost vaccines.

If you or someone you are caring for is homebound, you may request an in-home vaccination appointment by filling out this form in English or in Spanish.

To locate in-home vaccination services or a provider, you can also contact your health care, home care, or hospice provider and the following:

• Medicare Hotline at 1-800-633-4227(TTY 1-877-486-2048), dial 2-1-1 to speak with someone, or search for online vaccination resources by typing 211 into your internet browser.
• Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) 1-888-677-1199. You can visit Eldercare Locator or call 1-800-677-1116.

For the latest number of COVID-19 vaccines administered by county, race/ethnicity, age, and gender, refer to the vaccination overview tab on the Department of Health's COVID-19 dashboard.

The dashboard also includes an estimate of how many out of state New Jersey residents have been vaccinated. Limited data is available, so this number is an estimate and is not reflected in county, racial, or demographic breakdowns.

• To date, hundreds of millions of people have safely received a COVID-19 vaccine under the most intense vaccine safety monitoring in United States history. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is safer   and a more dependable way to build immunity (protection) than getting sick.
• COVID-19 vaccine ingredients   are considered safe for most people. Also, there are specific safety monitoring systems for the general population  .
• COVID-19 vaccines are effective , and the benefits of vaccination continue to outweigh any known or potential risks.
• Yes, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for, people who are pregnant  , breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant now, as well as people who might become pregnant in the future  . People who get a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy have a higher risk of complications that can affect their pregnancy and baby, including preterm   (born earlier than 37 weeks of pregnancy) or stillbirths.

Some people have side effects   after COVID-19 vaccination, while others may not. Side effects such as soreness at the injection site and fever are common and tend to be mild; they should go away within a few days.  Severe allergic reactions are rare.

COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA   in any way.

Keeping track of the vaccines you and your family members have received is an important part of staying up to date with vaccines. For details on how to keep an accurate vaccine record for yourself and your loved ones, visit NJIIS. You can also download the Docket® app from the App store   or Google Play   in English or Spanish depending on your smartphone settings.

• For information on New Jersey’s data, view the COVID-19 Dashboard.
• For CDC’s data, visit CDC COVID Data Tracker: Home  .

If you do not have health insurance, or lose coverage, you may be eligible for free or low-cost coverage through NJ FamilyCare, New Jersey's publicly funded health insurance program. In addition, individuals may purchase health insurance on the State's new health exchange, GetCoveredNJ  , and may be eligible for subsidy assistance and premium tax credits.

Medicaid and other health insurance must provide coverage of prescription drug refills even when the covered person has not yet reached the scheduled refill date. Learn more here.

New Jersey has an online application and screening tool, NJHelps  , that can be used to see if you are eligible for food assistance (SNAP), cash assistance (WFNJ/TANF or WFNJ/GA), and health Insurance (NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid). From there, you can apply for services or learn about additional resources.

To learn more about how to apply for affordable health coverage, visit NJfamilycare.org  , which provides coverage for kids and certain low-income parents.

Visit getcovered.nj.gov   to sign up for insurance coverage, compare plans, and see if you qualify for financial help.

To learn more about NJ SNAP and apply for help buying groceries, you can also visit https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/njsnap/  .

To apply for support through the NJ WIC Program (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), applicants can visit https://nj.gov/health/fhs/wic/participants/find-wic and contact their local WIC office by phone. During the coronavirus outbreak, new applicants will be assessed, certified and issued benefits remotely.

Additionally, the ConnectingNJ   website can help you connect with the best health and social resources available in your local community.

Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ) coordinates the statewide Legal Services system, which provides free legal assistance to low-income New Jerseyans for their civil legal problems.

For free legal assistance, visit their site   or contact their hotline online at www.LSNJLawHotline.org   and over the phone at 1-888-LSNJ-LAW (1-888-576-5529).

The COVID-19 eviction moratorium in New Jersey has ended, but there are critical protections for renter households who experienced economic hardships during the pandemic. Learn more on the Office of Eviction Prevention's website  .

Those with questions about previously submitted NJ Eviction and Homelessness Prevention Certification forms can email evictionprevention@dca.nj.gov or call (609) 376-0810.

Visit the Office of Eviction Prevention's website