COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, a flu, or pneumonia, but COVID-19 can also harm other parts of the body.

• Most people who catch COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill.
• Older adults and people who have certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
• Hundreds of thousands of people have died from COVID-19 in the United States.
• Vaccines against COVID-19 are safe and effective.
  
  [Source: CDC Basics of COVID-19]

   

  Variants
  The Delta variant causes more infections and spreads faster than earlier forms of the virus that causes COVID-19. It might cause more severe illness than previous strains in unvaccinated people.

   

  • Vaccines continue to reduce a person’s risk of contracting the virus that cause COVID-19, including this variant.
  • Vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death, including against this variant.
  • Fully vaccinated people with breakthrough infections from this variant appear to be infectious for a shorter period.
  
  More information on variance from the CDC can be found here.
  
  Obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine for those who are eligible is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread and mitigate the risk of severe illness. More information from the CDC can be found here.

  
  Finally, a database of FAQ’s from the CDC can be found here.