A novel coronavirus is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified. The virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is not the same as the coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans and cause mild illness, like the common cold.
The latest research has determined an incubation period of five days, with a range of 2-14 days. Similar to influenza and other respiratory viruses, transmission of COVID-19 spreads from person-to-person through respiratory droplets exchanged among close contacts (those who interact with a person at a distance closer than about 6 feet).
Information about the virus and its spread continues to evolve rapidly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is updating its website regularly as new information becomes available. Visit the CDC to learn more about:
The New York State Department of Health and Tompkins County Health Department also have a wide range of resources and timely information specific to living and working in New York state and Tompkins County.
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:
Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness. This list is not all inclusive. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
If you have any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:
*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.
To help curtail the spread of the coronavirus, public health officials recommend good personal hygiene practices, social distancing (minimize the number of interactions that provide the opportunity for the disease to spread), minimizing close contact among groups of people and avoiding contact with others if you feel ill.
Please follow these simple steps to protect yourself and others:
There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19. The CDC is working on a COVID-19 vaccine, but earliest estimates suggest that a vaccine is not expected on markets for at least a year.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough or shortness of breath, or if you have had close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (or who is currently being tested), please do the following:
Testing is appropriate for individuals who are concerned about symptoms and/or who have had exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. If you are tested, your health care provider will take swabs from your nose and throat, and depending on your symptoms, may take blood samples, X-rays or other tests. Samples are then sent to a lab for testing. It can take 24 hours to a week to receive the results, depending on the lab. While awaiting test results, the individual is expected to be in isolation.
Cornell Health is able to test students who have been pre-screened by a Cornell Health provider over the phone. Students can call 607-255-5155 to consult with a provider and be pre-screened for testing. Learn more on Cornell Health’s Coronavirus Updates webpage.
Free testing for community members is also available through Cayuga Health’s testing site at The Shops at Ithaca Mall. Information is available on the Tompkins County Health Department website.
All New York health plans – including Cornell's Student Health Plans (SHP and SHP+) – will cover COVID-19 testing at no cost to the plan member.
In Ithaca, the Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) serves as the lead health agency and takes primary responsibility for monitoring the health status of anyone who tests positive for COVID-19. When someone tests positive for COVID-19, the TCHD will conduct a contact investigation to help identify anyone who may have come into close contact with the individual, as defined by the CDC. If the confirmed case was at a large gathering or public location, the TCHD will notify the public so they are aware and can take appropriate action. TCHD posts data regularly about the number of COVID-19 cases in the county. Visit the TCHD website to view any new advisories related to positive cases.
While both isolation and quarantine refer to methods of preventing the spread of illness, they do not mean the same thing. Isolation refers to separating people who are sick from those who are not sick. Quarantine refers to separating people who are, or may have been, exposed to a pathogen, but are not showing signs of illness. Quarantine is used to minimize the spread of an illness during the incubation period, the time it takes for symptoms to emerge.
If your health care provider or public health officials have directed you to quarantine or isolate, it is important to follow their guidance to prevent the spread of illness. The Tompkins County Health Department has provided guidance on both quarantine and isolation.
Cornell Health provides medical consultation and pre-screened COVID-19 testing for students in Ithaca. Students who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive (or is awaiting test results) for COVID-19, should call Cornell Health at 607-255-5155 for consultation and to be pre-screened for testing.
The Tompkins County Health Department takes primary responsibility for monitoring the health status of students who are placed in isolation (i.e., when they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have symptoms of infection) and collaborates with Cornell Health and other campus partners as needed regarding care and support for student needs as they arise.
Following an announcement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo outlining additional steps that colleges, universities and other businesses should take to maximize social distancing and minimize the spread of COVID-19 across New York state, Cornell has implemented the following measures:
Ithaca campus Cornell Dining eateries are now serving take-out only and seating is not available. While some campus eateries will remain open through the spring and summer to accommodate students, faculty and staff who have approval to be on campus, service hours may change as demand is assessed. The Statler Hotel is closed at this time. The Café and Parliament at Cornell Tech will continue to offer to-go items and the dining area will be closed. The variety of offerings and the hours of operation will remain the same.
[dining]No. Wearing masks, gowns and gloves are all standard procedures that emergency responders routinely follow when treating any respiratory illness — such as colds, flu and other viral illnesses — and are not specific to COVID-19. Additionally, patients with respiratory illnesses may be asked to wear a mask to reduce the spread of droplets when they cough, sneeze or speak. This is similar to procedures in place at many hospitals and health care facilities, including Cornell Health.