NC Coronavirus Q&A: We answer questions about grocery stores, stimulus checks and more

With more cases of COVID-19 coronavirus reported in North Carolina and Governor Roy Cooper declaring a state of emergency, there are lots of questions about testing, grocery shopping, treatment and more. We’ll do our best here to answer those questions for you. (If you have questions you want answered, enter them at this site: bit.ly/virusnc).

This is a rapidly evolving story so we will continue to update current answers here as information changes, and also answer new questions. Check back often.

Updated: April 28, 2020

Q: Where can you be tested for coronavirus?

A: If you think you may have the coronavirus, call your physician or the COVID-19 Helpline at 1-866-462-3821. In Wake County, there’s a hotline devoted to answering questions about coronavirus, including when and where to get tested: 919-856-7044. But be aware that as of March 24, both North Carolina and Wake County officials are prioritizing testing for seniors and for those with very serious symptoms. If your symptoms are mild, you should call your doctor for guidance but you will likely be advised to treat them at home.

Q: What do we do to protect ourselves from the virus?

A: In the beginning, health officials recommended similar precautions you would take to protect yourself from the seasonal flu: wash your hands with soap and water often (for at least 20 seconds — it takes about 30 seconds for the whole process, and water temperature doesn’t matter), use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available, cough or sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands and avoid touching your face.

Staying at home and social-distancing when out have also been strongly emphasized as a way to slow the spread of the virus. North Carolina and individual counties have their own rules about this means. During current stay-at-home orders, the state prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people (with distancing), but Wake County rules, for example, limit gatherings to those living inside your household. If you must go into stores or other situations where people are present, stay at least six feet away from them.

More recent guidance from health officials recommends wearing cloth face masks in public. Cloth masks seem to offer some protection, and as of late April, many places are requiring them. It is not recommended that members of the general public buy and use medical grade face masks, as those should be reserved for health care workers and first responders.

Q: What are the symptoms of coronavirus, and how do symptoms progress?

A: This question has become more complicated as doctors have learned more about the virus and how it presents in those infected. Coronavirus is primarily a respiratory disease (though the heart can also be affected), with symptoms similar to seasonal flu. Early information from the CD emphasized fever, coughing and shortness of breath. The CDC has recently updated the symptom description to again emphasize “cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing,” and then adds “Or at least two of these symptoms: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell.” The CDC says symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

For people with mild cases of coronavirus, it “could be virtually indistinguishable from the common cold or seasonal flu” without testing, Dr. Jin Dongyan of the University of Hong Kong told The New York Times. Some people may not show any symptoms.

Other researchers found digestive symptoms, including diarrhea, to be the primary complaint by nearly half the people in the hospital for COVID-19. That study was published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

For more serious cases, patients start out with a fever and cough and it progresses to pneumonia or worse. Many patients develop pneumonia in both lungs, accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath. If lung damage continues, it can result in respiratory failure.

Q: What is the treatment for coronavirus?

A: The CDC says there are no specific drugs or therapeutics currently approved for treating coronavirus, but patients receive “supportive care to help relieve symptoms.” In mild cases, this means taking over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol to reduce fever, other cold and flu medications to treat symptoms such as cough, and keeping the body well-hydrated. In more serious cases, this could involve care to support the function of vital organs, such “supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilatory support” (a ventilator).

Q: Can I treat coronavirus at home? When should I seek treatment?

A: Mild coronavirus symptoms are similar to the flu, and mild symptoms can be treated at home. In fact, The Washington Post reports that health officials prefer that you stay home if your symptoms can be handled with over-the-counter cold and flu medications. That will leave health care workers free to treat those who are critically ill. (Treatment for mild symptoms includes over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol to reduce fever, other cold and flu medications to treat symptoms such as cough, and keeping the body well-hydrated.)

If your symptoms are more serious, call your primary care doctor for advice. And if you have trouble breathing, a persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or the inability to rouse, or bluish lips or face, call 911 or seek medical help immediately.

Q: What medications should I have on hand in case I have symptoms?

A: Have over-the-counter medications you would use to combat a cold or flu: Tylenol for fever and body aches, and then medications to treat cough and runny nose. For nasal congestion, Healthline recommends “nasal irrigation with a saline solution, or a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine (people with high blood pressure should avoid this) or phenylephrine.” A digital thermometer will be needed to track your temperature. And be sure to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.

Q: What is the incubation period for coronavirus?

A: Here’s what we found online from Harvard Medical School: “An incubation period is the time between catching an illness and showing symptoms of the illness. Current estimates suggest that symptoms of COVID-19 usually appear within around five days or less in most cases, but the range could be between one and 14 days.”

Q: Can you catch coronavirus from an infected person who is not showing symptoms?

A: There is still a lot to learn about this virus, but more and more, evidence strongly suggests that asymptomatic people are carriers of coronavirus. That means just because someone doesn’t feel sick, it doesn’t mean they aren’t infected. It also means you can catch the virus from someone who appears to be healthy.

Q: Should we wear masks when we go out in public?

A: In the beginning, health experts in the U.S. advised against people in the general public wearing masks, but more recently, that advice has changed. The CDC now recommends “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.” All experts still emphasize the importance of not taking away the masks available to health care workers. So stick to cloth masks. The CDC has great information on how to make sewn and no-sew cloth masks.

Q: What type of face masks are needed in medical facilities?

A: There has been a lot of confusion over which masks we should wear, which masks health care workers need, and whether we should wear masks at all.

Many hospitals require their workers use N95 respirators, which are masks that have a tighter fit to the mouth and nose and block out smaller particles than surgical masks do — thus, they are more effective in preventing health care providers from contracting the illness. Surgical masks are flat, pleated and affixed to the head using straps, and they help protect the wearer from getting others sick, but they don’t necessarily protect healthy people from getting ill because of their loose fit, according to Business Insider.

Surgical masks should be worn by patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, “to prevent contamination of the surrounding area when a person coughs or sneezes,” according to the CDC.

Q: Should I wear disposable gloves?

A: Many health care experts have cautioned against using gloves because of “transfer” and because wearing gloves gives wearers a false sense of security, reported the Sacramento Bee. Even if you are wearing gloves, if you touch your face (or phone or purse or debit card or car door handle) after touching a contaminated surface, you are spreading germs and can still be infected. Gloves can also easily tear and get holes in them, thus losing their effectiveness. Gloves are most effective if they are changed after touching an item that might be contaminated.

Q: With a shelter-in-place or stay-at-home order, can I still go outside to garden or take a walk?

A: Governor Roy Cooper has issued a statewide stay-at-home order that goes into effect at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 30, and according to that order, you can go outside for a walk or to walk your dog — as long as you are not under a health order to self-quarantine (in which case you shouldn’t leave your yard), and as long as you practice social-distancing and stay away from other people. Here’s more info on what a shelter-in-place or stay-at-home order means in North Carolina.

Q: Can my dog or cat get coronavirus? Is it safe to pet my neighbor’s dog or cat?

A: Scientists have previously maintained that dogs can test positive for coronavirus but not exhibit symptoms, but this week, a dog belonging to a Chapel Hill family tested positive for the virus and seems to be exhibiting mild symptoms.

The thinking has always been a little different with cats, since felines — such as eight infected lions and tigers at the Bronx Zoo in New York — have been known to exhibit symptoms. Last week, two cats in New York were found to have coronavirus, and exhibited mild respiratory symptoms. They are believed to be the first pets in the United States to test positive for the virus.

In all known cases of pets having the virus, the pet has contracted it from a human. There are no known cases of an infected pet giving the virus to a health person. But, there is a chance that your pet can serve as a fomite, or carry the disease on their hair or fur, according to an FAQ by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr Alexa Mieses, an assistant professor at the UNC School of Medicine said there is not enough evidence now to be sure.

“There is no evidence regarding whether or not coronavirus can stay on a dog’s fur,” Mieses said in an email interview with the News & Observer. It’s always a good idea to wash your hands before and after interacting with animals, Mieses said, and also make sure your pet is kept well groomed and that you regularly clean your pet’s food and water bowls, bedding material and toys.

Q: How do I clean a pet that has been around a person with coronavirus?

A: If you have to take care of a cat or dog coming from a household with a sick owner, the CDC recommends you follow standard hand-washing procedures. In an interview with the Brooklyn Eagle, Dr. Brett Levitske, medical director of the Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group, also advised washing your hands.

Do not not try to wash the dog or cat with harsh cleaning supplies, like bleach or other cleaners because they “cause pretty significant problems,” Levitske said.

Q: Is it safe to go to the grocery stores? What about large stores like Target or Home Depot?

A: A: Governor Roy Cooper has issued a statewide stay-at-home order that goes into effect at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 30, and essentially closes stores and businesses that aren’t considered “essential” (the list of essential businesses is pretty extensive, though). Stores that sell groceries or health items or hardware are essential and will remain open, but it’s still important to practice safety precautions when visiting them — that especially goes for older adults and those with underlying health conditions.

On April 13, Cooper issued new rules for retail stores that promote social distancing and cleaning practices.

To be as safe as possible when visiting a grocery store (or any store that’s still open), try to go when the crowds are more likely to be light. Practice social-distancing and avoid close contact with people in the stores (don’t linger elbow-to-elbow in the produce department, but it’s OK to pass by people quickly). Use cart wipes and hand sanitizer to keep your hands clean, especially after touching payment key pads. Stores are being cleaned more diligently now, and some have installed plexiglass shields at checkout and pharmacy stands. There are more tips here about how to stay safe when shopping. Also note that some stores are offering special shopping hours for seniors and those with underlying health issues.

Q: Should I wash my groceries and produce when I return home from the store?

A: Ben Chapman, a professor and food safety expert at N.C. State University, says that washing or cleaning our groceries when we return home from a store really isn’t necessary, since food and food packaging has not been identified as a risk factor, according to available research. The first and last defense, he says, is hand-washing and hand-sanitizing. And as far as washing fruits and vegetables before consuming, that’s something that has always been recommended, he said. Do continue to wash your produce before consuming.

Q: How should I wash my clothes to combat the virus?

A: According to an article by Huffington Post, the virus is killed when you wash your clothes over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. You should use the hot water setting to wash your clothes and then dry them in the dryer. The CDC says that, in general, you can “use a normal laundry detergent according to washing machine instructions and dry thoroughly using the warmest temperatures recommended on the clothing label.” In addition to washing and drying items in high heat, the CDC recommends that if you are cleaning a sick person’s clothes, you should not shake dirty items and you should disinfect clothes hampers.

Q: How can pregnant women protect themselves?

A: There is still much unknown about whether pregnant women are more at-risk of getting sick from COVID-19. While pregnant women are not technically on the list of high-risk people, ABC11 reported that Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services encouraged that “we have some extra vigilance around our pregnant women.”

The CDC says: We do not currently know if pregnant women have a greater chance of getting sick from COVID-19 than the general public nor whether they are more likely to have serious illness as a result. Pregnant women experience changes in their bodies that may increase their risk of some infections. With viruses from the same family as COVID-19, and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza, women have had a higher risk of developing severe illness. It is always important for pregnant women to protect themselves from illnesses.

Pregnant women have a suppressed immune system and are more susceptible to respiratory pathogens, writes StatNews, so pregnant women should be sure to take the precautions advised by the CDC: washing hands often, using hand sanitizer and avoiding crowds or areas where people may be sick.

Q: Can children get coronavirus?

A: Children do get coronavirus, but they generally only present mild symptoms, says the CDC. These include runny nose, cough, fever and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Children do not appear to be in a higher risk group than adults — most cases of COVID-19 are still found in adults.

There is still a lot we don’t know about children and infants and the coronavirus. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported the first believed infant death from COVID-19 on March 28, but this death is “unusual,” said Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady in an article by CBS News.

John Hopkins Medicine recommends that parents protect their children from the coronavirus by avoiding crowds, staying away from sick people, showing children how to wash their hands and instructing them on the times when they should do so. There is still limited information on how children with medical conditions are affected by the virus, according to Johns Hopkins, but they say children with asthma may experience more severe symptoms as well as children with poorly-controlled diabetes.

Do you have questions about the coronavirus? The News & Observer will get the answers for you. Go to bit.ly/virusnc and let us know what you need to know.

Q: Will the pneumonia vaccine protect you if you get coronavirus?

A: Even though coronavirus can lead to pneumonia, the current pneumonia vaccine probably won’t be much help. “The current pneumonia vaccine protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria that cause pneumonia,” Dr. Rachel Roper, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine, told The News & Observer. “That vaccine will not protect against SARS Cov2 COVID2019 pneumonia.”

Q: Is it safe to get a second pneumonia shot right now, especially for those in a higher risk group?

The CDC recommends pneumonia vaccines for children younger than 2 years old and adults 65 and older. It is safe and important for those who are indicated to receive their pneumonia vaccines, Dr. David Weber of UNC Health Care said in an email interview with the News & Observer.

Q: Why aren’t more people being tested for coronavirus?

A: The short answer is that there are a limited number of tests available. [Vox has a good examination of how slow testing has been in the U.S., describing it as a “fiasco.”] Here in North Carolina, on March 6, state leaders requested more kits from the CDC. The News & Observer reported on March 6 that “The governor has spoken with Vice President Mike Pence, and NC Secretary of Health and Human Services Mandy Cohen has sent a letter to federal health officials outlining the state’s “critical need” for testing supplies.” On March 11, The N&O reported that state officials say they still have not received those tests. As of March 11, state officials say they have enough kits to test 300 people in North Carolina, which has a population of 10.5 million. UPDATE: On March 24, officials indicated they will focus testing on seniors and those with serious symptoms only. People with mild symptoms who are not in a high-risk group will likely not be tested.

Q: How much does it cost to be tested for coronavirus? What if you don’t have insurance?

A: If you have insurance, the cost will vary according to your provider and plan. Some insurance companies, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, have said there will be no charge for their members. And the states of California, New York and Washington have said those tested will not be charged. We do not know the cost of the test for those without insurance. But MarketWatch has explored the issue of cost and noted that the Trump administration has said it’s exploring using federal money to pay for treating uninsured patients infected with the coronavirus (MarketWatch cited The Wall Street Journal here). MarketWatch also said there is a federal public-health statute that allows the CDC to authorize payment for the care and treatment of individuals subject to “medical examination quarantine, isolation, and conditional release.”

Q: How does the coronavirus cause death?

A: The coronavirus is essentially a respiratory issue, but doctors are learning that it impacts nearly every organ in the body. The National Geographic magazine has an in-depth look at what coronavirus does to the human body: it invades human lung cells, and many patients develop pneumonia in both lungs, accompanied by symptoms like shortness of breath. If lung damage continues, it can result in respiratory failure. In some cases, your immune system goes bonkers and starts attacking healthy cells in addition to infected cells, and problems can occur outside the lungs. If the “cytokine storm” spills into your circulatory system, it could lead to multi-organ failure.

More recently it has been found that coronavirus can cause heart failure. People with preexisting hearth problems are at a greater risk for severe complications from coronavirus. This information from a recent Harvard Gazette article says that research also shows that heart attacks can actually be brought on by respiratory infections such as the flu, and also, “people with previously undiagnosed heart disease may be presenting with previously silent cardiac symptoms unmasked by the viral infection. In people with existing heart-vessel blockages, infection, fever, and inflammation can destabilize previously asymptomatic fatty plaques inside the heart vessels. Fever and inflammation also render the blood more prone to clotting, while also interfering with the body’s ability to dissolve clots — a one-two punch akin to throwing gasoline on smoldering embers.”

Also, more doctors are reporting coronvirus-positive patients who are dying from strokes, and many of those patients are in their 30s and 40s and exhibited no symptoms.

Q: For those who do become ill with the COVID-19 virus, how long does the illness last? Are they no longer infectious after the symptoms disappear? Are they now immune?

A: How long the illness lasts depends on how severe your case is. Luckily, according to a report from the WHO, “approximately 80% of laboratory confirmed patients have had mild to moderate disease.” A majority of mild cases last about 2 weeks from the onset of the illness to recovery. For patients with severe or critical cases, it can take from 3-6 weeks to recover.

The CDC says you can leave home isolation after recovering from the virus if you have had no fever for the last 72 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers, if your other symptoms have improved and if it has been at least seven days since your first symptoms appeared.

Because Covid-19 is a new virus, it is not yet known whether those who have already recovered from the virus will be infected again, according to the CDC. However, patients who recovered from the MERS-CoV infection, a different kind of coronavirus, were not likely to be reinfected shortly after they recovered.

Q: Is a steam cleaner less/more/about the same as a Clorox wipe when cleaning countertops, etc.?

A: The CDC does not mention steam cleaners in its guidance for the disinfection of households. It recommends you disinfect surfaces with household cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants for routine cleaning. If there is a sick person in the house, the CDC recommends first cleaning dirty surfaces with soap and water or a detergent and then disinfecting them using bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol or an EPA-registered household disinfectant.

Q: Should I use antibacterial soap or is regular soap OK?

A: According to the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there isn’t enough scientific evidence available to suggest that antibacterial soaps are any better than their normal counterparts for disease prevention, reports Economic Times. The CDC adds that the temperature of the water makes no difference.

Q: Is there a cure for coronavirus?

A: There is no cure, but there is a potential vaccine, recently sent to the U.S. for testing. Results from the clinical trial of that drug are expected to arrive in July or August, reports The Hill. But health experts say that the development of a vaccine won’t stop a pandemic.

Q: What can I do or where can I go under NC’s stay-at-home order?

We have a separate Q&A here with questions about NC Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order.

Q: Are there any restrictions on traveling in the U.S.? Can we cross state lines by car?

A: There is currently no restriction on travel within the U.S., but the CDC has cautioned against it. The Washington Post reported that the State Department has cautioned Americans not to travel abroad and to make preparations to shelter in place. But a shelter in place order is not necessarily a restriction on all travel — it is an order to stay at home except for essential activities like exercise, work, food and health. Here’s more info on what a shelter-in-place or stay-at-home order means in North Carolina.

Q: Is it safe to go to a party at someone’s house?

A: One of the most important safeguards against catching or spreading the coronavirus is not gathering in crowds. Governor Roy Cooper has issued a statewide stay-at-home order that goes into effect at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 30, and part of that order prohibits gatherings of 10 or more people. As of March 30, you can visit people to check on them or deliver supplies, but gathering to “hang out” is not suggested.

Q: If you are in the presence of someone (face-to-face) for a few minutes, is that enough time for the virus to be contracted?

A: “Short contact times greatly reduce the likelihood of transmission but do not entirely eliminate the possibility,” said Dr. David Weber of UNC Health Care. There are many factors that influence how the virus can be spread: if that person is coughing or sneezing, how susceptible this exposed person is and how far away they are. The CDC recommends you stay six feet away from others in order to avoid inhaling their respiratory droplets.

Q: Will there be a waiver on vehicle registrations?

A: As of right now, registration expiration dates have not extended, and they can only be extended by the General Assembly, said the North Carolina DMV communications office. However, they say they do not encourage those in the high-risk category to go to the inspection station.

“... if they have a relative, neighbor, co-worker, fellow church member or friend who is not in the high risk group and who can more easily observe the social distance parameters set by health officials, they could be asked to get the car to an inspection site,” said DMV officials. “There is no requirement that the owner of a vehicle has to do it.”

Most inspections have only brief contact with staff, but the DMV recommends you call the station you want to use to ask about what precautions they have in place.

Q: Will there be an extension on vehicle inspections?

A: Leaders in the North Carolina legislature have vowed to support legislation that would retroactively extend vehicle inspection deadlines — as soon as they return to session, which is set for April 28. In the meantime, the NC governor’s office communicated to legislative leaders that the Department of Public Safety and State Highway Patrol are “not prioritizing enforcement.”

Q: Will I still get my Social Security check even though offices are closed because of COVID-19?

A: Yes. The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, warned the public on March 20 about fraudulent letters threatening suspension of Social Security benefits due to COVID-19-related office closures. The office will not suspend or discontinue benefits because offices are closed to the public for in-person service, Ennis said. Read the fraud advisory.

Q: Will Social Security recipients get stimulus checks from the government?

A: Yes. People who receive Social Security payments will receive stimulus checks, and they do not need to file any type of tax return — “simple” or otherwise — to receive a payment. The US Treasury plans to use direct deposit information pulled from individuals’ 2018 or 2019 taxes to transfer the stimulus money. Also, however you receive your Social Security payments is how you will receive your stimulus payment.

Q: When will we get our stimulus checks?

A: There is no set timetable for when all stimulus money will be delivered, but some payments have already been sent out. In fact, the rush of people checking their online bank accounts for the payments this week caused some banking websites to crash.

Q: Once you have the COVID-19 virus, how long does the illness last? Are they no longer infectious after the symptoms disappear? Are they now immune?

A: How long the illness lasts depends on how severe your case is. Luckily, according to a report from the WHO, “approximately 80% of laboratory confirmed patients have had mild to moderate disease.” A majority of mild cases last about 2 weeks from the onset of the illness to recovery. For patients with severe or critical cases, it can take from 3-6 weeks to recover.

The CDC says you can leave home isolation after recovering from the virus if you have had no fever for the last 72 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers, your other symptoms have improved and it has been at least seven days since your first symptoms appeared.

Because Covid-19 is a new virus, it is not yet known whether those who have already recovered from the virus will be infected again, according to the CDC. However, patients who recovered from the MERS-CoV infection, a different kind of coronavirus, were not likely to be reinfected shortly after they recovered.

Q: What does a “presumptive positive” test result mean?

A: TV news station KHOU asked this very question of the CDC and this is what they learned: “Presumptive positive cases are persons with at least one respiratory specimen that tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 at a state or local laboratory. Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases are persons with at least one respiratory specimen that tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 at a CDC laboratory.”

Q: Can the coronavirus be transmitted from mosquitoes that have bitten an infected person?

A: While there are some diseases that can be spread through the blood, like malaria and the Zika virus, COVID cannot, Dr. David Weber of UNC Health Care said. The reason why coronavirus can be detected in some blood tests is because they look for antibodies fighting the virus. It is not because COVID is transferred through the blood.

Q: Has anyone successfully gotten over the COVID-19 virus?

A: Yes, the majority of people who get coronavirus survive. Even if the global death rate is 3.4% (a number that nearly everyone admits is problematic and likely too high to go by), that means more than 96% of patients survive — the same way people get over the flu.

Q: Is it safe to get take-out food or go through a drive-thru?

A: Most health officials say it is safe to get takeout food — either picking it up or having it delivered — as long as you take certain precautions. Generally speaking, have as little direct contact as possible with workers or other customers and wash your hands immediately after handling food and containers. Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN said on a recent “Armchair Expert” podcast that his family still gets delivery from restaurants and their method is to have the delivery person leave the food on the porch to avoid person-to-person contact. They leave the outer bag outside on the porch and take the containers inside, and then wash their hands after touching the containers.

Q: What age and race is COVID-19 targeting most?

A: Full demographics of infected patients have not been released, but we do have some statistics regarding North Carolina coronavirus patients released in early April. That data suggests that while older people are more at risk for severe complications from the coronavirus, people ages 25 to 49 account for the highest portion (42%) of reported cases in the state. By comparison, people over 65 make up just 20% of reported cases. But the numbers flip when it comes to recorded deaths — 80% were over the age of 65, state health officials report.

Q: Should I be concerned about products I buy in stores and bring into my home? What about my mail? Amazon deliveries?

A: The CDC says that the coronavirus is thought to live on the surface of an item for “hours to days,” but it depends on the surface. A recent study at UCLA found that “the virus is detectable for up to three hours in aerosols, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.” Health experts agree that the risk of transmission this way is low — but always remember, the best practice is to always wash your hands (and do not touch your face) after handling any items.

Q: Can I catch the coronavirus through the exchange of money?

A: As we said above, the virus can live on the surface of objects for a time, so yes. And the World Health Organization has advised people to use “contactless technology” such as a debit card (or Apple Pay or Google Pay) whenever possible, on the chance that cash might be spreading the virus. The virus, WHO warned, can be carried on the surface of banknotes for several days. Yahoo Finance reports that banks in China and Korea began disinfecting, isolating and even destroying used banknotes as part of efforts to stem the spread of the virus. If you use cash, wash your hands thoroughly after handling it.

Q: Should people cut their fingernails short to be more sanitary?

A: Health care providers who have direct contact with patients are instructed to keep their fingernails short because more bacteria live under longer fingernails. However, Dr. David Weber of UNC Health Care said there are not any studies he knows of that have information about long fingernails and the transmission of the virus.

Q: Is it safe to swim in public pools? What about hot tubs?

A: According to the CDC: There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.

Q: Can antibiotics be used to treat coronavirus?

A: According to the World Health Organization, the answer is no: “No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria. The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment. However, if you are hospitalized for the 2019-nCoV, you may receive antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.”

Q: Where is the coronavirus in North Carolina?

A: We are keeping track of North Carolina coronavirus cases at newsobserver.com.

Q: How long do we expect the coronavirus epidemic to last?

A: StatNews reports that a CDC official says we could be dealing with coronavirus into 2021, but that “public health interventions could still reduce the spread of the virus and cases of illness and death.”

Q: I have [fill in the blank] health condition. What precautions should I take?

A: The CDC says those with heart disease, diabetes and lung disease are at higher risk, as are those with suppressed immune systems. The CDC did not differentiate between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Follow the normal guidelines of washing hands and avoiding crowds or areas with sick people, but also contact your physician to get additional advice.

Q: Is it OK to use a handkerchief instead of a tissue?

A: Both tissues and handkerchiefs have pros and cons. When you blow your nose into either, you’re putting a virus on that item. An article in Health24 says that since your own germs can’t do you any additional harm, the only risk is in infecting others. Whether you use a tissue or handkerchief, once used, keep them away from others (dispose of tissues and wash handkerchiefs daily).

Q: Can you get the coronavirus if you eat food prepared by someone with the virus?

A: The Washington Post reports that public health officials are concerned that sick food service workers could spread the virus (which brings up the issue of how many service workers don’t get paid sick leave). Harvard Medical School says there’s still a lot to be learned about how the virus is transmitted, but notes that COVID-19 and other coronaviruses have been detected in the stool of certain patients.

Q: What percentage alcohol does hand sanitizer need to be to kill viruses?

The CDC says washing with soap and water is more effective than using a hand sanitizer. But if soap and water aren’t available, the CDC says to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Read the label. If a sanitizer is “alcohol free” or contains less than 60 percent alcohol, it will not kill the coronavirus, according to the CDC.

Q: Besides soap and hand sanitizer (with an alcohol content of 60% or more), what fights coronavirus?

A: The EPA has released a list of cleaning products that are approved for “fighting” coronavirus on surfaces. Read the full list at this link.

Q: Why isn’t the media writing about all the people who die from seasonal flu?

A: Media outlets write about seasonal flu deaths all the time. Here are just a few of the stories about flu deaths by The News & Observer from the current flu season: March 5, January 30, January 23, January 17, January 9, January 2, December 19, October 24.

This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 7:00 AM with the headline "NC Coronavirus Q&A: We answer questions about grocery stores, stimulus checks and more."

Brooke Cain

The News & Observer

Brooke Cain is a North Carolina native who has worked at The News & Observer and McClatchy for more than 30 years as a researcher, reporter and media writer. She is the National Service Journalism Editor for McClatchy.