COVID-19 FAQs
What is the best source for ALL COVID-19 information for the United States?
How do I get food?
If you need assistance finding food, paying housing bills or accessing other essential services, dial 211 or visit 211.org to speak to someone who can help.
Consider online home delivery services.
Although there are no nationwide shortages of food, the inventory of certain foods at your grocery store might be temporarily low before stores can restock. Food production and manufacturing are widely dispersed throughout the United States, and no widespread disruptions have been reported in the supply chain.
The FDA is closely monitoring the food supply chain for any shortages in collaboration with the industry and our federal and state partners. We are in regular contact with food manufacturers and grocery stores.
Restaurants, bars, and other establishments might limit food or beverages to carry-out and delivery only with no on-site consumption permitted.
How do I get supplies?
If you need assistance finding food, paying housing bills or accessing other essential services,
visit 211.org or dial 211 to speak to someone who can help.
Consider online home delivery services.
If you can't buy hand sanitizer or Clorox wipes, a number of cleaning products you probably have around the house already, and that stores are more likely to have in stock, are effective in deactivating the novel coronavirus.
Soap and Water
Just the friction from scrubbing with soap (any kind of soap) and water can break the coronavirus's protective envelope.
Bleach
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a diluted bleach solution (⅓ cup bleach per 1 gallon of water, or 4 teaspoons bleach per 1 quart of water) for virus disinfection. Wear gloves while using bleach, and never mix it with ammonia—or anything, in fact—except water.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Alcohol solutions with at least 70 percent of alcohol are effective against the coronavirus on hard surfaces.
Hydrogen Peroxide
According to the CDC, household (3 percent) hydrogen peroxide is effective in deactivating rhinovirus, the virus that causes the common cold, within 6 to 8 minutes of exposure.
Where can I get tested for COVID-19?
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.
- COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you feel like you are developing symptoms, call your doctor.
- If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19, get medical attention immediately. These include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips or face
This list is not all-inclusive. Consult your medical provider for any other symptom that is severe or concerning.
Is there a travel ban?
Level 3 Travel Health Notice: Widespread ongoing transmission with restrictions on entry to the United States
The CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the following destinations. Most foreign nationals who have been in one of these countries during the previous 14 days will not be allowed to enter the United States.
Level 3 Travel Health Notice: Widespread ongoing transmission without restrictions on entry to the United States
The CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to all global destinations:
Level 2 Travel Health Notice: Ongoing community transmission
The CDC recommends that older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions should consider postponing nonessential travel to most global destinations.
Level 1 Travel Health Notice: Limited community transmission
The CDC recommends travelers practice usual health precautions recommended for their destination.
Should I travel within the U.S.?
The CDC does not generally issue advisories or restrictions for travel within the United States. However, cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been reported in all states and territories, and some areas are experiencing community spread of the disease. Crowded travel settings, like airports, may increase chances of getting COVID-19, if there are other travelers present with coronavirus infection. There are several things you should consider when deciding whether it is safe for you to travel.
Things to consider before travel:
- Is COVID-19 spreading in the area where you're going?
If COVID-19 is spreading at your destination, but not where you live, you may be more likely to get infected if you travel there than if you stay home. If you have questions about your destination, you should check your destination's local health department website for more information.
- Will you or your travel companion(s) be in close contact with others during your trip?
Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like coronavirus may increase in crowded settings, particularly closed-in settings with little air circulation. This may include settings such as conferences, public events (like concerts and sporting events), religious gatherings, public spaces (like movie theatres and shopping malls) and public transportation (like buses, metro, trains).
- Are you or your travel companion(s) more likely to develop the severe illness if you get COVID-19?
People at higher risk for severe disease are older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes). The CDC recommends that travelers at higher risk for COVID-19 complications avoid all cruise travel and nonessential air travel.
- Do you have a plan for taking time off from work or school, in case you are told to stay home for 14 days for self-monitoring or if you get sick with COVID-19?
If you have close contact with someone with COVID-19 during travel, you may be asked to stay home to self-monitor and avoid contact with others for up to 14 days after travel. If you become sick with COVID-19, you may be unable to go to work or school until you're considered noninfectious. You will be asked to avoid contact with others (including being in public places) during this period of infectiousness.
- Do you live with someone who is older or has a serious, chronic medical condition?
If you get sick with COVID-19 upon your return from travel, your household contacts may be at risk of infection. Household contacts who are older adults or persons of any age with severe chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
- Is COVID-19 spreading where I live when I return from travel?
Consider the risk of passing COVID-19 to others during travel, particularly if you will be in close contact with people who are older adults or have severe chronic health condition. These people are at higher risk of getting very sick. If your symptoms are mild or you don't have a fever, you may not realize you are infectious.
Depending on your unique circumstances, you may choose to delay or cancel your plans. If you do decide to travel, be sure to take steps to help prevent getting and spreading COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases during travel.
For the most up-to-date COVID-19 travel information, visit the CDC's COVID-19 Travel page.
For information about travel within the United States, visit Coronavirus and Travel in the United States.
If you recently returned from travel within the United States:
- Stay home for 14 days after returning, monitor your health and practice social distancing.
- Avoid contact with sick people.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
Is the National Guard closing my state?
No. Air and Army National Guard professionals are supporting the COVID-19 crisis response at the direction of their governors. Twenty-two states and two territories have approved the use of Dual-Status Commanders, giving them the authority to command active and reserve component troops under the control of a state's governor.
What Guard units/states are activated?
Governors across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington D.C. have each mobilized components of their Army and Air National Guard to assist in their state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
How can I offer my hotel for soldier billeting?
Ready, Department of Homeland Security volunteer resources
Fema Volunteer resources
Red Cross volunteer resources
How can my food service business offer food and discounts to locals and soldiers?
Ready, Department of Homeland Security volunteer resources
Fema Volunteer resources
Red Cross volunteer resources
How can I offer my vacant building as a location for a testing and treatment site?
Ready, Department of Homeland Security volunteer resources
Fema Volunteer resources
Red Cross volunteer resources
How can I volunteer to help?
Ready, Department of Homeland Security volunteer resources
Fema Volunteer resources
Red Cross volunteer resources
Are any lockdowns in place?
No lockdowns.
Is the U.S. under martial law?
No. Guard members in all states and territories are bringing protective equipment to first responders and hospital staff, supporting testing facilities and call centers, helping disinfect public spaces, providing transport, delivering food, and serving as liaisons in state emergency operations centers, among other missions.
The National Guard can respond to the national crisis in this way because their unique military status allows them to support both state and federal missions.
Is the Army National Guard distributing food?
There are no nationwide shortages of food, but the inventory of certain foods at your grocery store might be temporarily low before stores can restock.
National Guard units are not currently distributing food rations.
If you need assistance finding food, paying housing bills or accessing other essential services,
visit 211.org or dial 211 to speak to someone who can help.
Why can't I attend my child's swearing in at MEPS?
The Army is conducting a change of mission to focus on combating the COVID-19 pandemic. With this new mission, the Army will protect the force, posture the force to maintain global operational readiness and support the national effort to fight against COVID-19. The Army continually assesses how we will best protect Soldiers, civilians and their families; maintain force readiness to meet global challenges, and provide support to the FEMA-lead national COVID-19 response.
Will the Guard be activated?
Guard members in all states and territories are already bringing protective equipment to first responders and hospital staff, supporting testing facilities and call centers, helping disinfect public spaces, providing transport, delivering food, and serving as liaisons in state emergency operations centers, among other missions.
My family member is a pre-BCT soldier. How will this affect them?
As of April 6, the Army has temporarily halted the movement of soldiers to Basic Combat Training because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the commander of Army Training and Doctrine Command. Training has not paused for the Soldiers who are currently at Army training centers. Drill sergeants have been strictly enforcing social distance-enabled training. Trainees are regularly screened for COVID-19 as they continue to train. For each new Basic Combat Training cycle, there will be a two-week monitoring period before trainees start their normal, eight-week period of instruction.
Future Soldiers who are experiencing extreme hardship because of training delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for some financial relief through a new Future Soldier to Active Duty Program. The program will provide the pay of an active-duty private to eligible Future Soldiers who have had their Basic Training dates rescheduled based on the risk level of the virus in their area.