Coronavirus (COVID-19): What You Need to Know

Health and safety are always our top priorities at Weill Cornell Medicine. Even several months into the pandemic, we are closely watching updates from trusted healthcare organizations and governmental recommendations about the new coronavirus (COVID-19), and we remain committed to keeping you informed.

For ongoing developments about the COVID-19 vaccine, please review this information guide.

For the latest information about healthcare trends, COVID-19 guidelines and the care offered at Weill Cornell Medicine, be sure to check out our patient care blog.

Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, we currently recommend these preventative actions to help stop the spread of the coronavirus:

Avoid contact with those who are showing signs and symptoms of illness.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Clean your hands often by washing them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
When handwashing is not accessible, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60%–95% alcohol.
Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbows, not into you hands. Dispose of the tissue immediately after.
Practice social distancing by maintaining a distance of approximately 6 feet from others in public places
Wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain
Stay home when you are sick and encourage loved ones to do the same.

Receiving Your Care

If you believe that you require emergency care, please call 911.
Virtual Care: If you have concerns or are experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, please schedule a Video Visit appointment with your WCM provider.
In-Person Appointments: Our providers have been seeing patients in person throughout the pandemic and we’ve stepped up the ways we're keeping you safe during your visit. If you’ve developed a fever, cough, shortness of breath or other respiratory symptoms, please call your provider before visiting our practice locations in person.

For more information about in-person appointments and what you can expect, you can read more and watch the video above about this new experience.

Our updated visitor policy. Please become familiar with our new visitor policies before accompanying a loved one to an in-person appointment; we’ve developed some new protocols to accommodate social distancing and minimize foot traffic at our locations including extending our hours at some of our practice locations.

Resources to Stay Informed & Healthy

Please refer to the CDC, NYC Department of Health (DOH), New York State (NYS) DOH, and NYS Travel Advisory websites for ongoing updates and latest recommendations.

We’ve established a COVID Hotline at (646) 697-4000 as a public service solely to provide information — not to diagnose, treat, or render a medical opinion.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I'm traveling to New York from out of state, can I receive a second Covid test on day 4 of quarantine at a WCM testing site?

For any traveler to New York State from out of state, exempting the contiguous states, that need to test-out of the mandatory 14-day quarantine for New York State, you can obtain your second COVID diagnostic test on day 4 at any of our testing sites. Prior to coming in for your Covid test, you will first need to schedule a video visit with one of our providers. Please visit NYS DOH website for the travel advisory updates.

How serious is this virus and what are the range of symptoms?

Reported symptoms due to infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 have ranged from mild to severe. Symptoms may include fever, cough or shortness of breath.

How long before symptoms of the virus appear?

The CDC believe at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear between two and 14 days after exposure.

What happens if I’ve been exposed or diagnosed with the COVID-19?

If you have been exposed or diagnosed by a healthcare professional, you might be provided with instructions for at-home self-monitoring. This includes checking yourself for fever and remaining alert to any changes in fever, cough or shortness of breath for 14 days.

Does Weill Cornell Medicine offer COVID-19 or antibody tests?

At this time, COVID-19 testing and antibody tests are only available for existing patients at Weill Cornell Medicine Primary Care. If you are an existing patient and you have questions about these tests or want to know if you are a good candidate for either test, please give our department a call at (646) 962-8000.

Weill Cornell Medicine is also conducting related clinical studies. Patients interested in participating may contact the Coronavirus Prevention Network or email cctucovid@med.cornell.edu.

Additional Resources

COVID-19 Testing at Weill Cornell Medicine

Coronavirus (COVID-19)