Coronaviruses are a type of virus that usually infect animals, but some of them can also affect humans. The new coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and has gradually spread to other countries. The disease caused by this virus is known as COVID-19, a term coined from the words “Coronavirus Disease 19”, and usually only causes mild respiratory symptoms.

The disease is spread mainly by direct contact with an infected person’s respiratory droplets, for example through coughing or sneezing. These droplets can infect others through the nose, eyes or mouth. This is why it is important to wash your hands and to cover your mouth with disposable tissues or the inside of your elbow when coughing. According to the most recent data, the symptoms of COVID-19 may take 1 to 14 days to appear, although they usually take 5 to 6 days.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, coughing and feeling of breathlessness. In some cases, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, or digestive symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain may also occur. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, kidney failure, and even death.

Some people become infected but do not develop any symptoms and are not sick. Most people (about 80%) recover from the condition without any special treatment. About 1 in 6 people who get COVID-19 develop severe disease. About 2% of people who have contracted the condition have died.

The highest risk groups are people over 65 and people with chronic illnesses, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cardíac or pulmonary disorders and people with congenital or acquired immunity problems. However, it should be noted that it affects people from all age groups.

You can find more information on the Government of Catalonia’s Health Channel:

• What is coronavirus SARS-CoV-2? [PDF]

• Wash your hands often (washing with soap and water or alcohol-based solutions).
• Keep a safety distance of 2 meters between people and avoid crowding.
• Put on your mask. For the general population the use of masks is mandatory for people aged 6 and over, on public roads and in outdoor spaces, in any enclosed space for public use or open to the public and on public transport, regardless of the maintenance of the safety distanceand among people. For children from 3 to 5 years it is recommended.
• Reduce daily social contacts, keep the usual coexistence groups as stable as possible and avoid crowding.
• When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with the inside of your elbow or with a disposable tissue that must be discarded immediately, and then wash your hands.
• Avoid sharing food or utensils (such as cutlery, glasses, napkins and handkerchiefs) or other items if they have not been properly cleaned.
• Clean, disinfect and ventilate the home
• You should not touch your mouth, nose or eyes after handling any objects, particularly in public places, without first washing your hands.
• We must protect in particular the people in the highest risk groups: the elderly and people with chronic diseases.
• The early detection and monitoring of positive cases and their contacts is key to maintaining control of the epidemic. In this sense, people with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 should contact the public health system and should follow both home and their close contact indications for home isolation.

You can find more information on the Government of Catalonia’s Health Channel:

• Protective measures
• Measures to containe outbreaks 

You can find more information on the Government of Catalonia’s Health Channel:

• Measures to contain outbreaks

You can follow the epidemiological evolution of COVID-19 in the city on the ASPB website #COVID19aldiaBCN

You can find information about the measures on the Government of Catalonia’s Health Channel and Activem Catalunya:

• Health/School
• Preguntes freqüents/Educació [in Catalan]

You can find information about back to school on Barcelona City Council website:

• #BCNCuida’t/#COVID19/Children

For the general population the use of masks is mandatory for people aged 6 and over, on public roads and in outdoor spaces, in any enclosed space for public use or open to the public and on the public transport, regardless of the maintenance of the safety distanceand among people. For children from 3 to 5 years it is recommended.

• Canal Salut: Masks
•  World Health Organization: Masks

Regarding the use of gloves, the new coronavirus can survive on the surface from a few hours to nine days. If a person wears gloves and touches a surface with viruses, they can also survive on the gloves and people could acquire the infection by touching their nose, mouth or eyes with the gloves. Furthermore, the use of gloves gives a false sense of security; people can forget the fundamental recommendation of renting out their hands often with water and soap.

The most effective measures for preventing infection are those set out above. Health professionals will indicate their use in those situations where it is considered necessary.

The early detection and monitoring of positive cases and their contacts is key to maintaining control of the epidemic.

People with COVID-19 compatible symptoms are considered possible cases. They should stay home and isolate themselves and should contact their primary care team, except on weekends when they have to call 061. The healthcare professionals will decide what action to take and give you instructions.

• The doctor assesses the symptoms and, if necessary, performs the PCR test.
• They must identify and report on any persons with whom you may have had a close contact for the 48 hours prior to the symptoms.
• They must do preventive isolation until the results of the PCR test following the instructions of health professionals.
• The results of the test can be consulted through My Health.

If the PCR is positive in COVID-19: 

• They’ll get a SMS message and an e-mail or an information call.
• They should do home isolation until your healthcare provider tells you to, and you will be told how to do it.
• They have to do a thorough follow up of your symptoms twice a day through the app STOP COVID19 CAT, which is directly connected to primarycare.
• In case it is necessary to process the leave of absence, you can do so through the La Meva Salut App, featuring the eConsulta (eEnquiry)service that will allow you to directly contact your healthcare professional. 

You can find more information on the Government of Catalonia’s Health Channel:

• Case detection and contact tracking

Close contact is considered to be any person who has been caring for a likely or confirmed case of COVID-19 who presented symptoms, or any person who has been in the same place, 15 minuts or more, without protections, at a distance of less than 2 meters of someone with likely or confirmed COVID-19, within 48 hours before of the onset of symptoms until the time of diagnosis.

• People who have been in close contact with a positive person diagnosed with COVID-19 will be informed by a call or SMS and will be instructed on the steps to take.
• They have to do home isolation for 14 days. If  they have symptoms during this period, you must follow the home isolation measures and contact your primary care team, except on weekends when you have to call 061.
• They have to do a thorough follow up of your symptoms twice a day through the app STOP COVID19 CAT.
• If 14 days have elapsed since their last contact with the diagnosed case and they have had no symptoms, they can return to their usual routine.

You can find more information on the Government of Catalonia’s Health Channel:

• Case detection and contact tracking

Both people with mild symptoms compatible with COVID-19, and the close contacts of these people with whom they live, should isolate themselves from other people and take the measures indicated by healthcare professionals. The main aim of self-isolation measures is to keep the virus isolated and prevent it from spreading.

It is the healthcare professionals who will decide, by assessing the clinical criteria and the circumstances of the healthcare and social environment, whether a person is suitable for self-isolation at home. Healthcare professionals will monitor and remain in contact with the infected person.

The conditions of the house must allow the isolation of the person in a well-ventilated room and, if possible, the availability of a proper bath. Both personal hygiene and the cleaning of the house are very important. Cleaners must protect themselves with a mask and gloves, and wash their hands when finished.

The isolated person has to be available for the necessary medical evaluations, and both the person and his/her companions have to be able to apply correctly and consistently the basic measures of hygiene, prevention and control of the infection. Health services will provide all the necessary indications.

You can find more information on the Government of Catalonia’s Health Channel:

• Home isolation

The COVID-19 pandemic led to Spain’s declaration of the State of Emergency and a general lockdown since 14 March, followed by a progressive plan to gradually return to normal, ensuring the protection of public health, aiming to avoid a possible resurgence of cases, protect the most vulnerable people, and ensure proper monitoring of those affected and their contacts.

After passing through the various stages of the COVID-19 lockdown exit, Barcelona will be joining the new normal. This new period involves a gradual resumption of the usual activities while the necessary prevention and health measures are maintained.

It is important to remember that the virus is still active and that it is necessary to be cautious, respect the prevention measures and follow the recommendations of hygiene and physical distance.

You can find more information of the phases in Barcelona on:

• Ajuntament de Barcelona: COVID-19

You can find more information on the Government of Catalonia’s Health Channel:

• Progressive overflow

Very little data is available on pregnant women with COVID-19, but it seems that they are not more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and they are not considered a risk group.

Pregnant women with COVID-19 may be at higher risk for severe illness, morbidity or mortality as compared to the general population, as has been seen in other coronavirus infections and other viral respiratory infections during pregnancy, such as the flu.

There is no evidence and it is not known whether a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can transmit the virus before, during or after delivery.

Regarding breastfeeding, although there is not enough data to make a strong recommendation on breastfeeding for women with COVID-19, it is important to insist that breastfeeding has many benefits, such as the potential passage of moocher-child antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. For this reason, and in view of the current evidence, it is recommended maintaining breastfeeding from the moment of birth, as long as the clinical conditions of the newborn and the mother allow it.

You can find more information on the Government of Catalonia’s Health Channel:

• El coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 i les dones embarassades [PDF] [in Catalan]
• Informació per a dones embarassades i les seves famílies [PDF] [in Catalan]
• Questions and answers/Pregnant

No special precautions to avoid infection need to be taken with food in Catalonia. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), there is currently no evidence to suggest that food is a likely route of transmission or source of the virus.

In the context of measures to contain the transmission of COVID-19, the recommendation for food companies and food sector establishments open to the public is to follow the general food safety standards and measures of containment, that require strengthening the cleaning and disinfection programs of companies. Similarly, the citizens must reinforce the measures of food safety and the standards of prevention to contain the spread of the virus.

You can find more information at the Catalan Food Safety Agency:

• Seguretat Alimentària i COVID-19 [in Catalan]

There is currently no scientific evidence that pets can transmit COVID-19 to humans, although there is a possibility that some animal species may become infected through close contact with infected people.

Dogs, cats and ferrets in contact with infected humans have tested positive for COVID-19. However, there is no evidence that these animals can transmit the disease to people and spread the virus.

Although several animal species have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, these infections do not a driver of the pandemic. The current spread of COVID-19 is the result of human to human transmission.

It should also be noted that animals can be passive carriers of viral particles (on their skin, in their nose). This situation could happen if a pet is exposed to the virus by people with COVID-19, so complying with prevention measures will be important:

• Washing hands before and after touching pets, their food and toys.
• Avoid kissing them, letting them lick us or sharing food.
• It is recommended that people with COVID-19 limit their contact with animals.

You can find more information on the Government of Catalonia’s Health Channel:

• Informació i recomanacions per als propietaris dels animals de companyia [PDF] [In Catalan]

You can find more information on the following links:

• World Organisation for Animal Health (Oie)
• WHO: Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)

You can find more information on the Government of Catalonia’s Health Channel:

• Informació per a professionals [in Catalan]

You can find more information at the Spanish Ministry of Health:

• Documentos técnicos para profesionales [in Spanish]

There is a lot of misinformation on the internet and social media that promotes fear.

You will find quality, up-to-date information on the following links:

• Canal Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya
• Ministerio de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar Social
• World Health Organization
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
• Coronavirus – European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
• Jons Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center

Thanks to the collaboration of citizens, public institutions have offered different ways of collaboration so that all the people, companies and entities that have offered their collaboration can do so efficiently.

You can find information about collaborations on the following links:

• Departament de Salut: Col·labora amb el sistema de salut. Jo Actuo[in Catalan]
• Ajuntament de Barcelona: Què puc fer-hi jo?  [in Catalan]