Information in this section pertains to all global PEN® partners except where country flags are
visible. Click on the flag(s) for country-specific information. If a country flag is not listed, there is
no information specific to that country.
Disease Etiology
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (1). COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can spread rapidly from person to person.
Screening/Diagnosis
Check with your local public health department for local testing services available.
Symptoms
Reported symptoms from individuals with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing (1). Older adults and individuals who have existing medical conditions such as heart, lung disease or diabetes appear to be at a higher risk of developing more serious complications from COVID-19.
Post-COVID-19 condition (sometimes referred to as long COVID) can affect anyone exposed to SARS-CoV-2 (2). It is defined as the continuing or the development of symptoms three months after the initial infection that lasts for at least two months. Over 200 different symptoms have been reported; common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath and cognitive dysfunction.
Country-specific Symptom Information
Health Canada: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Symptoms, treatment, what to do if you feel sick
English French
Complementary and Alternative MedicinesThere is no scientific evidence supporting the use of alternative remedies to prevent or cure the illness caused by COVID-19. Some complementary and alternative therapies may not be safe (3).
Nutrition CareFor specific health conditions:
COVID-19: Health, Chronic Conditions and Malnutrition Web Links
See Additional Content:
Dietetic Association-Specific Information Related to COVID-19
Food Service Implications
To contain the pandemic, cities and regions within the world stopped many service activities. Health, economic and social disruptions due to the pandemic, including impacts on food systems, have affected poor and marginalized groups the most and are expected to continue for many years (4).
No reported cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the contamination of food or food packaging (5).
For additional information, see:
COVID-19: Food Service Establishments, Long-Term Care Centres and Food Service Workers Links.
Resources for Professionals
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About COVID-19. 2023 May 11. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/about-covid-19.html
- World Health Organization. Post COVID-19 condition (Long COVID). 2022 Dec 7. Available from: https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/post-covid-19-condition
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. COVID-19 and “Alternative” Treatments: what you need to know. 2022 Jun. Available from: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/in-the-news-coronavirus-and-alternative-treatments
- McDermott J, Swinnen J (eds). COVID-19 and global food security: two years later. 2022. Available from: https://www.ifpri.org/publication/covid-19-and-global-food-security-two-years-later
- World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Food safety and nutrition. 2020 Aug 14. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-food-safety-and-nutrition