Coronavirus Quiz: Can You Separate Fact from Fiction?

Susanna Henke profile picture

Written by

Last updated · 8 min play time

The novel coronavirus first appeared just a few months ago and has proliferated to the extent that it is now officially a global pandemic. With the number of cases — along with the death toll — rising exponentially every day, the stock market plummeting at record-breaking levels, inconsistent (or at worst, false) information from world leaders, the level of alarm is skyrocketing among people across the globe. And with good reason. The situation could not be more serious. But panic does us no good. Knowledge does us good. To protect ourselves, our families and our communities both local and global, each of us must stay on top of the facts and work to dispel the fictions. Paying close attention to expert advice is critical as scientific understanding of COVID-19 grows as its course evolves by the day. This quiz tests your knowledge of the virus and the essential hygiene and avoidance methods to prevent infection and escalation.

This Moment is Critical. Stay Informed. Stay Sane.

This is a critical moment in the growing coronavirus outbreak. Right now, what experts urge above all is the need to flatten the curve: in other words, to slow the pace of the virus so that a rapid, mass escalation of cases does not overwhelm our health care system's capacity to treat the afflicted. That means staying home from work if possible, keeping our children home from school, avoiding group activities — effectively, isolating ourselves as much as possible for the time being. Thankfully, there are things we can do to prepare for and alleviate stress about this period of self-quarantine.

  • To cut down on trips to the store, stock up on a 30-day supply of household groceries, supplies and prescription medicines: www.nytimes.com/prepare-for-coronavirus
  • Stay sane during family lockdown:
  • Alleviate boredom with virtual culture on a museum tour or night at the opera
  • Remember that isolation and loneliness are health problems, too. Stay connected by scheduling video calls with friends and family. Check on the elderly to see if they have the supplies they need. Take a family walk and make a point to wave at your neighbors.
  • Stay informed with reliable sources like the CDC, WHO, or New York Times

Arm Yourself with Information, Starting with this Coronavirus Quiz.

If you liked this quiz, take advantage of your time at home these next weeks by checking out our other fascinating and informative quizzes on science, health and history. 

: Coronavirus Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 1.8K Plays · 3 Comments

Question 1

Which of these is NOT considered a means of transmitting the coronavirus?

  • A
    A bite from a mosquito host
  • B
    Touching a contaminated surface
  • C
    French kissing
  • D
    Breathing in respiratory droplets

Question 2

Health officials say that thoroughly washing your hands is one of the best ways to protect yourself and prevent spread of the coronavirus. What is the minimum amount of time you should spend lathering up?

  • A
    3 minutes
  • B
    15 seconds
  • C
    20 seconds
  • D
    10 seconds

Question 3

Which city was the location of the first U.S. outbreak of the virus?

  • A
    San Francisco
  • B
    Seattle
  • C
    Ft. Lauderdale
  • D
    Phoenix

Question 4

How long does it take for symptoms to show up in a person infected with coronavirus?

  • A
    Up to 7 days
  • B
    Up to 1 day
  • C
    Up to 30 days
  • D
    Up to 14 days

Question 5

To avoid person to person transmission of the virus, health experts advocate reducing contact between people. What do epidemiologists call this practice?

  • A
    Individual isolation
  • B
    Social distancing
  • C
    Population separation
  • D
    Personal spacing

Question 6

Coronavirus shares some symptoms with other afflictions like the flu, common cold, and seasonal allergies. Which of these is NOT a typical coronavirus symptom?

  • A
    Headache
  • B
    Runny nose
  • C
    Sore throat
  • D
    Fever

Question 7

Which of these Western European countries experienced one of the largest initial outbreaks of the virus?

  • A
    France
  • B
    Spain
  • C
    Italy
  • D
    Monaco

Question 8

While not as effective as soap and water, hand sanitizer can also be effective in killing the virus — as long as it contains at least what percentage alcohol?

  • A
    50%
  • B
    60%
  • C
    100%
  • D
    25%

Question 9

Because the virus can be contracted via mucous membranes, health experts have a clear message: Stop Touching Your Face! How often do we touch our faces on average?

  • A
    every 10 seconds
  • B
    every 2 1/2 minutes
  • C
    every 60 minutes
  • D
    twice per hour

Question 10

Can you catch coronavirus from your dog or cat?

  • A
    Probably not
  • B
    Yes
  • C
    Only from cats
  • D
    Only if they have not been vaccinated

Question 11

The US State Department issued a Level III Global Health Advisory On March 11, 2020. What does the advisory instruct American citizens to do regarding travel?

  • A
    Reconsider all travel
  • B
    Reconsider all international travel
  • C
    Cancel all travel plans
  • D
    Take advantage of the ridiculously low fares

Question 12

In which animals are the coronavirus believed to have originated?

  • A
    Sheep
  • B
    Bats
  • C
    Oysters
  • D
    Pigs

Question 13

How long do scientists believe the virus can survive on surfaces?

  • A
    Up to one hour
  • B
    Up to one month
  • C
    Up to several days
  • D
    Up to 24 hours

Question 14

Approximately how many people who are infected with the coronavirus will need hospital care?

  • A
    50%
  • B
    20%
  • C
    1%
  • D
    75%

Question 15

Which of these is a misconception about coronavirus?

  • A
    Antibiotics can be an effective treatment
  • B
    Eating garlic helps prevent it
  • C
    The flu shot offers some protection
  • D
    All of the above

Question 16

In terms of transmissibility, how many other people is someone with coronavirus likely to infect?

  • A
    5 to 10
  • B
    0 to 1
  • C
    2 to 3
  • D
    50 to 100

Question 17

Which of these names for the coronavirus does the World Health Organization discourage?

  • A
    2019-nCoV
  • B
    COVID-19
  • C
    SARS-CoV-2
  • D
    Wuhan virus

Question 18

Which Hollywood mega-star announced on March 11, 2020 that he and his wife had contracted the virus?

  • A
    Tom Cruise
  • B
    Tom Hanks
  • C
    Tommy Lee Jones
  • D
    Tom Selleck

Question 19

As of March 2020, how far off is a vaccine for the coronavirus?

  • A
    At least six months
  • B
    At least one year
  • C
    At least one month
  • D
    At least five years

Question 20

The term coronavirus actually applies to a family of infectious diseases that affect humans. Which of these is NOT a coronavirus-caused illness?

  • A
    MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome)
  • B
    SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)
  • C
    The flu
  • D
    The common cold

Comments (3)

We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.

Good to know, be as safe as possible, but not to deep, like rolling around in a bubble across town.

· · · ·

Some very good questions that people should be aware of to help stop the spread of this terrible disease. Thank You

· · · ·

I think anything that informs people about this virus is a great idea. With knowledge comes the cessation of fear. Thank you very much

· · · ·