Coronavirus Quiz: Can You Separate Fact from Fiction?
Written by Susanna Henke
Last updated · 8 min play time
This quiz will help you stay safe and informed during the global coronavirus pandemic.
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:
- Establish structure with a daily schedule (and don't forget to include time for physical activity and personal space)
- Fight screen suck with engaging activities for little ones and not so little ones
- 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.
Quiz written by
Susanna Henke: Coronavirus Quiz Questions
20 Questions · 1.8K Plays · 3 Comments
Question 1
Which of these is NOT considered a means of transmitting the coronavirus?
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AA bite from a mosquito host
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BTouching a contaminated surface
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CFrench kissing
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DBreathing in respiratory droplets
A bite from a mosquito host
The primary way the coronavirus spreads from person to person is via the respiratory droplets expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
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?
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A3 minutes
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B15 seconds
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C20 seconds
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D10 seconds
20 seconds
A common tip is to wash your hands as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice in your head. Another is to imagine you’ve got jalapeño seeds under your fingernails and you need to change your contact lenses.
Question 3
Which city was the location of the first U.S. outbreak of the virus?
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ASan Francisco
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BSeattle
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CFt. Lauderdale
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DPhoenix
Seattle
The significant number of cases in the Seattle area is due to the devastating outbreak at a single nursing home, whose elderly residents account for 25 of the area's 38 deaths to date.
Question 4
How long does it take for symptoms to show up in a person infected with coronavirus?
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AUp to 7 days
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BUp to 1 day
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CUp to 30 days
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DUp to 14 days
Up to 14 days
Knowing the length of time it can take for symptoms to show up, called the incubation period, is an essential part of controlling the spread of the virus. The incubation period determines how long a person who has been exposed to the virus needs to be in quarantine. While some viruses — including the flu — have incubation periods as short as three days, the Centers for Disease Control has determined that the coronavirus can be undetected for as long as two weeks.
Question 5
To avoid person to person transmission of the virus, health experts advocate reducing contact between people. What do epidemiologists call this practice?
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AIndividual isolation
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BSocial distancing
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CPopulation separation
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DPersonal spacing
Social distancing
When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they emit droplets that may contain the virus. Because the droplets can project as far as 2 meters/6 feet, experts recommend keeping a minimum of that distance between yourself and others.
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?
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AHeadache
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BRunny nose
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CSore throat
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DFever
Runny nose
While the coronavirus is very similar to influenza, experts warn against underestimating the danger of the coronavirus, which is both more contagious and more deadly (the current mortality rate estimate is 3.4%, while the seasonal flu is just .1%). The most important difference, however, is that there is currently no vaccine for the coronavirus.
Question 7
Which of these Western European countries experienced one of the largest initial outbreaks of the virus?
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AFrance
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BSpain
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CItaly
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DMonaco
Italy
The rapid proliferation of the virus in Italy has led to dramatic restrictions, limiting movement of its population and shutting down all non-essential businesses. But the response was not quick enough to prevent a huge spike in cases that has wreaked havoc on the country's health care system.
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?
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A50%
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B60%
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C100%
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D25%
60%
According to the CDC, hand sanitizer needs to contain at least 60% alcohol in order to kill the coronavirus. Don’t be misled by claims of 99.9% effectiveness — it’s the alcohol content that counts.
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?
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Aevery 10 seconds
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Bevery 2 1/2 minutes
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Cevery 60 minutes
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Dtwice per hour
every 2 1/2 minutes
Rub your eyes, scratch your nose, rest your chin on your palm, brush the hair off your forehead — usually we're not even aware of it, but studies show that humans are incessant face-touchers. But we need to kick the habit, especially during a pandemic. Some helpful tips are: use a Kleenex if you need to scratch a facial itch, wear glasses as a barrier to touching your eyes, and address triggers by doing things like using eye drops for itchy eyes.
Question 10
Can you catch coronavirus from your dog or cat?
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AProbably not
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BYes
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COnly from cats
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DOnly if they have not been vaccinated
Probably not
While there has been one instance of a dog being infected in Hong Kong, there is no evidence at this point that a pet can transmit the virus to a human.
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?
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AReconsider all travel
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BReconsider all international travel
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CCancel all travel plans
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DTake advantage of the ridiculously low fares
Reconsider all international travel
While not as restrictive as a Level IV (do not travel) Advisory, many individual countries around the world have implemented mandatory quarantine periods and other restrictions on foreign travel.
Question 12
In which animals are the coronavirus believed to have originated?
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ASheep
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BBats
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COysters
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DPigs
Bats
While the virus probably originated in bats, some scientists believe that the transmission to humans was via an intermediary animal: a pangolin. A what? Practically unknown in the west, the scaly, ant-eating pangolin is the most frequently trafficked animal in the world. Considered a precious delicacy in China, a live pangolin can fetch up to $300 per pound at markets like the Wuhan wet market that is believed to be the starting point of this coronavirus.
Question 13
How long do scientists believe the virus can survive on surfaces?
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AUp to one hour
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BUp to one month
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CUp to several days
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DUp to 24 hours
Up to several days
While it's not yet certain how long this virus can last on a surface, studies indicate that it could be up to a few days. To be careful, experts recommend disinfecting possibly contaminated surfaces with diluted bleach or household disinfectant (with at least 70% alcohol).
Question 14
Approximately how many people who are infected with the coronavirus will need hospital care?
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A50%
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B20%
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C1%
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D75%
20%
The good news is that most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.
Question 15
Which of these is a misconception about coronavirus?
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AAntibiotics can be an effective treatment
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BEating garlic helps prevent it
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CThe flu shot offers some protection
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DAll of the above
All of the above
On the other hand, staying informed via reliable sources such as www.who.int and www.cdc.gov is an essential component of staying safe during this pandemic.
Question 16
In terms of transmissibility, how many other people is someone with coronavirus likely to infect?
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A5 to 10
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B0 to 1
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C2 to 3
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D50 to 100
2 to 3
The current estimate of 2.5 transmissions per infected person makes the coronavirus significantly more infectious than the flu, which has an average transmission rate of 1.3.
Question 17
Which of these names for the coronavirus does the World Health Organization discourage?
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A2019-nCoV
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BCOVID-19
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CSARS-CoV-2
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DWuhan virus
Wuhan virus
One doesn't have to look back far in history to know that disease naming is a delicate matter. Poorly chosen names can stigmatize groups of people, such as the early AIDS name GRID (gay-related immune deficiency) and inaccurately assign blame to animals, such as the swine flu (which led to mass livestock slaughter despite the fact that pigs did not transmit the disease to humans). The World Health Organization takes this responsibility so seriously that it took over six weeks to give the coronavirus disease its official name of COVID-19. In the meantime, use of the unofficial "Wuhan virus" spread along with the virus.
Question 18
Which Hollywood mega-star announced on March 11, 2020 that he and his wife had contracted the virus?
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ATom Cruise
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BTom Hanks
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CTommy Lee Jones
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DTom Selleck
Tom Hanks
At a time when the impending coronavirus crisis still felt somewhat abstract to many Americans, the beloved actor's stunning announcement served as a very real wake-up call.
Question 19
As of March 2020, how far off is a vaccine for the coronavirus?
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AAt least six months
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BAt least one year
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CAt least one month
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DAt least five years
At least one year
While drug testing is already underway, experts say an effective vaccine is at least a year away. The wait isn't for lack of effort — dozens of labs and universities are at work already — but due to the necessity of clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a candidate vaccine.
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?
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AMERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome)
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BSARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)
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CThe flu
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DThe common cold
The flu
The term coronavirus comes from the Latin word for "crown," due to the virus's crown-like spikes that resemble the sun's corona.
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