Here's everything to know, from symptoms to how to protect yourself  

The new coronavirus that began as a handful of infections in central China has rapidly become a worldwide pandemic, shutting down entire cities, threatening the health of thousands and testing the strength of the global economy.

More than 155,000 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide across more than 100 countries and regions, and more than 5,800 people have died as of Saturday evening, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. At the same time, more than 72,000 people worldwide have recovered from the virus.

As the rate of new cases in China continues to decline, more and more cases are being confirmed across the globe, with clusters in Italy and Iran. In the U.S., the death toll is creeping upward as new cases are cropping up across dozens of states.

Months into the outbreak, there are still more questions than answers. Here's what you need to know about COVID-19.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and some people don't have any symptoms at all. The most common symptoms resemble the flu and include fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some people also develop aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.

About 1 in 6 people becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing, according to the World Health Organization. If you experience fever, cough and shortness of breath, call your doctor.

Symptoms may appear anywhere between two to 14 days after exposure, with the average patient seeing onset at around five days, according to the CDC.

How to prepare for coronavirus

 Take typical flu-season precautions: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Don't touch your eyes, nose and mouth. Cover your cough. Stay home when sick. Clean household objects and surfaces. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.

 If you're sick and want to prepare for a possible quarantine, here's a shopping list of items you should consider to avoid leaving your home.

 And no, you don't need a face mask unless you have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. Buying up masks takes away precious materials from the health workers who need them most.

 Does coronavirus affect pregnancy?

It's unclear how the coronavirus may affect pregnant women. In general, pregnant women may experience changes to their body that could make them more susceptible to viral respiratory infections, according to the CDC.

In the case of SARS and MERS, pregnant women were more at risk for severe illness, and some experienced miscarriage and stillbirth, according to the CDC.

There is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted from an infected mother to her fetus, and, in a limited number of recent cases of infants born to mothers with COVID-19, none of the infants have tested positive for the virus, the CDC said.

Can kids get coronavirus?

Coronavirus in children appears to be rare, with about 2% of cases reported among people under 19 years old, according to the WHO study in China. An even smaller proportion of this age group developed severe (2.5%) or critical disease (0.2%), and just one person under 20 had died in China as of February.

How do you talk to children about coronavirus? Stay honest and simple to avoid anxiety.