Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the newly detected coronavirus, newly because it was not known before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China last year in December.
The COVID-19 was discovered in late 2019 and was recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020.
Other kinds of coronaviruses have been known before as these are a large family of viruses. It may cause illness in both animals and humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Accurate Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). COVID-19 is the latest to be added on the list.
COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Accurate Respiratory Syndrome – Coronavirus – 2) which is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus. It is contagious in humans meaning it has the capability to spread from one person to another. SARS-CoV-2 is genetically similar to bat coronaviruses, suggesting that it has emerged from a bat-borne virus. Pangolin is also being considered to be involved in the virus’ introduction to humans.
How it spreads?
The virus primarily spreads through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You can get infected if you come in contact with an infected person when he sneezes or coughs.
It can also spread if a person touches a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. That’s why it is recommended to maintain proper hygiene and wash your hands regularly.
It’s important, to prevent the spread and protect others, to cough or sneeze into a flexed elbow or use handkerchief or a mask.
Symptoms
People infected with COVID-19 virus experience fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath in common. There are other symptoms that are less common such as aches and pains, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea, runny nose, or loss of taste/smell.
Most infected with COVID-19 will develop mild to moderate symptoms and recover without requiring special treatment. People with medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes, and cancer and those over 60 years old are more likely to develop serious illness.
People who are otherwise healthy and start developing mild symptoms should self-isolate themselves and seek medical attention in case of fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
Precautions
“The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads,” says WHO.
The only option to prevent yourself from getting infected from COVID-19 is to lock yourself down. Don’t be social at all, stay at home as much as you can and don’t let anyone enter your home if not necessary. Maintain proper hygiene by wiping door handles, knobs, and everything related using an alcohol-based sanitizer as recommended by health experts.
Follow lockdowns and government orders as they are only to save you from getting infected and prevent wide-spread. Call helplines if you need any help and only step out of the home if it is really necessary. Carry alcohol-based hand rub with you and sanitize your hands frequently. Don’t touch your face. Here are some other helpful tips as recommended by WHO:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or sanitize them with alcohol-based hand rub.
- Maintain a physical distance of at least 1 meter between you and people coughing or sneezing
- Cover your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.
- Stay home if you feel unwell and seek medical attention in case you develop above-listed symptoms.
- Stop smoking and other related activities that may weaken your lungs.
- Avoid unnecessary travel and practice social distancing.
- Stay away from any kind of people gatherings.
Take precautions, stay home, stay safe, stay healthy 🙂
For more resources on COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic visit WHO’s website.
