What is coronavirus? Need to Know
Covid-19 is the seventh coronavirus to infect the human species and the third from an animal reservoir.
Due to the rapid, perceptive appearance of the coronavirus in the news, we and animals forgot that they are carriers of many viruses and coronaviruses. According to the Pasteur Institute, until recently there were six coronaviruses that could infect humans, four of which are responsible for the inevitable cold or flu-like conditions (not to be confused with the seasonal flu).
According to the WHO, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses ranging from the common cold to much more serious illnesses. These diseases can infect both humans and animals. The epidemic, which started to spread in Wuhan, the capital of China’s Hubei province, is related to two other coronaviruses that have caused major epidemics in recent years: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
Symptoms of a coronavirus infection range from respiratory problems to pneumonia, kidney failure, and fluid buildup in the lungs.
Experts said that Covid-19 spreads more easily than SARS and is similar to other coronaviruses that cause cold symptoms. It appears to be highly contagious and, as cases are mild, the disease may be more common than current test numbers suggest.
WHO – The World Health Organization (WHO) is constantly monitoring and responding to this outbreak. They have compiled the following Q&A as they learn more about how COVID-19 spreads and affects people around the world. We wanted to share them with you. Check the WHO’s coronavirus pages regularly for more information. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections, from the common cold to more serious diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes the coronavirus disease COVID-19.
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease was unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, fatigue and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but do not develop any symptoms and feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without the need for special treatment. About 1 in 6 people who get COVID-19 become seriously ill and have difficulty breathing. Older people and those with underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes are more likely to develop serious illnesses. People with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can be spread from person to person in small droplets or mouth spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets fall on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from someone who coughs or exhales droplets with COVID-19. That’s why it’s important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.
WHO is evaluating ongoing research into the ways in which COVID-19 spreads and will continue to share updated findings.
Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through the air?
Studies to date show that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than air. “How does COVID-19 spread?” See previous answer about
Can CoVID-19 be caught from a person with no symptoms?
The main route of the disease is respiratory droplets expelled by someone coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone who has no symptoms is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is especially true in the early stages of the disease. Therefore, it is possible to catch COVID-19 from a person who, for example, has a mild cough and does not feel sick. WHO is evaluating ongoing research on the duration of transmission of COVID-19 and will continue to share updated findings.
Can I catch COVID-19 from the stool of someone with the disease?
The risk of catching COVID-19 from an infected person’s stool appears to be low. Spread through this route is not the main feature of the epidemic, although initial research suggests that in some cases the virus may be present in feces. WHO, ways of spreading COVID-19
It is evaluating ongoing research on the topic and will continue to share new findings. But since this is a risk, regular cleaning of hands after using the bathroom and before eating is another reason.
Protection measures for all
Stay up to date with the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak available on the WHO website and at your national and local public health authority. Many countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and some have seen outbreaks. Authorities in China and several other countries have managed to slow or stop their outbreaks. However, the situation is unpredictable, so check back regularly for the latest news.
You can reduce your chances of getting infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:
Clean your hands regularly with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
From where? Washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub will kill any viruses that may be on your hands.
Keep at least 1 meter (3 feet) between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
From where? When someone coughs or sneezes, they spray tiny droplets of liquid that may contain the virus from their nose or mouth. If you are very close, you can breathe in droplets, including the COVID-19 virus, if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
From where? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. When dirty, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose, or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and make you sick.
Make sure you and the people around you practice good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with a bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then discard the used tissue immediately.
From where? Droplets spread the virus. By practicing good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as colds, flu and COVID-19.
If you don’t feel well, stay home. If you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call ahead. Follow your local health agency’s instructions.
From where? National and local authorities will have the most up-to-date information on the situation in your area. Calling ahead will allow your healthcare provider to quickly direct you to the right healthcare facility. This will also protect you and help prevent the spread of viruses and other infections.
Stay up to date with the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is widely spread). If possible, avoid traveling to places especially if you are elderly or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
From where? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.
Protection measures for people who have visited or have recently visited areas where COVID-19 has spread (last 14 days)
Follow the guidelines outlined above (Protections for everyone)
If you start to feel unwell until you get better, even with mild symptoms such as headache, low-grade fever (37.3 C or above) and mild runny nose, isolate by staying at home. If someone needs to bring you supplies or go out, for example to buy food, wear a mask to avoid infecting other people.
From where? Avoiding contact with others and visiting medical facilities will help these facilities operate more effectively and protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
If you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately as this may be caused by a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call ahead and tell your provider to contact recent travel or travelers.
From where? Calling ahead will allow your healthcare provider to quickly direct you to the right healthcare facility. This will also help prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
The risk depends on where you are and more specifically, if there is a COVID-19 outbreak there.
For most people in most places, the risk of catching COVID-19 is still low. However, there are now places (cities or regions) where the disease has spread around the world. People living in or visiting these areas are at higher risk of catching COVID-19. Governments and health authorities take strong action whenever a new case of COVID-19 is detected. Be sure to comply with local restrictions on travel, movement or large gatherings. Collaborating with disease control efforts will reduce your risk of catching or spreading COVID-19.
COVID-19 outbreaks can be contained and transmission halted, as demonstrated in China and some other countries. Unfortunately, new outbreaks can emerge quickly. It’s important to be aware of the situation you’re going or considering going. WHO publishes daily updates on the COVID-19 situation worldwide.
You can find them at https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situa