What is a coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that may cause illness in animals or 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 Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
What is COVID-19
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and infection were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, 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 don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around one out of every six people who get COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems, or diabetes, are more likely to develop severe illnesses. People with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
How does COVID-19 spread
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through tiny droplets from the nose or mouth, which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or characters, then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is essential to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a sick person.
Only wear a mask if you are ill with COVID-19 symptoms (especially coughing) or looking after someone who may have COVID-19. A disposable face mask can only be used once. If you are not ill or looking after someone who is ill, you are wasting a mask. There is a worldwide shortage of masks, so We urge people to use masks wisely. We advise rational medical masks to avoid unnecessary wastage of precious resources and misuse of masks. The most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to frequently clean your hands, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue and maintain a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from people who are coughing or sneezing.
The following measures ARE NOT effective against COVID-2019 and can be harmful:
• Smoking
• Wearing multiple masks
• Taking antibiotics (See question 10 “Are there any medicines or therapies that can prevent or cure COVID-19?”)
If you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early to reduce the risk of developing a more severe infection. Be sure to share your recent travel history with your health care provider.
Sources: naijagists.com, us.nepalembassy.gov.np, www.who.int, sanitisemaun.org, covid19.gov.bs, medium.com