WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS 'COVID-19' ?
In December 2019, a new coronavirus appeared in Wuhan, China. It has since infected thousands across the globe, and the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic, which refers to how far it’s spread.
The new coronavirus causes a disease called COVID-19, with symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. It can be deadly, particularly in people over the age of 60 or with underlying health conditions.
In response, US tech companies have canceled events and ramped up efforts to avoid spreading misinformation. Scientists have tried to figure out exactly how the virus works, in the hopes that we can eventually develop medicine. And many people are staying at home to try to slow down the pace at which the disease goes through the population.
FACTS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS 'COVID-19' :
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, there’s plenty of new information to pay attention to each day. While the number of confirmed cases continues to rise in the U.S., what doctors and scientists know about how COVID-19 behaves becomes both clearer and murkier, and tips on staying busy, working from home, and caring for our mental health abound. But what’s also swirling are truths, half truths, and untruths about the coronavirus crisis. That’s why we went straight to the experts to find out what you need to know to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy and safe. Here are the expert-verified facts about the coronavirus that you need to know.
1- There is no vaccine for the new right now. Scientists have already begun working on one, but developing a vaccine that is safe and effective in human beings will take many months.
2- You can't protect yourself from COVID-19 by swallowing or gargling with bleach, taking acetic acid or steroids, or using essential oils, salt water, ethanol or other substances.
You can protect yourself and help prevent spreading the virus to others if you:
Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
- Do
Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze
Avoid close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell
Stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell
Touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean
- Don't
3- Viruses can change over time. Occasionally, a disease outbreak happens when a virus that is common in an animal such as a pig, bat or bird undergoes changes and passes to humans. This is likely how the new coronavirus came to be, but not created or released by people.
4- The coronavirus pandemic won’t end once warmer weather arrives.
Not to be Debbie Downers, but here’s the reality: Rising temperatures won’t bring the coronavirus spread to a halt. “The idea that this is just going to blow over once spring and summer arrives is incorrect — warmer temps won’t kill off the virus,” says Dr. Vasan. “The spread may slow slightly simply because there tends to be less coughing and sneezing during the warm months, but it’s so easily transmissible that it will continue to circulate if we don’t get a handle on it now. That’s why social distancing is so important.”
5- Over-the-counter meds won’t make COVID-19 symptoms worse.
“That rumor just adds to the panic — there’s no scientific evidence to back it up,” says Dr. Dasgupta.
6-Even if you don’t have symptoms, you can still be contagious.
“It’s possible that 70% to 80% of people may have mild to no symptoms, but I would still be very cautious because you may still be infectious,” says Peter Gulick, infectious disease expert at Michigan State University.
7- people of any age can get coronavirus, including children.
The New York Times recently reported that nearly 40% of hospitalized coronavirus patients in the U.S. are under the age of 54.
8- coronavirus is comparable to SARS or to the seasonal flu.
The novel coronavirus detected in China is genetically closely related to the SARS-CoV-1 virus. SARS emerged at the end of 2002 in China, and it caused more than 8 000 cases in 33 countries over a period of eight months. Around one in ten of the people who developed SARS died.
Preliminary findings indicate that the mortality rate for COVID-19 is 20-30 per thousand people diagnosed. This is significantly less than the 2003 SARS outbreak. However, it is much higher than the mortality rate for seasonal influenza.
9- No home remedies will kill the COVID-19 virus.
If you’ve read that gargling with hot tea or vinegar will kill the virus, know that that’s not true. “These home remedies might ease your symptoms to help you feel better, but they do nothing to fight the virus itself,” says Dr. Dasgupta. Another coronavirus combat tip to avoid: Spraying yourself with household disinfectants. “This is dangerous and should never be done,” Dr. Dasgupta says. “You should never ingest these products or apply them to your skin.”
10-It’s not a “Chinese virus.”
This term has been thrown around a lot lately, but it’s absolutely incorrect — and just plain wrong — to do so. “Characterizing a virus based on a specific ethnicity or nation is racist,” says Dr. Vasan. “COVID-19 is part of an existing family of viruses called coronaviruses and has nothing to do with geography. In theory, the first case could have started anywhere.”
SYMTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS 'COVID-19' :
People may be sick with the virus for 1 to 14 days before developing symptoms. The most common symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.
More rarely, the disease can be serious and even fatal. Older people, and people with other medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), may be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill.
People may experience:
- cough
- fever
- tiredness
- difficulty breathing (severe cases)
What should I do if I have symptoms?
WHO advice is now that anyone with symptoms should stay at home for at least 7 days. If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home. This applies to everyone, regardless of whether they have travelled abroad.
You should look on the dedicated coronavirus WHO website for information. If you get worse or your symptoms last longer than seven days, you should call the emergency. People will no longer be tested for the virus unless they are in hospital.
Many countries have imposed travel bans and lockdown conditions in order to try and halt the spread of the virus. You should check with your local authorities for the latest advice on seeking medical assistance.
FOR MORE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS 'COVID-19' :
As more information about the coronavirus pandemic develops, some of the information in this article may have changed since it was last updated. For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, please visit online resources provided the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department. You can work to better protect yourself from COVID-19 by washing your hands, avoiding contact with sick individuals, and sanitizing your home, among other actions.
Please share this with everyone you know. You might be the reason you saved some lives.
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