What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a huge own family of viruses which might also cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, numerous coronaviruses are recognised to purpose respiration infections ranging from the not unusual cold to greater excessive diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The maximum lately found coronavirus causes coronavirus sickness COVID-19.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the maximum lately discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disorder have been unknown earlier than the outbreak started in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

What are the signs of COVID-19?

The maximum commonplace signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some sufferers may additionally have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nostril, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually slight and begin gradually. Some human beings grow to be inflamed however don’t increase any signs and do not experience unwell. Most human beings (approximately 80%) recover from the disorder without having special remedy. Around 1 out of every 6 those who receives COVID-19 becomes seriously sick and develops issue breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like excessive blood pressure, coronary heart issues or diabetes, are more likely to broaden extreme contamination. About 2% of human beings with the ailment have died. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing need to are looking for medical attention.

How does COVID-19 unfold?

People can capture COVID-19 from others who've the virus. The disorder can spread from man or woman to individual through small droplets from the nose or mouth which can be unfold when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on gadgets and surfaces around the man or woman. Other human beings then catch COVID-19 by means of touching these gadgets or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People also can capture COVID-19 in the event that they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it's far important to live extra than 1 meter (three feet) away from someone who is sick.

WHO is assessing ongoing studies on the ways COVID-19 is spread and could maintain to percentage updated findings.

What can I do to protect myself and save you the unfold of disease?

Protection measures for everyone

Stay privy to the cutting-edge facts at the COVID-19 outbreak, to be had at the WHO internet site and through your countrywide and local public fitness authority. COVID-19 continues to be affecting mostly human beings in China with some outbreaks in other countries. Most those who turn out to be infected experience moderate contamination and recover, but it is able to be greater intense for others. Take care of your fitness and protect others by using doing the following:

• Regularly and carefully clean your arms with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with cleaning soap and water.

Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or the use of alcohol-primarily based hand rub kills viruses that can be in your arms.

• Maintain at the least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and absolutely everyone who's coughing or sneezing.

Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nostril or mouth which may also include virus. If you're too close, you may breathe inside the droplets, along with the COVID-19 virus if the individual coughing has the disorder.

• Avoid touching eyes, nostril and mouth.

Why? Hands touch many surfaces and may select up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can switch the virus on your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can input your body and may make you sick.

• Make sure you, and the human beings around you, follow desirable respiratory hygiene. This way protecting your mouth and nose along with your bent elbow or tissue whilst you cough or sneeze. Then remove the used tissue straight away.

Why? Droplets spread virus. By following excellent respiratory hygiene you defend the people round you from viruses which includes cold, flu and COVID-19.

• Stay home in case you feel unwell. If you have got a fever, cough and issue breathing, are searching for medical interest and call earlier. Follow the guidelines of your neighborhood fitness authority.

Why? National and neighborhood government may have the most up to date records on the state of affairs in your location. Calling in advance will allow your fitness care issuer to quick direct you to the right fitness facility. This will also shield you and assist prevent unfold of viruses and other infections.

• Stay informed on the brand new developments approximately COVID-19. Follow recommendation given by means of your healthcare issuer, your national and neighborhood public fitness authority or your agency on how to protect your self and others from COVID-19.

Why? National and neighborhood authorities may have the maximum up to date records on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your location. They are exceptional positioned to endorse on what human beings in your area need to be doing to guard themselves.

Protection measures for persons who're in or have these days visited (beyond 14 days) regions wherein COVID-19 is spreading

• Follow the steering outlined above. (Protection measures for everyone)

• Stay at domestic in case you start to sense unwell, even with mild signs and symptoms which include headache and mild runny nostril, until you recover.

Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will permit these centers to operate greater effectively and assist shield you and others from viable COVID-19 and different viruses.

• If you develop fever, cough and issue breathing, seek medical advice right away as this could be due to a respiration contamination or different severe condition. Call earlier and tell your issuer of any recent tour or touch with travelers.

Why? Calling in advance will allow your fitness care company to speedy direct you to the proper fitness facility. This will also assist to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

How probably am I to trap COVID-19?

• The risk relies upon on where you stay or where you've got travelled these days. The risk of infection is better in regions wherein more than a few human beings were recognized with COVID-19. More than 95% of all COVID-19 cases are happening in China, with the majority of these in Hubei Province. For people in maximum different elements of the world, your danger of having COVID-19 is presently low, however, it’s important to be aware about the situation and preparedness efforts in your area.

• WHO is operating with health government in China and around the sector to monitor and reply to COVID-19 outbreaks.

Should I worry about COVID-19?

• If you aren't in a place wherein COVID-19 is spreading, or if you have not travelled from one of these regions or have now not been in near contact with a person who has and is feeling unwell, your probabilities of getting it are presently low. However, it’s understandable that you may experience stressed and anxious approximately the situation. It’s a exact idea to get the records that will help you accurately decide your risks so you can take affordable precautions. Your healthcare provider, your country wide public fitness authority and your organization are all potential resources of accurate statistics on COVID-19 and whether it's far in your place. It is important to be informed of the state of affairs in which you live and take suitable measures to guard yourself. (See Protection measures for everyone).

• If you're in a place wherein there's an endemic of COVID-19 you want to take the danger of infection seriously. Follow the advice issued with the aid of country wide and neighborhood fitness authorities. Although for most humans COVID-19 reasons best slight contamination, it may make some humans very ill. More rarely, the disease can be fatal. Older human beings, and those with pre-existing medical conditions (which includes high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes) appear like greater vulnerable. (See Protection measures for individuals who are in or have these days visited (past 14 days) areas in which COVID-19 is spreading).

Who is liable to developing excessive infection?

• While we are still mastering about how COVID-2019 impacts human beings, older individuals and individuals with pre-existing medical situations (such as excessive blood pressure, heart ailment, or diabetes) appear to expand critical infection more frequently than others.

Are antibiotics effective in stopping or treating the COVID-19?

• No. Antibiotics do now not work towards viruses, they best work on bacterial infections. COVID-19 is resulting from a virus, so antibiotics do no longer work. Antibiotics need to now not be used as a method of prevention or treatment of COVID-19. They must handiest be used as directed by a medical doctor to deal with a bacterial contamination.

Is there a vaccine, drug or remedy for COVID-19?

Not yet. To date, there's no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to save you or treat COVID-2019. However, the ones affected ought to receive care to relieve signs. People with critical infection must be hospitalized. Most patients recover thanks to supportive care.

Possible vaccines and some particular drug remedies are below investigation. They are being tested thru clinical trials. WHO is coordinating efforts to develop vaccines and medicines to prevent and deal with COVID-19.

The handiest methods to guard yourself and others against COVID-19 are to often clean your palms, cowl your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue, and keep a distance of at the least 1 meter (3 feet) from individuals who are coughing or sneezing. For extra records, see simple protecting measures in opposition to the brand new coronavirus.

Is COVID-19 the same as SARS?

No. The virus that causes COVID-19 and the one that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) are related to each different genetically, however they're different. SARS is extra deadly however much much less infectious than COVID-19. There were no outbreaks of SARS everywhere within the world considering 2003.

Should I wear a mask to defend myself?

People with no respiration signs and symptoms, which includes cough, do not want to put on a medical masks. WHO recommends using masks for human beings who have signs of COVID-19 and for the ones caring for people who've signs, together with cough and fever. The use of mask is critical for health workers and people who're taking care of someone (at domestic or in a health care facility).

WHO advises rational use of medical mask to avoid useless wastage of precious resources and mis-use of mask (see Advice on the use of masks). Use a mask simplest if you have breathing symptoms (coughing or sneezing), have suspected COVID-19 contamination with moderate signs, or are worrying for someone with suspected COVID-19 infection. A suspected COVID-19 infection is related to tour in areas where instances had been reported, or close contact with someone who has travelled in these regions and has end up ill.

The simplest ways to guard your self and others against COVID-19 are to regularly clean your hands, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue and hold a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from individuals who are coughing or sneezing. For more information, see primary defensive measures against the new coronavirus.

How to place on, use, take off and put off a mask?

1. Remember, a mask must most effective be utilized by fitness workers, care takers, and individuals with respiratory symptoms, including fever and cough.

2. Before touching the masks, smooth arms with an alcohol-based totally hand rub or soap and water

three. Take the mask and investigate it for tears or holes.

4. Orient which side is the pinnacle aspect (wherein the metallic strip is).

5. Ensure the right side of the masks faces outwards (the coloured facet).

6. Place the masks for your face. Pinch the steel strip or stiff fringe of the mask so it moulds to the form of your nostril.

7. Pull down the mask’s bottom so it covers your mouth and your chin.

8. After use, take off the masks; take away the elastic loops from behind the ears while retaining the mask faraway from your face and clothes, to avoid touching potentially contaminated surfaces of the masks.

9. Discard the masks in a closed bin right now after use.

10. Perform hand hygiene after touching or discarding the mask – Use alcohol-based hand rub or, if visibly soiled, wash your fingers with soap and water.

Can humans come to be inflamed with the COVID-19 from an animal source?

1. Coronaviruses are a massive own family of viruses that are not unusual in animals. Rarely, humans get inflamed with those viruses which might also then unfold to different people. For example, SARS-CoV was related to civet cats and MERS-CoV is transmitted via dromedary camels. Possible animal sources of COVID-19 have not but been confirmed.

2. To guard yourself, inclusive of whilst visiting stay animal markets, avoid direct contact with animals and surfaces in touch with animals. Ensure good food safety practices at all times. Handle uncooked meat, milk or animal organs with care to avoid contamination of raw meals and avoid eating raw or undercooked animal products.

Can I catch COVID-19 from my pet?

No. There isn't any proof that partner animals or pets which includes cats and puppies have been infected or may want to unfold the virus that reasons COVID-19.

How long does the virus live on on surfaces?

It isn't sure how lengthy the virus that reasons COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it appears to act like different coronaviruses. Studies endorse that coronaviruses (consisting of preliminary information at the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for some hours or as much as several days. This may additionally vary under different situations (e.G. kind of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).

If you suspect a surface may be inflamed, easy it with easy disinfectant to kill the virus and defend your self and others. Clean your palms with an alcohol-primarily based hand rub or wash them with cleaning soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.

Is it safe to acquire a package from any location in which COVID-19 has been reported?

Yes. The probability of an infected individual contaminating industrial goods is low and the chance of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a bundle that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different situations and temperature is likewise low.

Is there something I ought to no longer do?

The following measures ARE NOT powerful in opposition to COVID-2019 and can be harmful:

• Smoking

• Taking conventional herbal remedies

• Wearing a couple of mask

• Taking self-medication which includes antibiotics

In any case, if you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing are trying to find hospital treatment early to lessen the chance of developing a extra severe infection and make sure to proportion your latest journey records along with your health care company.