- What is a Coronavirus?
Ans: First of all, Coronavirus is not the name of any disease. Instead coronaviruses are large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from common cold, flu to more severe respiratory infection & diseases. You might be familiar with one of those severe infections caused by coronaviruses earlier, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Contagious and sometimes fatal respiratory illness can be caused by a coronavirus. The most recently discovered coronavirus is causing the pandemic COVID-19.
2.What is COVID-19?
Ans: COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the newly discovered coronavirus.
3.When & where did COVID-19 outbreak start?
Ans: COVID-19 outbreak started in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and by March 2020 the disease has spread to countries all around the world.
4.What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Ans: The initial symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to common cough, cold & flu, fever, tiredness. Some may have runny nose, sore throat aches, pains, nasal congestion, headache etc. The symptoms start as mild flu & grow gradually. Most important symptom of a potential COVID-19 infection is difficulty in breathing & shortness of breath. Elder people, people with weak immunity and those with underlying medical problems are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
5.How does COVID-19 spread?
Ans: People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. It can spread through airborne respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes), by touching a contaminated surface (blanket or doorknob), by saliva (kissing or shared drinks), by skin-to-skin contact (handshakes or hugs).
6.How to protect yourself & prevent potential contamination & spread of disease?
Ans: Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority.
- Regularly and thoroughly at small intervals clean your hands with alcohol based rub or soap and water.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth even when you have irritation
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Stay home and isolate if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough cold and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
- Make sure you & all others around you are covering mouth and nose with bent elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
- Keep up to date with all alerts & news of this virus through TV, net or local health authority.
- Avoid travelling or going out in public places
- Try wearing a mask if you are ill with COVID-19 symptoms (especially coughing) or looking after someone who may have COVID-19
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects people frequently touch
- Take fluids, have healthy food & multivitamins to up your immune system
7.Is there treatment?
Ans: There are no specific treatments for coronaviruses, but symptoms can be treated. And good news, the recovery rate from COVID-19 is more than sick rate.
Myths about Coronavirus COVID-19
Myth 1 : If you have any symptoms of a cold or flu, then you are affected with coronavirus COVID-19.
Ans: Please be informed that not all common cold & cough indicate that you are infected with COVID-19 coronavirus. Keep a watch on your health, isolate yourself, drink fluids, eat healthy food and if symptoms worsen and your have difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, get immediate medical attention.
Myth 2 : I can be infected by coronavirus COVID-19 from my pet.
Ans: There is no evidence that a dog, cat or any pet can transmit COVID-19. COVID-19 is mainly spread through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. To protect yourself, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly.
Myth 3 : Once affected COVID-19 cause death
Ans: Being affected with COVID-19 does not mean that you will die. Recovery rates are way more than death rates. Also, older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.
Myth 4: A vaccine to cure COVID-19 is available
Ans: There is no vaccine for the new coronavirus COVID-19 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.
Myth 5: If you order or buy products from China you will be sick and affected
Ans: Researchers are studying the new coronavirus COVID- 19 to learn more about how it infects people. As per scientists, note that most viruses like this one do not stay alive for very long on surfaces ( aka boxes, shipments), so it is not likely you would get COVID-19 from a package that was in transit for several days or weeks.
Myth 6: A face mask will protect you from COVID-19
Ans: People with a respiratory illness can wear these masks to lessen their chance of infecting others. Certain models of professional, tight-fitting respirators (such as the N95 masks) can protect health care workers as they care for infected patients. For others, a disposable ill fitted mask would not help you much from the virus contamination.
Myth 7 : Common cold antibiotics will prevent or can treat COVID-19
Ans: No. Antibiotics do not work against viruses. They can only work on bacterial infections & as COVID-19 is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not help in prevention or treatment of COVID-19.
Lastly, keep few things in mind-
1. Do not spread rumors or false news
2. Don’t panic
3. Stay alert & keep check on health
4. Follow public health advice
5. Keep yourself updated by following news for latest COVID-19 updates
Stay safe & take care of yourself & your loved ones. I hope this pandemic will end soon & we will be happy and lively like before.
Share your concerns, feedback, precautionary measures & updates from valid sources( if any) to help the community.
For more information on COVID-19 log on to http://www.who.int/COVID-19
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