With the ongoing pandemic, you must be armed with the right tools and knowledge to help prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This health crisis is affecting a lot of people all over the world.
To better protect yourself and your family from this deadly virus, here is everything you have to know about the coronavirus disease.
Coronavirus Disease and COVID-19: What Are They?
Coronavirus is a family of RNA viruses that may be a source of the disease that can affect both humans and animals.
The recent discovery of disease caused by a part of this family of viruses is the COVID-19. It is an infectious disease that was unknown previously, until in December 2019 in Wuhan, a city in the Hubei province in China. It began with the pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, which showed no apparent cause, and spread from there.
COVID-19 Cases Update
As of April 4, 202, at 10:00 CET, there’s a total of 208 countries, areas, and territories worldwide with recorded cases of COVID-19.
The confirmed cases of the new coronavirus disease now reached 1,051,635, with 79,332 new cases added in the last 24 hours.
There are 56,985 recorded deaths due to COVID-19, with a total of 6,664 new deaths added for the last 24 hours.
Per region, Europe recorded the highest number of confirmed cases at 583,141, with 41,333 new cases added in the last 24 hours. The deaths due to the virus increased by 5231 in the fortnight, now reaching to 42,334 in total. The American region followed in the chart with a total of 279,543 confirmed cases after 32,070 new ones in the last 24 hours. The region’s death toll due to the virus also increased by 1,202, now reaching a total of 6,802 deaths.
The countries with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases are the United States of America, with recorded 241,703. Italy followed with a total of 119,827 confirmed cases, Spain with 117,710, Germany with 85,778, China, with 82,875, and France with 63,536 cases.
How Does the Virus Spread?
Other people may catch COVID-19 from those infected by the virus. The spread of this disease is through small droplets from mouth or nose passed from person to person when someone exhales or coughs. It is why it’s necessary to take physical distancing. WHO advised to stay not less than one meter away from someone who is sick or infected with the virus.
However, the spread also happens even without direct contact with the infected person. The droplets from those who tested positive of the virus can land in surfaces and objects which other people may touch, then touching their nose, mouth, or eyes afterward.
How Contagious is COVID-19?
From the recent records of the spread of confirmed COVID-19 cases, also involving healthcare professionals, it indicated that person to person spread of this disease is occurring. Based on reports about COVID-19, its preliminary reproduction number is currently around 1.4 to 2.5. It’s a measure of the average number of new cases that a single confirmed case can generate over its infectious period. From the recent number, a person infected with the virus can spread the disease to around 1.4 to 2.5 people.
Is COVID-19 Airborne?
Based on current studies, findings suggest that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 primarily spread when people get in contact with respiratory droplets from people already infected instead of through the air.
There aren’t any recent studies that prove otherwise.
What Are the Common Symptoms or Signs of COVID-19?
Some of the most common symptoms or signs that people got infected with COVID-19 include tireness, fever, and dry cough.
In some cases, patients may experience a runny nose, sore throat, nasal congestion, diarrhea, and body aches and pains. These symptoms, however, are often mild and will start gradually. Meanwhile, some patients who are positive with COVID-19 won’t feel unwell and may not develop any symptoms at all.
People who get COVID-19 may also become seriously ill and experience difficulty when breathing. However, this symptom only manifests in one out of every six people infected with the virus. It is also more likely to happen to older people who get COVID-19. Those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, and high blood pressure have higher risk as well.
How Can I Protect Myself and Family From the Virus?
The primary protection measure for everyone is to stay updated on the latest information about the disease from the WHO website and other national and local health authorities. The situation can be unpredictable, with some countries seeing cases of COVID-19 while others are currently experiencing outbreaks.
You can minimize your chance of getting or spreading COVID-19 by taking precautionary measures, including:
- Cleaning your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and water or any alcohol-based hand rub. Using these solutions will kill the virus that may be in your hands.
- Follow the one-meter distancing rule when going in public, especially if someone is sneezing or coughing.
- Follow proper respiratory hygiene. It means covering your nose and mouth whenever you sneeze or cough using a tissue or your bent elbow.
- Avoid touching your face with your hands, especially your mouth, nose, and eyes. Your hand may pick up viruses on contaminated objects and surfaces and can transfer it through your mouth, nose, or eyes.
- Stay inside the house is necessary, especially if you are feeling unwell. If you experience all or some of the symptoms of the coronavirus disease, seek medical help immediately. Follow the process set up by your local health authority.
Cleaning your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and water or any alcohol-based hand rub. Using these solutions will kill the virus that may be in your hands.
Cleaning your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and water or any alcohol-based hand rub. Using these solutions will kill the virus that may be in your hands.
Follow the one-meter distancing rule when going in public, especially if someone is sneezing or coughing.
Follow proper respiratory hygiene. It means covering your nose and mouth whenever you sneeze or cough using a tissue or your bent elbow.
Avoid touching your face with your hands, especially your mouth, nose, and eyes. Your hand may pick up viruses on contaminated objects and surfaces and can transfer it through your mouth, nose, or eyes.
Stay inside the house is necessary, especially if you are feeling unwell. If you experience all or some of the symptoms of the coronavirus disease, seek medical help immediately. Follow the process set up by your local health authority.
Can I Catch It from Animals or Pets at Home?
There was one instance of a dog getting COVID-19 recorded in Hong Kong. However, there is no evidence to date that COVID-19 can spread from animals like dogs, cats, or other pets, to humans.
Is There a Treatment for COVID-19?
To date, there is no treatment, drug, or vaccine for coronavirus disease. However, those infected by the virus should receive appropriate care to help alleviate the symptoms due to the disease. Most patients are able to recover through this. However, patients with serious illnesses should be at the hospital.
Against popular opinion, antibiotics don’t work with treating or preventing COVID-19. It only works on bacterial infections, and since COVID-19 is due to a virus, antibiotics will not work.
Meanwhile, some traditional and western remedies may offer comfort and help curb the symptoms due to coronavirus disease; there is still no evidence about any cure or treatment of COVID-19.
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