Coronavirus or COVID-19 is one kind of dangerous virus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. There are many different kinds, and some cause disease. A newly identified type has caused a recent outbreak of respiratory illness now called Coronavirus or COVID-19. It can alive in animals as well as humans and it can kill both.
Lauren Sauer, M.S., the director of operations with the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response and director of research with the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit, shares information about Coronavirus or COVID-19 and what you would like to understand about the coronavirus. Dr. Martin Blaser answered Coronavirus related to many important random questions from social media.
“Novel coronavirus” is the proper term for this brand-new virus wreaking havoc on our unprepared world. There are different processes, and purposes, for naming viruses and diseases.
Official names have been announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the virus responsible for COVID-19 (previously known as “2019 Novel Coronavirus”) and the disease it causes.
WHO announced “COVID-19” as the name of this new disease on 11 February 2020, following guidelines, previously developed with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China.
The disease caused by the novel coronavirus is named COVID-19. Here “CO” & “VI” are taken from the word coronavirus, while D stands for disease and 19 stands for the year 2019.
Novel coronavirus or COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus which was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Coronaviruses are circulating in animals and some of these coronaviruses have the capability of transmitting between animals and humans also. We call that a spillover event.
The first known case of coronavirus traced back to November in China. A 55-year-old individual from Hubei province in China may have been the first person to have contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus spreading across the globe. That case dates back to Nov. 17, 2019, according to the South Morning China Post.
That’s more than a month earlier than doctors noted cases in Wuhan which is in Hubei province, at the end of December 2019. At the time, authorities suspected the virus stemmed from something sold at a wet seafood market in the city.
Some infected people had no connection to the market in Wuhan, China. That included one of the earliest cases from Dec. 1st, 2019 in an individual who had no link to that seafood market area, researchers reported Jan. 20th in the journal The Lancet.
Scientists now suspect this virus, SARS-CoV-2, originated in a bat and somehow hopped to another animal, possibly the pangolin, which then passed it onto the human’s body. The disease is now spreading between people to people without any animal intermediary. Watch the animated video, where do coronaviruses come from. Watch Now
How can people be affected?
The disease causes respiratory illness like the flu with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. You can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, and avoiding close contact (1-2 meters or 3-6 feet) with people who are unwell. You need to know all about coronavirus.
Coronaviruses get their name from the spikey protein that resembles a crown under a microscope. People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread or transmitted from person to person through small 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 surfaces, 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 important to stay more than 1-2 meters (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.
The World Health Organization(WHO) is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share updated findings.
Can the virus that causes COVID-19 to be transmitted through the air?
Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air. It can be extended through cats and dogs, pigs and cattle, turkey and chickens, rats, rabbits and of course insects too.
It appears that symptoms are showing up in people within 14 days of exposure to the virus.
- Cough
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
Researchers, scientists, and medical doctors are looking at patterns among the growing number of coronavirus patients around the world to discover how typical COVID-19 symptoms progress.
According to data from the China and Researchers team of WHO, the most common symptoms are fever, tiredness, dry cough, and shortness of breath, but COVID-19 patients may only develop one or two of these conditions over the course of their illness.
Some COVID-19 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, and for the majority – especially for children and young adults – an illness due to COVID-19 is generally minor(source WHO). Around 1 out of every 6 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 serious illness.
People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention. In rare cases, COVID-19 can lead to severe respiratory problems, kidney failure or death. How deadly is the new coronavirus you never know. You can see the current total amount of death of coronavirus live.
Those with weakened immune systems may develop more serious symptoms, like pneumonia or bronchitis. You may never develop symptoms after being exposed to COVID-19. So far, most confirmed cases are in adults, but some children have been infected. There is no evidence that children are at greater risk for getting the virus.
- Day 1: Symptoms start off lightly. Patients may experience a fever, dry cough, or occasional shortness of breath. Some may also feel fatigued and muscle pain. A minority may have had diarrhea or nausea one or two days before this.
- Day 3: This is often how long it took, on the average, before the typical Wenzhou patient was admitted to the hospital after their symptoms started.
- Day 5: In severe cases, symptoms could start to worsen. Patients may have difficulty breathing, especially if they’re older or have a preexisting health condition.
- Day 7: This is how long it took, on average, for the Wuhan patients to be admitted to the hospital after their symptoms started.
- Day 8: By this point, patients with severe cases will have likely developed shortness of breath, pneumonia, or acute respiratory distress syndrome, an illness that may require intubation. ARDS is often fatal.
- Day 10: If patients have worsening symptoms, this is the time in the disease’s progression when they’re likely to be admitted to the ICU. These patients probably have more abdominal pain and appetite loss than patients with milder cases. The virus’s fatality rate is hovering at about 4%.
- Day 17: On average, people in Wuhan who recovered from the virus were discharged from the hospital after 2 1/2 weeks.
- Day 27: Some patients stay in the hospital for longer. The average hospital stay for Wenzhou patients was 27 days.
How to get tested
If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want to get tested, try calling your state or local health department or a medical provider. While supplies of these tests are increasing, it may still be difficult to find a place to get tested.
Most people with COVID-19, including children, do not have serious problems. They usually get better with rest and fluids. But it is important to keep kids with COVID-19 away from others who may have a harder time with the virus.
Dr. Leana Wen explained when coronavirus testing is needed. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. Check what explained when you need coronavirus testing.
Is there a vaccine, drug or treatment for COVID-19?
There is currently no vaccine or treatment and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019 or Coronavirus. Symptoms of a coronavirus usually go away on their own. However, if symptoms feel worse than a common cold should receive care to relieve symptoms. People with serious illnesses should be hospitalized. She or He may prescribe pain or fever medication. The FDA is currently advising people to be cautious of websites and stores selling products that claim to prevent, treat or cure COVID-19. Most patients recover thanks to supportive care.
Possible vaccines and some specific drug treatments are under investigation. They are being tested through clinical trials. WHO is coordinating efforts to develop vaccines and medicines to prevent and treat COVID-19.
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. (See Basic protective measures against the new coronavirus).
Advice: Staying at Home
If you have a fever or any kind of respiratory difficulties such as coughing or shortness of breath, call your doctor or a health care provider and explain your symptoms over the phone before going to the doctor’s office, urgent care facility or emergency room. Here are suggestions if you feel sick and are concerned you might have COVID-19.
If you have a medical emergency, call 911 and let them know about your symptoms.
If you see all the symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) you have then you should stay at home for at least 7 days.
If you are living with other people, then they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection Coronavirus (COVID-19) outside the home.
After 14 days, anyone you live with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine. But still, you have to be careful about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) because there is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in 2020.
But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms start. Even if it means they are at home for longer than 14 days.
Tips For Staying at Home
It’s important to stay at home to stop coronavirus spreading. Prevention is better than cure. And it is a wise thing to do. And of course, the resistance is the best!
MUST DO:
- Try to keep at least 2 meters (3 steps) or at least 6 feet from other people in your home, particularly people over 70, or those with long-term health conditions
- Ask friends, family and delivery services to deliver things like food shopping and medicines but leave them outside
- Sleep alone don’t share your bed, if possible
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water or hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds
- Drink plenty of water and take everyday painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, to help with your symptoms
DON’T:
- Don’t have visitors (ask people to leave deliveries outside)
- Don’t leave your home, for example, to go for a walk, to school or to public places
Do you have any personal experience with the coronavirus you would like to share with us? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic coronavirus? Please email dailyhealthcare.us/contact and tell us your story. And get the latest update about coronavirus analysis and research.
Follow us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest
