COVID-19 Novel Corona-Virus-Understanding the Disease
Novel Corona-Virus-Understanding Disease
Coronavirus-Introduction
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans.In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most
recently
discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
COVID-19-A
New Type of Corona Virus (Family)
It is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. COVID-19 is now a pandemic affecting many countries globally.
Symptoms
of COVID-19
The most
common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, Shortness of Breath
and tiredness. Some patients may have aches and pains,
nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhea.These symptoms are usually mild
and begin gradually. Some people become infected but only have very mild
symptoms.
Most
people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing hospital treatment. Around 1 out of every 5 people
who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing.
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high
blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, or cancer , are at
higher risk of developing serious illness. However anyone can catch COVID-19
and become seriously ill. Even people with very mild symptoms of COVID-19 can
transmit the virus. People of all ages who experience fever, cough and
difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
Minor symptoms
If you
have minor symptoms, such as a slight cough or a mild fever, there
is generally no need to seek medical care. Stay at home, self-isolate
and monitor your symptoms. Follow national guidance on self-isolation.
However,
if you live in an area with malaria or dengue fever it is
important that you do not ignore symptoms of fever. Seek medical
help. When you attend the health facility wear a mask if
possible, keep at least 1 metre distance from other people and
do not touch surfaces with your hands. If it is a child who is sick help the
child stick to this advice.
Seek
immediate medical care if you have difficulty breathing or pain/pressure in
the chest. If possible, call your health care provider in advance, so he/she
can direct you to the right health facility.
Mode of
spread
People
can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus.
The
disease spreads primarily from person to person through small
droplets from the nose or mouth, which are expelled when a person with COVID-19
coughs, sneezes, or speaks. These droplets are relatively heavy, do
not travel far and quickly sink to the ground. People can catch COVID-19 if
they breathe in these droplets from a person infected with the virus. This is
why it is important to stay at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from others.These
droplets can land on objects and surfaces around the person such as tables,
doorknobs and handrails. People can become infected by touching
these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
This is why it is important to wash your hands regularly with
soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand rub.
Person
having Covid-19 but have no symptoms
If you do not live
in an area with malaria or dengue fever please do the following:
If
you become ill, even with very mild symptoms you must self-isolate
Even if you don’t think you have been exposed to
COVID-19 but develop symptoms, then self-isolate and monitor yourself
You are more likely to infect others in the early stages
of the disease when you just have mild symptoms, therefore early self-isolation
is very important.
I If
you do not have symptoms, but have been exposed to an infected person,
self-quarantine for 14 days.
If
you have definitely had COVID-19 (confirmed by a test) self-isolate for
14 days even after symptoms have disappeared as a precautionary measure –
it is not yet known exactly how long people remain infectious after
they have recovered. Follow national advice on self-isolation.
Self-isolation-A
Protective Measure
It is an
important measure taken by those who have COVID-19 symptoms to avoid infecting
others in the community, including family members.
Self-isolation
is when a person who is experiencing fever, cough or other COVID-19
symptoms stays at home and does not go to work, school or public
places. This can be voluntarily or based on his/her health care provider’s
recommendation. However, if you live in an area with malaria or dengue fever it
is important that you do not ignore symptoms of fever. Seek medical help. When
you attend the health facility wear a mask if possible, keep at least 1 metre
distant from other people and do not touch surfaces with your hands. If it is a
child who is sick help the child stick to this advice.
If you do
not live in an area with malaria or dengue fever please do the following:
-
If a person is in self-isolation, it is because he/she is ill but not severely
ill (requiring medical attention)
have a large, well-ventilated with hand-hygiene and
toilet facilities
If
this is not possible, place beds at least 1 metre apart
Keep
at least 1 metre (3 feet) from others, even from your family members
Monitor
your symptoms daily
Isolate
for 14 days, even if you feel healthy
If
you develop difficulty breathing, contact your healthcare provider immediately
– call them first if possible
Stay
positive and energized by keeping in touch with loved ones by phone or online,
and by exercising yourself at home.
Self-quarantine-Responsible
Approach
To
self-quarantine means to separate yourself from others because you have been
exposed to someone with COVID-19 even though you, yourself, do not have
symptoms.During self-quarantine you monitor yourself for symptoms.
The goal of the self-quarantine is to prevent
transmission. Since people who become ill with COVID-19 can infect
people immediately self-quarantine can prevent some infections from happening.
.
In this
case:
. Have
a large, well-ventilated single room with hand hygiene and
toilet facilities
If
this is not available place beds at least 1 metre apart.
I Keep
at least 1-metre distance from others, even from your family members.
I Monitor
your symptoms daily
Self-quarantine
for 14 days, even if you feel healthy
If
you develop difficulty breathing, contact your healthcare provider immediately
– call them first if possible.
V Stay
positive and energized by keeping in touch with loved ones by phone or online,
and by exercising yourself at home.
However, if you live in an area with
malaria or dengue fever it is important that you do not ignore symptoms of
fever. Seek medical help. When you attend the health facility wear
a mask if possible, keep at least 1 metre distant from other people and do not
touch surfaces with your hands. If it is a child who is sick help the child
stick to this advice.
Protective
Measure-Protocol of usage of Mask
If
you choose to wear a mask:
Before
touching the mask, clean hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water
I Take
the mask and inspect it for tears or holes.
I Orient
which side is the top side (where the metal strip is).
Ensure
the proper side of the mask faces outwards (the coloured side).
Place
the mask to your face. Pinch the metal strip or stiff edge of the mask so it
moulds to the shape of your nose.
Pull
down the mask’s bottom so it covers your mouth and your chin.
VI Do
not touch the mask while you are wearing it for protection.
After
use, take off the mask with clean hands; remove the elastic loops from behind
the ears while keeping the mask away from your face and clothes, to avoid
touching potentially contaminated surfaces of the mask.
Discard
the mask in a closed bin immediately after use. Do not reuse the mask.
Perform
hand hygiene after touching or discarding the mask – Use alcohol-based hand rub
or, if visibly soiled, wash your hands with soap and water.
Be
aware that there is a global shortage of medical masks (both surgical masks and
N95 masks). These should be reserved as much as possible for health care
workers.
Children
and Adolescents-Spread of COVID-19
Research
indicates that children and adolescents are just as likely to become
infected as any other age group and can spread the disease.Evidence to
date suggests that children and young adults are less likely to get severe
disease, but severe cases can still happen in these age groups.Children and
adults should follow the same guidance on self-quarantine and self-isolation if
there is a risk they have been exposed or are showing symptoms. It is
particularly important that children avoid contact with older people and others
who are at risk of more severe disease.
Not yet. To date, there is no
vaccine and no specific antiviral medicines against COVID-19. However,
people, particularly those with serious illness, may need to be hospitalized so
that they can receive life-saving treatment for complications.. Most patients
recover thanks to such care.
Possible
vaccines and some specific drug treatments are currently 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:
- Clean your hands frequently
and thoroughly
- Avoid touching your eyes,
mouth and nose
- Cover your cough with the
bend of elbow or tissue. If a tissue is used, discard it immediately and
wash your hands.
- Maintain a distance of at
least 1 metre (3 feet) from others.
Development
of symptoms-After exposure
The time
between exposure to COVID-19 and the moment when symptoms start is commonly
around five to six days but can range from 1 – 14 day
Connection
between COVID-19 and Animals
COVID-19
is spread through human-to-human transmission.
We
already know a lot about other viruses in the coronavirus family and most of
these types of viruses have an origin in animals. The COVID-19 virus (also
called SARS-CoV-2) is a new virus in humans. The possible animal
source of COVID-19 has not yet been confirmed but research is ongoing.
Several dogs
and cats (domestic cats and a tiger) in contact with infected
humans have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, ferrets appear
to be susceptible to the infection. In experimental conditions, both cats and
ferrets were able to transmit infection to other animals of the same species,
but there is no evidence that these animals can transmit the
disease to human and play a role in spreading COVID-19. COVID-19 is
mainly spread through droplets produced when an infected
person coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
It is
still recommended that people who are sick with COVID-19 and people who are at
risk limit contact with companion and other animals. When handling and caring
for animals, basic hygiene measures should always be implemented. This
includes hand washing after handling animals, their food, or
supplies, as well as avoiding kissing, licking or sharing food.
COVID-19-survival
on Surfaces
The most
important thing to know about coronavirus on surfaces is that they can easily
be cleaned with common household disinfectants that will kill the virus.
Studies have shown that the COVID-19 virus can survive for up to 72
hours on plastic and stainless steel, less than 4 hours on
copper and less than 24 hours on cardboard.As, always clean your hands with an
alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your
eyes, mouth, or nose.
When grocery
shopping, keep at least 1-metre distance from others and
avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose. If possible, sanitize the
handles of shopping trolleys or baskets before shopping. Once home,
wash your hands thoroughly and also after handling and storing your purchased
products.There is currently no confirmed case of COVID-19 transmitted through
food or food packaging.
Fruits
and vegetables are
important components of a healthy diet. Wash them the same way
you should do under any circumstance: before handling them, wash your hands
with soap and water. Then, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean
water, especially if you eat them raw.
Antibiotics
effectiveness against COVID-19
No. Antibiotics do not work
against viruses; they only work on bacterial infections. COVID-19 is caused by
a virus, so antibiotics do not work. Antibiotics should not be used as a means
of prevention or treatment of COVID-19. In hospitals physicians will sometimes
use antibiotics to prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections which can be
a complication of COVID-19 in severely ill patients. They should only be used
as directed by a physician to treat a bacterial infection.
Faeces
Transmission of Virus
While
initial investigations suggest the virus may be present in faeces in some
cases, to date, there have not been reports of faecal-oral transmission of
COVID-19. Additionally, there is no evidence to date on the survival of the
COVID-19 virus in water or sewage.
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