CORONAVIRUS: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19

By all means, the novel coronavirus is becoming one of the most disruptive epidemics of this century. With new developments and warnings every day, the disease is taking over the world at a rather scary pace. Countries have gone into lockdown while travel bans have been imposed in various parts of the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health pandemic over the coronavirus which has claimed over 5,700 lives across the globe. The virus emerged in Wuhan, a central Chinese city. The number of infected cases has been on the rise with Italy seeing the maximum cases outside of China.

Amidst all the panic, there are a number of misconceptions that are being circulated on news channels and social media. To keep yourself safe and understand the virus better, you need to know the following.

What is Coronavirus?

According to the WHO, coronavirus is a family of viruses that are the cause of various illnesses such as common cold and much severe disease like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

The name coronavirus is taken from the Latin word Corona meaning crown or halo. When inspected under an electron microscope, the virus looks like a solar crown. The viruses were originally transmitted from animals to humans, however, there are many coronaviruses circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

The coronavirus identified in China has been named as COVID-19 and has been identified in humans for the first time. Human to human transmission for the same has been confirmed.

What are its symptoms?

According to the WHO, Coronavirus symptoms include shortness of breath, fever, dry cough, and breathing difficulties. In severe conditions, the virus can lead to pneumonia, organ failure and even prove fatal in some cases.

The incubation period for corona right now stands at 14 days. Most of the patients show the symptoms within five to six days. However, it is important to note that some cases can also be asymptomatic, with no signs of infection despite having the virus.

What are the protective measures?

Stay aware of the latest developments on COVID-19 outbreak and keep an eye on the possible areas that act as a home to the virus. It is important to take all the preventive measures to keep this deadly disease at bay and protect yourself and others around you. Follow these measures to remain safe:

• Wash your hands regularly: It is important to clean your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and water. It is advisable to keep an alcohol based hand sanitizer with you at all times, as it will help kill viruses that might be on your hands. You can buy Care Now Hand Sanitizers from medical stores or online platforms like Smart Medical Buyer.

• Social distancing: The WHO has advised everyone to maintain a distance of at least 3 feet from anyone who is coughing or sneezing. This is to avoid the small liquid droplets sprayed from the nose or mouth of the person. If you are too close to the individual you have greater chances of breathing in the droplets and becoming infected.