Covid-19 information

what is COVID-19

COVID-19 is the name given by the World Health Organization (WHO) on February 11, 2020  for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It started in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and has since spread worldwide. COVID-19 is an acronym that stands for coronavirus disease of 2019. 

Coronaviruses are a group of related viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, coronaviruses cause respiratory tract infections that can be mild, such as some cases of the common cold (among other possible causes, predominantly rhinoviruses), and others that can be lethal, such as SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Symptoms in other species vary: in chickens, they cause an upper respiratory tract disease, while in cows and pigs they cause diarrhea. There are yet to be vaccines or antiviral drugs to prevent or treat human coronavirus infections.


Cause of COVID-19

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face. 

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).

At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. WHO will continue to provide updated information as soon as clinical findings become available.

SYMPTOMS of COVID-19 

What are the coronavirus symptoms?

   Coronavirus infects the lungs. The symptoms start with a fever followed by a dry cough, which can lead to breathing problems.

   This is a new, continuous cough and means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or having three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual).

   It takes five days on average to start showing the symptoms, scientists have said, but some people will get symptoms much later than this. In fact the World Health Organization (WHO) says the incubation period lasts up to 14 days.

   Ear, nose and throat specialists in the UK have also noticed rising reports of anosmia - the term for loss of smell.

   And increasing numbers of people on social media have been reporting a lost sense of smell and taste. Some have tested positive for coronavirus.

   However, the evidence so far is only anecdotal and viruses behind the common cold often lead to lost senses of smell and/or taste.

HOW TO PREVENT COVID-19

DO THE FIVE

Help stop coronavirus

1

HANDSWash them often

2

ELBOWCough into it

3

FACEDon't touch it

4

SPACEKeep safe distance

5

HOMEStay if you can