What is Coronavirus?: Its Overview, Causes, Symptoms & Prevention

What is Coronavirus?  A new virus called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the cause of a disease outbreak that began in China in 2019. The disease is called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Public health groups, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO, are monitoring the pandemic and posting updates on their websites. These groups have also issued recommendations for preventing and treating the illness. According to the available updates and information, there’s no official vaccine for the virus but a preventive measure have taken globally to control the spread of the disease. Over 2,665,122 cases Worldwide has been confirmed,   727,170 Recovered and 185,494 Deaths at April 23, 2020 according to WHO live statistics and updates.

What is coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus in China. Most people who fall sick with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment.

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). However, COVID-19 can be characterized in diverse of ways; such as the question of how it spreads? How to prevent the spread or preventive measure? How to protect yourself?  And what are the symptoms?

How Does It Spreads

• The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air, and quickly fall on floors or surfaces.
• You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within close proximity of someone who has COVID-19, or by touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Protect yourself and others around you by knowing the facts and taking appropriate precautions. Follow advice provided by your local public health agency.

How prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Clean your hands often. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Stay home if you feel unwell.
• If you have a fever, a cough, and difficulty breathing, seeks medical attention. Call in advance.
• Follow the directions of your local health authority.
• Avoiding unneeded visits to medical facilities allows healthcare systems to operate more effectively, therefore protecting you and others.

What are the symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

COVID-19 symptoms can be very mild to severe. Some people have no symptoms. Mild symptoms may include fever, fatigue, cough, sore throat, headache, and decreased sense of smell or taste. More severe symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest pain, severe vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure.

How to protect yourself

The following measure can be practice to protect ourselves from COVID-19

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Stay home as much as possible
• Put distance between yourself and other people.

Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus. Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick

What are the Ways to Avoid Coronavirus?

At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. The following measure can be adopted to avoid been infected or spreading the virus.

1. Follow the recommended precautions of the disease:

The WHO recommends following these precautions for avoiding COVID-19:

• Avoid large events and mass gatherings.
• Wear a cloth face mask in public areas
• Avoid close contact (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters) with people outside of your home.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away the used tissue.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces you often touch on a daily basis.

If you have a chronic medical condition and may have a higher risk of serious illness, check with your doctor about other ways to protect yourself.

2. Another way to avoid the coronavirus is to avoid spreading the virus

If you notice someone or you develop symptoms and you’ve been exposed to the virus COVID-19, contact your doctor for medical advice. If you need to go to the doctor or hospital, call ahead so health care providers can take steps to ensure that others aren’t exposed.

The following precautions or steps can be taken to avoid the virus or spreading the virus

• Stay home from work, school and public areas, except to get medical care.
• Avoid taking public transportation if possible.
• Wear a mask around other people.
• Isolate yourself as much as possible from others in your home.
• Use a separate bedroom and bathroom if possible.
• Avoid sharing dishes, glasses, bedding and other household items.
• As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. You can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• To protect yourself, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.