5 Things to Know About COVID-19

With all the things happening now in the country and throughout the globe in regard to the Corona Virus, we would like to also help in disseminating valuable information that can help in our battle amidst this pandemic. Below are some questions you may have about it and some of the simple answers you need to know.

What is COVID-19?COVID-19 V2

The Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) has been declared by the World Health Organization as a global health risk as of 11 February 2020. It originated in Wuhan, China and made headlines across different countries around the globe as it became a pandemic. It was originally called NCOV but was officially declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as COVID-19 on 11 February in order to avoid confusion with any other types of corona virus.

The novel corona virus is part of a bigger group of viruses that cause sickness in animals and humans that usually cause respiratory issues. These respiratory problems may range from common colds, difficulty in breathing, to a variety of more acute symptoms. Some corona viruses that belong to the same family as COVID-19 that we are previously familiar with are MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

How and Where Did it Originate?

The whistle blower doctor for the corona visus is Dr. Li Wen Liang. When he got sick, he posted in a social media platform in China saying that there is a new virus that is infecting individuals. This alarmed officials so he was detained by the public security bureau and was asked to sign a document declaring that he was only disseminating false information. A week after this, he dealt with a female patient who has glaucoma and was also infected by the corona virus. In January 10, he started to get symptoms such as coughing. The next day, he also developed fever. To avoid spreading the disease to his pregnant wife, five year old child, and children, he decided to stay in a different house. Then, he was brought to the hospital. Days later, his parents also got sick and was also brought to the hospital.

10 Days later, January 20, more people have been infected by the virus, which prompted the Chinese government to declare a state of emergency. Initially, Dr. Li tested negative for the virus. However, on 30 January 2020, his results came positive. His case worsened in 4 days until he eventually died. On Feb 11, WHO officially declared the name of the Novel Corona Virus as COVID-19 in order to avoid confusion with other types of corona viruses.

How does COVID-19 spread?

The virus can be transferred among humans and animals. These can be spread through droplets. These droplets come from the mouth and nose through human or animal breath. When a person with COVID-19 breathes, droplets fall onto nearby surfaces; tables, walls, etc. When a person not infected with the virus touches these surfaces and touches his eyes, nose, or mouth, they will allow the virus to enter into their bodies. It is also possible to inhale droplets from the air exhaled by an infected individual. This is why it is extremely important to maintain a distance of 3 feet from a person who is sick. Current studies show that, COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets, rather than through air.

What are the Symptoms?

The COVID-19 virus has a 5 to 24 days incubation period. This means that you may not immediately detect that you when you contract the virus. Incubation period is the amount of time it takes for the virus to fully develop and show the symptoms. What this means is that you may have the virus and not show any symptoms in the first few days after contact. The symptoms may begin gradually and start out mild. People infected by the virus may experience the following symptoms:

  • Runny nose
  • Nasal Congestion
  • Sore throat
  • Dry Cough
  • Fever
  • Diarrhea
  • Difficulty breathing (severe cases)

There are also cases of COVID-19 that are asymptomatic. This means that they are infected and aare carriers of the virus but do not show any signs and symptoms at all. They also report to feel well. This is why quarantine and social distancing is very important to ensure that we minimize the likelihood of contacting the virus from asymptomatic individuals.

What can I do to avoid getting COVID-19?

The first thing you really need to do especially during the quarantine is stay at home. However, if going outside or to high-risk areas cannot be avoided, these steps may also help:

  1. Frequently clean your hand by washing with soap and water and disinfecting.
  2. Cover your nose with a bent elbow or tissue when sneezing. If you used a tissue, discard it immediately.
  3. Avoid contact with anyone who has cough.
  4. If you have cough and difficulty breathing, go to the nearest hospital to get checked.
  5. If you have mild symptoms, follow the above steps and stay home.
  6. Keep a meter’s distance away from people when you need to go outside.
  7. Do not touch your face as much as possible.
  8. Refrain from activities that may weaken your lungs such as smoking.

We hope that you stay home and stay safe during these times of challenges. Have a good day everyone!

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