The global pandemic known as COVID -19 is continuously being monitored by the World Health Organization and other organizations such as the Banora shopping village medical centre. The following is a list of Q&As that will help you during these trying times.
What Exactly is Coronavirus?
The term coronavirus refers to an entire family of viruses known to cause illness in both humans and animals. When focusing on humans, the viruses are responsible for respiratory infections that range from having a common cold to even more cases such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The latest coronavirus which can be tested at the Banora shopping village medical centre is the COVID -19.
What Does COVID-19 Stand For?
COVID-19 is a type of infectious disease that is caused by the newly discovered coronavirus. The disease has been unknown to the world before it hit the town of Wuhan in China back in December 2019.
COVID -19 Symptoms to Watch out For
The three most common signs to be aware of when dealing with the COVID -19 are tiredness, dry cough, and fever. Some patients might experience aches, runny nose, diarrhea, and nasal congestion. The symptoms mentioned are normally mild and often increase gradually.
Some individuals have the disease but don’t exhibit any symptoms. Such people don’t feel unwell even though they are infected. It is important to note that about 80% of those infected often recover without requiring any form of special treatment of covid-19. The elderly and those patients who already have underlying chronic diseases usually become severely ill. Such illnesses include diabetes, hypertension and heart problems among others. You should seek medical assistance if you have a fever, develop a cough or have difficulty breathing.
How Does the Spreading of COVID-19 Occur?
One can catch COVID-19 from someone who is already infected. The virus usually spreads from one individual to another through the transfer of small droplets that originate from the nose or mouth when the infected person coughs or exhales. The droplets then find their way to objects and surfaces found around another person. When anyone touches the infected surfaces or objects and then touch their mouth or nose, they become infected.
You can also get infected with COVID-19 if you directly breathe the droplets from an infected person who coughs or exhales near you. This is the importance of keeping the 1-metre distance between you and other people. COVID-19 disease is mainly spread through droplets and not the air.
Can the Feces of an Infected Person Spread the Disease?
According to the World Health Organization, the risk of being infected from the feces of someone with the virus is low. However, initial investigations reveal that there might be feces present in some instances. This is why it is advised that you wash your hands with soap regularly after going to the toilet or before a meal.
Can You Get COVID-19 from Someone with No Symptoms?
The risk of being infected with the coronavirus from someone with no symptoms is quite low. Most people who have COVID-19 show mild symptoms especially during the early stages of the infection.
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How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19?
The best way of reducing the risk of infection is by following the tips below:
- You should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. This practice kills germs that might be found in your hands.
- Apply social distancing as you go about your daily activities. This means that you should maintain a safe distance of 1-metre between you and other people at all times. This will help prevent the droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes near you.
- It is important to avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose. Your hands might pick up viruses from objects and surfaces which might be transferred to your mouth, nose or eyes, hence putting you at risk of being infected.
- Adhere to proper respiratory hygiene which means that you should cover your mouth and nose by using a bent elbow when you sneeze or cough. This is because droplets are the main way in which the virus is spread from one person to another.
- If you feel unwell, then it is recommended that you stay at home. However, if you experience fever, difficulty breathing or coughing then seek medical assistance immediately.
- You should stay updated with information regarding COVID -19 by avoiding hotspots especially the elderly and those with underlying diseases.
What is the Incubation Period of COVID -19?
The incubation period is estimated to be between 1 to 14 days with symptoms mostly appearing after 5 days.
What is the Effectiveness of Using Antibiotics Against COVID -19?
Antibiotics are incapable of working against viruses because they are designed for bacterial infections. This means that antibiotics can’t be used to prevent or treat the virus.
