Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
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.
To debunk some of the rumors going around and spreading panic, here are a few facts about the COVID- 19 virus.
- Symptoms related to the virus range from mild to severe.
- The first recognized severe illness caused by the virus appeared with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 at China.
- The second outbreak surfaced in Italy where the coronavirus mutated into the COVID-19.
- Antibiotics are used in treating bacterial infections, hence, can’t be used in treating viruses such as COVID 19.
- There is no medical evidence that garlic can protect one from the various.
- The virus can affect all age-brackets. A six-week old baby was reportedly infected.
- Older people especially those with underlying health symptoms such as cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes, etc. are susceptible to fatality of the virus.
- According to Forbes, the coronavirus has changed US-China relations forever as US journalists have been kicked out of China due to their reportage on the virus.
- On March 19, 2020 China recorded no new infections of the virus.
10. COVID-19 symptoms may now include loss of smell and taste
11. For infected victims, Incubation period is between 2 to 14 days
12. People can be asymptomatic. This means that they can have the virus, and nor exhibit any symptoms, thereby making them carriers
13. Italy has exceeded death rates. Total number of cases is 63,927 and deaths are 6,077 since the outbreak.
14. In Nigeria, there has been over 40 reported cases and 1 casualty – A man died from the virus in Abuja .
15. There is no evidence that the virus was created in a laboratory. ScienceDaily, says it has a natural origin.
Stay safe and wash your hands !