We have the platform and social responsibility to inform not only our customers but our community about what is happening in the world. In this case, the Coronavirus outbreak. We want to give you a Novel Coronavirus update and what you need to know about the pandemic.
We found that many people are misguided about the threat of CoronaVirus or are just in complete disregard. We’ll try to give you the current and correct information about the CoronaVirus and help you with simple steps to protect yourself and your family against this pandemic.
What is Coronavirus?
According to the World Health Organization, the name of the disease is the “Coronavirus (COVID-19)”. The virus that is responsible for this disease is “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)”.
Viruses are named by its genetic structure and the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) is the committee responsible for naming the virus. ICTV confirmed that the virus responsible for COVID-19 is related to SARS, another outbreak that had its effect mostly in Asia in 2003. While related, the two viruses are different. However, the name of the disease is officially classified by WHO in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The reason that the virus’s name is not mentioned most of the time is to prevent unnecessary panic.
The US has reported 41 deaths from the coronavirus. There are a total of 1,629 (Updated March 13th, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) cases of coronavirus across 45 states and Washington D.C. The WHO now has declared the outbreak a pandemic.
Coronavirus Symptoms
The best way to check is to look for common respiratory symptoms:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Breathing difficulties
- Tiredness
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
In severe cases, the infection can cause:
- Pneumonia
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
- Kidney Failure
- Death
But we want to stress that some people get infected without suffering from any symptoms.
Who is most at risk of COVID-19?
The risk depends on where you are or have been. If you have been in a location where there is an outbreak, you are at risk.
The WHO is still learning about how COVID-19 affects individuals but people with pre-existing medical conditions (high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) and older people appear to develop more serious illnesses.
Is there a cure for COVID-19?
There are some western, traditional or home remedies that can alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 but for now, no current medication can prevent and cure the virus. The WHO does not recommend self-medication with any medicines, antibiotics, etc. Antibiotics do not work against a viral infection because they only work on infections caused by bacterias.
How to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
COVID-19 are known to spread through droplets. There are a few steps we can take to prevent getting infected from the COVID-19 virus. Here are some:
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or with an alcohol-based product.
- Cover your nose when coughing using your sleeve or tissue
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever or cough
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- If you are displaying symptoms, seek medical care early and report any travel information you may have
- If possible, limit close contact with others, especially if they present symptoms or have been in the outbreak areas
- If you are taking care of someone exhibiting the symptoms, wear a face mask, wash your hands regularly, and avoid touching your face
Viruses are self-limiting; no medicines are known to cure it, although some medicines can be used to alleviate the symptoms. The best way for us not to contract the virus is by getting the correct information and making sure that we follow the steps to protect ourselves and our families. Keep calm, don’t panic and just take the steps to avoid spreading the virus.
Stay informed
Visit the following official websites for more information about the current COVID-19 situation:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019