There’s no avoiding the news about Coronavirus at the moment and with a lot of conflicting information out there, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction.
In light of this, we thought we’d put together a series of FAQ about the virus and the answers we’ve found according to sources including the WHO and NHS.
What is Coronavirus?
Coronavirus is a new member of a family of viruses we’ve all had the experience of at some point in life. The WHO outline that coronaviruses are a series of viruses that range from the common cold to more series diseases, which affect humans and animals alike.
What are the symptoms?
The issue of symptoms is a factor making the diagnosis of coronavirus challenging for health professionals, as these resemble that which are associated with the common cold. Some of the symptoms include:
In serious cases and cases where there have been fatalities, symptoms can manifest into pneumonia, kidney failure and respiratory syndrome.
How can I avoid catching it?
There are no special precautions you can take to avoid contracting the virus at this stage, as there is no vaccine currently. Virtually all sources are telling the public the same information where this is concerned: implementing normally basic hygiene rules i.e. washing your hands after food prep and going to the toilet, cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and stay off work or school if you’re unwell.
The issue of whether or not face masks are effective has been a hot topic for discussion. Research carried out by UCLA lines up with studies carried out by the CDC; the point of a mask is to stop someone who has the virus from spreading it to others.
By contrast, people who are not infected do not need to wear them, though as patients can carry the virus without presenting with any symptoms for a few days, the is still some clarity.
That said, surgical masks block infected droplets leaving an infected person’s mouth and getting out into it but they’re not tight enough to stop what’s already in the air from getting in.
How many people have it & how many fatalities have there been?
By the time we publish this article, it’s likely that this number will have gone up, so we’ll leave you with this link, which gives live updates on the number of people diagnosed and fatalities. At this current moment in time as we’re looking at it.
- Total cases: 163,586
- Deaths: 6,087
- Recovered: 76,219
Stay safe and healthy out there folks!
