What is Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)?
- – An infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
- – It was first identified in Wuhan, China, and has since spread around the world, resulting in 2020 coronovirus pandemic.
- – COVID-19 is a new disease that has not been previously identified in humans.
How does COVID-19 spread?
- – Human coronaviruses cause infections of the nose, throat and lungs.
- – they are commonly spread from an infected person to another through:
1.) Respiratory droplets generated when someone coughs or sneezes.
2.) Close, prolonged personal contact, such as shaking hands or touching
3.) Touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
- – Those infected with COVID-19 may have little to no symptoms.
- – You may not know you have COVID-19 because they are similar to a common cold or flu.
- – Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19.
- – It’s possible that COVID-19 can be transmitted to others if someone is not showing symptoms, but it’s considered less common.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
- – Fever
- – Cough
- – Shortness of breath
- – Pneumonia in both lungs
- – Muscle pain
- – Sore throat
- – In severe cases, infection can lead to death.
How long can the virus that causes COVID-19 live on surfaces?
- – up to 3 hours in the air
- – up to 72 hours on plastics
- – up to 48 hours on stainless steel
- – up to 24 hours on cardboard
- – up to 4 hours on copper
What should I do if I become ill?
- – If you’re showing symptoms of COVID-19, immediately reduce your contact with others.
- – Isolate yourself at home for 14 days to avoid spreading the disease to others.
- – If you live with other people, stay in a separate room or wear a mask and keep a 2 meter distance from others.
- – Visit a health care professional or call your public health authority and follow their instructions.
- – Avoid traveling as much as possible.
What is the treatment for COVID-19?
- – Most people with mild symptoms will recover on their own.
- – At the time of writing this text, there is no vaccine for COVID-19 or any natural health products that are recommended to treat or protect against COVID-19.
- – Common flu shots do NOT protect against COVID-19.
How can I protect myself against the virus that causes COVID-19?
- – The most effective way is to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, using soap and water for 20 to 30 seconds.
- – Use alcohol based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- – Cover your mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- – Do NOT touch your mouth, eyes or nose with unwashed hands.
- – Do NOT come in close contact with people who are sick, sneezing or coughing.
- – Practice social distancing.
- – Stay home when you’re sick.
- – Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that people frequently touch.
- – Wear a mask only if you have respiratory symptoms. If you’re wearing a mask, don’t keep adjusting your mask, because your fingers could accidentally touch your eyes. Just put it on and then don’t touch your mask anymore.
(References: Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University and Medicine; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Government of Canada website canada.ca)
