Detail Question and Answers on COVID-19 for Public
What is corona virus
Corona viruses are a large family of viruses
which may cause illness in animals or
humans. In humans, several coronaviruses
are known to cause respiratory
infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle
East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
What is COVID-19
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by
the most recently discovered corona virus. This new virus and disease were
unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019
What are the symptoms of COVID-19
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are
fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal
congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.
These symptoms are usually
mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any
symptoms and don't feel unwell.
Most people (about 80%) recover from the
disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who
gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing.
Older
people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure,
heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People
with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
How does COVID-19 spread
People can catch COVID-19 from others who
have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small
droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19
coughs or exhales.
These droplets
land on objects and surfaces
around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these
objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
People can also
catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales
droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet)
away from a person who is sick.
Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through
the air?
Studies to date suggest that the virus that
causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets
rather than through the air.
See previous answer on “How does COVID-19 spread?”
Can CoVID-19 be caught from a person who has no symptoms?
The main way the disease spreads is through
respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing.
The risk of catching
COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people
with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms.
This is particularly true at the
early stages of the disease.
It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from
someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.
Can I catch COVID-19 from the feces of someone with the
disease?
The risk of catching COVID-19 from the feces
of an infected person appears to be low.
While initial investigations suggest
the virus may be present in feces in some cases, spread through this route is not a main feature of the outbreak.
The ongoing
research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share new
findings.
Because this is a risk, however, it is another reason to clean hands
regularly, after using the bathroom and before eating.
What can I do to protect myself and prevent the spread of disease
Protection measures for everyone
Stay aware of the latest information on the
COVID-19 outbreak, available on the national,state and local public health
authority.
Many countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and
several have seen outbreaks.
Authorities in China and some other countries have
succeeded in slowing or stopping their outbreaks. However, the situation is
unpredictable so check regularly for the latest news.
You can reduce your chances of being infected
or spreading COVID- 19 by taking some simple precautions:
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands
with an alcohol-
based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Why? Washing your hands with soap and
water or using alcohol-based hand rub
kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet)
distance between yourself and anyone
who is coughing or
sneezing. Why? When someone
coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth
which may contain virus. If you are
too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the
person coughing has the disease.
Avoid
touching eyes, nose
and mouth. Why? Hands touch
many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer
the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter
your body and can make you sick.
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good
respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent
elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the
used tissue immediately. Why? Droplets spread virus.
By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from
viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you
have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call
in advance.
Follow the directions of your local health authority. Why? National and local authorities
will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area.
Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you
to the right health facility.
This will also protect you and help prevent
spread of viruses and other infections.
Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19
hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely).
If
possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person
or have diabetes, heart or
lung disease. Why? You have
a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.
Protection measures for persons who are
in or have recently visited (past 14
days) areas where COVID-19 is spreading
Follow the
guidance outlined above (Protection measures for everyone)
Self-isolate
by staying at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as
headache, low grade fever (37.3 C or above) and slight runny nose, until you
recover. If it is essential for you
to have someone bring you supplies or to
go out, e.g. to buy food, then wear a mask to avoid
infecting other people. Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical
facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help
protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
If
you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek
medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or
other serious condition.
Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent
travel or contact with travelers. Why? Calling in advance will allow your
health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility.
This
will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
How likely am I to catch COVID-19?
The risk depends on where you are - and more
specifically, whether there is a COVID-19 outbreak unfolding there.
For most people in most locations the risk of
catching COVID-19 is still low. However, there are now places
around the world (cities or areas) where the disease is spreading. For people
living in, or visiting, these areas the risk of catching COVID-19 is higher.
Governments and health authorities are
taking vigorous action every time a new
case of COVID-19 is identified.
Be sure to comply with any local
restrictions on travel, movement or large gatherings.
Cooperating with disease
control efforts will reduce your risk of catching or spreading COVID-19.
COVID-19 outbreaks can be contained and
transmission stopped, as has been shown in China and some other countries.
Unfortunately, new outbreaks can emerge rapidly. It’s important to be aware of
the situation where you are or intend to go.
Should I worry about COVID-19?
Illness due to COVID-19 infection is
generally mild, especially for children and young adults. However, it can cause
serious illness: about 1 in every 5 people who catch it need hospital care.
It
is therefore quite normal for people to worry about how the COVID-19 outbreak
will affect them and their loved ones.
We can channel our concerns into actions to
protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities.
First and foremost among
these actions is regular and thorough hand-washing and good respiratory hygiene.
Secondly, keep informed and follow the advice of the local health authorities
including any restrictions put in place on travel, movement and gatherings.
Who is at risk of developing severe
illness
While we are still learning about how COVID-2019
affects people, older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions
(such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes)
appear to develop serious illness more often than others
Are antibiotics effective in preventing or treating the
COVID-19?
No. Antibiotics do not work against viruses,
they only work on bacterial infections.
COVID-19 is caused by a virus, so
antibiotics do not work. Antibiotics should not be used as a means of
prevention or treatment of COVID-19.
They should only be used as directed by a
physician to treat a bacterial infection.
Are there any medicines or therapies that can prevent or
cure COVID-19
While some western, traditional or home
remedies may provide comfort and alleviate symptoms of COVID-19, there is no
evidence that current medicine can prevent or cure the disease.
We does not
recommend self-medication with any medicines, including antibiotics, as a
prevention or cure for COVID-19.
However, there are several ongoing clinical
trials that include both western and traditional medicines.
We will continue to provide updated information
as soon as clinical findings are available.
Is COVID-19 the same as SARS?
No. The virus that causes COVID-19 and the
one that caused the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in
2003 are related to each other genetically, but the diseases they cause
are quite different.
SARS was more deadly but much less infectious
than COVID-19. There have been no outbreaks of SARS anywhere in the world since
2003.
Should I wear mask to protect myself
Only wear a mask if you are ill with COVID-19
symptoms (especially coughing) or looking after someone who may have COVID-19.
Disposable face mask can only be used once. If you are not ill or looking after
someone who is ill then you are wasting a mask.
There is a world-wide shortage
of masks, so We urge people to use masks wisely.
We advises rational use of medical masks to
avoid unnecessary wastage of precious resources and mis-use of masks
The most
effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to
frequently clean your hands, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue
and maintain a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from people who are
coughing or sneezing.
How to put on use take off and
dispose of a mask?
1. Remember, a mask should only be used
by health workers, care takers, and individuals with respiratory symptoms, such
as fever and cough.
2.
Before touching the mask, clean hands with an
alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water
3.
Take the mask and inspect it for tears or holes.
4.
Orient which side is the top side (where the metal strip is).
5.
Ensure the proper side of the mask faces outwards
(the coloured side).
6.
Place the mask to your face. Pinch the metal strip or
stiff edge of the mask so it moulds to the shape of your nose.
7.
Pull down the mask’s bottom so it covers your mouth and
your chin.
8.
After use, take off the mask; remove
the elastic loops
from behind the ears while
keeping the mask away from your face and clothes, to avoid touching
potentially contaminated surfaces
of the mask.
9. Discard the
mask in a closed bin immediately after use.
10. Perform hand hygiene after touching or discarding the mask
Use alcohol-based hand rub or, if visibly soiled, wash
your hands with soap and water.
How long is the incubation period
for COVID-19?
The “incubation period” means the time between catching
the virus and beginning to have symptoms of the disease.
Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from
1-14 days, most commonly around five days.
These estimates will be updated as
more data become available.
Can humans become infected with the COVID-19 from an
animal source?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are
common in animals.
Occasionally, people get infected with these viruses which may then spread to other people.
For example,
SARS-CoV was associated with civet cats and MERS-CoV is transmitted by
dromedary camels. Possible animal sources of COVID-19 have not yet been
confirmed.
To protect yourself, such as when visiting
live animal markets, avoid direct contact with animals and surfaces in contact with animals.
Ensure good food safety practices
at all times. Handle raw meat, milk or animal organs with care to avoid
contamination of uncooked foods and avoid consuming raw or undercooked animal products.
Can I catch COVID-19 from my pet?
While there has been one instance of a dog
being infected in Hong Kong, to date, there is no evidence that a dog, cat or
any pet can transmit COVID-19.
COVID-19 is mainly spread through droplets
produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. To protect
yourself, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly.
We continues to monitor the latest research
on this and other COVID- 19 topics and will update as new findings are
available.
How long does the virus survive on surfaces?
It is not certain how long the virus that
causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other corona
viruses.
Studies suggest that corona viruses (including preliminary information
on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several
days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface,
temperature or humidity of the environment).
If you think a surface may be infected, clean
it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others.
Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and
water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
Is it safe to
receive a package from any area where COVID-19 has been reported?
Yes. The likelihood of an infected person
contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that
causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to
different conditions and temperature is also low.
Is there anything I should not do?
The following measures ARE NOT effective
against COVID-2019 and can be harmful:
·
Smoking
·
Wearing multiple masks
·
Taking antibiotics (See question 10 "Are there any medicines of therapies that
can prevent or cure COVID-19?")
In any case, if you
have fever, cough and difficulty breathing
seek medical care early to reduce the risk of
developing a more severe infection and be sure to share your recent travel
history with your health care provider.
Source: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/