In the past few weeks, the news has been full of stories about a deadly virus found in a province in China which has since been quarantined. However a good number of people had already travelled out of this province prior to the quarantine and as such have carried this virus with them to different parts of the world.
The disease is said to have an incubation period of 14 days, which means that after coming in contact with an infected person and contracting the virus, the symptoms may not appear until after 14 days. With people travelling to and from different parts of the world everyday, we all may be at risk of coming in contact with this virus therefore it is important for everyone to educate themselves and take preventive measures.
A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.
Diagnosis
Based on current evidence, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) presents with flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, or difficulty breathing. The current evidence is that most cases appear to be mild. Those who have died in Wuhan appear to have had pre-existing health conditions.
How can we protect ourselves from the spread of this virus? Here are some recommended precautions to take.
Wash your hands regularly or use anti-bacterial sanitizer
This is the simplest and a very effective way of keeping micro organisms at bay. Continuously keeping your hands clean keeps the virus off of your hands.
Cover your cough or sneeze
By practicing this etiquette, you can avoid spreading germs and viruses to others. Also if you cough or sneeze into your hands, you can infect objects or others around you, so don’t forget to wash your hands after every cough/sneeze and carry tissue with you incase you need to cough or sneeze.
Keep your distance
This does not mean you should start avoiding asian people out in public. That is wrong and also, racist. The virus may have been discovered in China but it is not only spread by Chinese people. If you do notice that someone has flu-like symptoms, try not to come into contact with them to prevent the spreading of germs.
Try not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth
Because we touch many surfaces throughout the day that could possibly be contaminated, it is important not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth and risk transferring the virus from the surfaces you have touched to yourself.
Clean frequently touched items and surfaces with an antibacterial cleaning product
Disinfecting items we regularly touch is an important step in keeping ourselves safe from possible germs. You can also do this on the go with antibacterial wipes.
If you have a cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical help. If you have symptoms that could be part of a respiratory infection or other medical issue, it is important to seek medical help immediately.
