Should I worry about COVID-19?


Illness thanks to COVID-19 infection is usually mild, especially for youngsters and young adults. However, it can cause serious illness: about 1 in every 5 people that catch it need hospitalization . it's therefore quite normal for people to stress about how the COVID-19 outbreak will affect them and their loved ones.

We can channel our concerns into actions to guard 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 recommendation of the local health authorities including any restrictions put in situ on travel, movement and gatherings.

How likely am I to catch COVID-19?


The risk depends on where you are - and more specifically, whether there's a COVID-19 outbreak unfolding there.

For most people in most locations the danger of catching COVID-19 remains low. However, there are now places round the world (cities or areas) where the disease is spreading. For people living in, or visiting, these areas the danger of catching COVID-19 is higher. Governments and health authorities are taking vigorous action whenever a replacement case of COVID-19 is identified. make certain to suits 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 are often contained and transmission stopped, as has been shown in China and a few other countries. Unfortunately, new outbreaks can emerge rapidly. It’s important to remember of things where you're or shall go. WHO publishes daily updates on the COVID-19 situation worldwide.

What am i able to do to guard myself and stop the spread of disease?


Protection measures for everybody
Stay conscious of the newest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and thru your national and native public health authority. Many countries round the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and a number of other have seen outbreaks. Authorities in China and a few other countries have succeeded in slowing or stopping their outbreaks. However, things is unpredictable so check regularly for the newest 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 which will get on your hands.
Maintain a minimum of 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 can contain virus. If you're too close, you'll inhale 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 may devour viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and may cause you to sick.
Make sure you, and therefore the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. this suggests covering your mouth and nose together with your bent elbow or tissue once you cough or sneeze. Then eliminate the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses like cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you are feeling unwell. If you've got a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call beforehand . Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and native authorities will have the foremost up so far information on things in your area. Calling beforehand will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the proper clinic . this may also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Keep up so far on the newest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you're an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
Why? you've got a better chance of catching COVID-19 in one among 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 reception if you start to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms like headache, low grade fever (37.3 C or above) and slight runny nose, until you recover. If it's essential for you to possess someone bring you supplies or to travel out, e.g. to shop for food, then wear a mask to avoid infecting people .
Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to work more effectively and help protect you et al. from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this might flow from to a respiratory tract infection or other serious condition. Call beforehand and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travelers.
Why? Calling beforehand will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the proper clinic . this may also help to stop possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

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 an individual with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces round the person. people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People also can catch COVID-19 if they inhale droplets from an individual with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. this is often why it's important to remain quite 1 meter (3 feet) faraway from an individual who is sick.

WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and can still share updated findings.

Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through the air?
Studies so far suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is especially transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets instead of through the air. See previous answer on “How does COVID-19 spread?”

Can CoVID-19 be caught from an individual who has no symptoms?
The main way the disease spreads is thru respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. the danger of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms in the least is extremely low. However, many of us with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. this is often particularly true at the first stages of the disease. it's therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for instance , just a light cough and doesn't feel ill. WHO is assessing ongoing research on the amount of transmission of COVID-19 and can still share updated findings.

Can I catch COVID-19 from the feces of somebody 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 could also be present in feces in some cases, spread through this route isn't a main feature of the outbreak. WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and can still share new findings. Because this is often a risk, however, it's one more reason to wash hands regularly, after using the toilet and before eating.

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, pharyngitis or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and start gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and do not feel unwell. most of the people (about 80%) get over the disease without having special treatment. Around 1 out of each 6 people that gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and people with underlying medical problems like high vital sign , heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is that the communicable disease caused by the foremost recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 .

What is a coronavirus ?

Coronaviruses are an outsized family of viruses which can cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections starting from the cold to more severe diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). the foremost recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.