HEALTH

Frequently asked questions about the Corona pandemic

How does corona virus disease spread?

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can spread from person to person through droplets produced during coughing or breathing during close contact with an infected person. Infection can also occur without direct contact, that is, when these droplets land on objects and surfaces around the infected person and the other person touches these objects or surfaces, and then touches the eyes, nose or mouth. This is why it is important to stay 1 or 2 meters (3-6 feet) away from the sick person. Given that some individuals do not show symptoms while infected with the virus, a physical distance of one to two meters should be observed regardless of whether the other person appears ill or not.

How do I know if I have coronavirus or just a common cold?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and tiredness. Some patients may experience loss of taste or smell, conjunctivitis, headache, muscle aches, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, and various types of rashes. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but do not have any symptoms and do not feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without requiring special care. Approximately 1 in 6 people infected with COVID-19 become seriously ill and develop severe COVID-19 symptoms, which include difficulty or shortness of breath, confusion, loss of appetite, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, and require hospitalization. . Older people and those with underlying medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes are more likely to develop serious illnesses

How do I know if I have coronavirus or just a common cold?

COVID-19 infection has signs and symptoms similar to the common cold or influenza, and you can only differentiate them through laboratory tests to determine the type of virus

Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through the air?

Studies to date indicate that the virus that causes COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets and not through the air. See the previous answer to “How does COVID-19 spread?” Aerosols may be generated during some medical procedures and other activities, such as singing, but they are not considered the predominant pathway for the spread of this infection 

How can I protect myself and prevent the spread of disease?

Protection measures for all
See the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. The situation is dynamic so check back regularly for the latest news.
You can reduce your chance of contracting or spreading COVID-19 by taking some of the following precautions:

☑ Clean your hands regularly with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Cleaning your hands with soap and water or rubbing them with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer will kill viruses that may be on your hands.

☑ Maintain a distance of at least 1-2 meters (3-6 feet) between you and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. When a person coughs or sneezes, small liquid droplets that may contain the virus are sprayed from their nose or mouth. If you are too close to him, you can breathe in these droplets, including the virus that causes COVID-19 if a person has it, including COVID-19 if the person is coughing or sneezing.

☑ Follow the rules of physical distancing of at least 1-2 meters (3-6 feet) between you and others regardless of whether they are showing symptoms or not.

☑ Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, because hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. If hands are contaminated, they may transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. The virus can enter the body through these ports and make you sick.

☑ Ensure that you and those around you follow good respiratory hygiene practices. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then discarding the used tissue immediately. Droplets spread the virus, and by following good respiratory hygiene practices, you protect the people around you from viruses such as the common cold virus, influenza and Covid-19.

☑ Stay home if you feel unwell, and if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call ahead. Follow your local health authority’s instructions. National and local authorities 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 appropriate health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent the spread of viruses and other infections.

☑ Wear a mask throughout your illness and while you have symptoms, as a control to prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are infected.

☑ Wear a mask as part of comprehensive public health measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 even if you do not have symptoms or are not infected.

☑ Stay up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is widespread). Avoid traveling to these places, if possible, especially if you are elderly or have diabetes, heart or lung disease, because you have a higher chance of contracting COVID-19 in one of these areas.

I am fine and without symptoms. Should I use a mask?

The World Health Organization recommends the use of masks as part of a comprehensive package of control measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Masks alone are not sufficient and should be used in conjunction with the other practices mentioned above. 

Should I wear a mask while exercising?

The World Health Organization recommends not wearing masks during vigorous physical activity. Please make sure there is a distance of 1-2 meters from others when doing sports and there must be adequate ventilation

What are my chances of contracting COVID-19?

The situation of the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve globally. So far, all countries and continents have reported cases. Make sure you are familiar with the local situation in your country and business hub.

Are pregnant women more susceptible to infection with Covid-19 and does the virus harm the fetus?

The CDC states, based on current information, that pregnant women are at increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and death

What are the risks of my child contracting COVID-19?

All age groups, including newborns, can be infected with COVID-19. The same public health measures described in Question 5 must be followed except for children 5 years of age and under who are not normally required to wear masks, unless required locally, in which case they must be supervised

Are the symptoms of COVID-19 in children different from those in adults?

Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar in children and adults. However, children who have been confirmed to have COVID-19 generally show mild symptoms. Although children tend to have milder disease, serious illness has been reported. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) has also been described in children and adolescent 

Should I be worried about the COVID-19 virus?

The COVID-19 virus must be taken seriously and vigilance is required. While the illness caused by COVID-19 infection is generally mild in most people, it can cause serious illness: about 1 in 5 people who contract it require hospital care. Therefore, it is very 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, regular and thorough hand washing, physical distancing, use of masks, and good respiratory hygiene. Second, stay informed and follow the advice of local health authorities including any restrictions on travel, movement and gathering 

 

Who is at risk of developing severe disease?

The people most at risk of developing serious illness are those aged 60 or over who have underlying medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

Are antibiotics effective in preventing or treating COVID-19?

Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. Because COVID-19 is a virus, antibiotics are not indicated for direct treatment. However, it may be required in some cases, such as treating secondary bacterial infections

Are there any medications or treatments that can prevent the COVID-19 virus?

There are currently no drugs or treatments that can prevent the COVID-19 virus. However, several treatments are being investigated 

Is there a medicine or treatment for the Covid-19 virus?

Currently, most people recover at home without any specific medications and treatments. For those who are severely ill, permanent healthcare is optimal. Including oxygen and other respiratory support, as may be required, corticosteroids are prescribed to those with severe or serious illness. The benefit of remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, and interferon has not been demonstrated.

There are several ongoing clinical trials involving Western and traditional medicines to see if any other medicines might be helpful for Covid-19 

 

I am caring for a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. What precautions should I take?

  • Limit movement around the sick person’s home and reduce common space.
  •  Ensure that common spaces such as bathrooms and the kitchen are well ventilated. One way to do this is to keep the windows open, and to clean and disinfect the bathroom and toilet at least once a day with regular household soap or cleaning detergent and then disinfect with a regular household disinfectant containing 0.5% sodium hypochlorite.
  •  Don’t forget the importance of hand hygiene using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water (if hands are visibly dirty).
  •  Whenever possible, family members should stay in a different room or keep a distance of at least 1-2 meters from the sick person.
  •  When helping with patient care, wear a tight medical or surgical mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are in the same room with the injured person. Make sure you are careful not to touch your mask, and if your mask gets wet or dirty, it must be replaced. When removing the mask, it is important to dispose of it and to clean hands. And dispose of any substance with respiratory secretions immediately after use.
  •  Ensure that the sick person wears a mask as well if tolerated as a source control.
  •  The patient and the health care provider must perform hand hygiene after touching respiratory secretions.
  • If you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, please continue to get vaccinated 
  • What is the incubation and transmission period for COVID-19?
  • Incubation period” means the time between infection with the virus and the onset of symptoms, and most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, often around five days. Transmission period refers to the period when you can transmit the infection to another person and is currently 48 hours before symptoms appear to 14 days after symptoms resolve, or the date of testing in those who did not develop symptoms
  • Can humans catch COVID-19 from an animal source?
  • Possible animal sources of the COVID-19 virus have not yet been confirmed despite assumptions. To protect yourself, when visiting live animal markets for example, 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 uncooked animal product well cooked 
  • How long does the virus stay on surfaces?
  • It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it appears to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on COVID-19) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or even several days. This may vary under different conditions (eg type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).

    If you think a surface may be contaminated, clean it with a simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. It is very important to clean hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wash them with soap and water, and to avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose 

  • How do I get a COVID-19 test?
  • If you are in good health, the test is not recommended. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should isolate yourself from others immediately, and contact your local UN clinic or medical facility to inform them of your case, travel history or related exposure. If you have been identified as a close contact by your local health ministry or WHO, please indicate this as well. Hence, you will be notified if a medical evaluation is necessary and how to perform the test
  • What alternatives do I have if hand sanitizers are not available? Can I use other alcohol such as ethyl or liquor?
  • If hand sanitizers are not available, it is recommended to wash hands with soap and water. Liquor is not effective against coronavirus. For an alcohol-based hand rub to be effective, it must contain at least 60% alcohol
  • Can people who recover from COVID-19 get infected again?
  • Although so far uncommon, there have been cases of re-infection with the COVID-19 virus, although it is uncommon
  • Is it safe to receive a parcel from an area where COVID-19 has been reported?
  • Yes. The probability of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low, and the risk of contracting the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been transported, traveled, and exposed to various conditions and temperatures is also low
  • Is there a relationship between COVID-19 virus disease and environmental temperature?
  • Changes in temperature do not appear to affect or have anything to do with the COVID-19 virus. Cases of COVID-19 have been seen in all seasons, all countries and continents in the world 
  • Can I catch the virus from being in an enclosed space (such as buses and subways) near someone who does not have respiratory symptoms?
  • Because the virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets, the risk of contracting it from an asymptomatic person, even if they have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, is low. However, in light of the pandemic, everyone must maintain a physical distance, which means keeping a distance of at least 1-2 meters from others, avoiding mass gatherings and areas with large numbers of people, wearing a mask and practicing frequent hand washing, sterilization as per recommendation
  • Should I start avoiding people of Asian descent and their businesses?
  • The virus can infect anyone regardless of nationality, race, and colour. The organization will not tolerate discrimination and encourages everyone to promote culturally appropriate and empathetic community participation, to detect and respond quickly to negative public perceptions, and to combat misinformation 
  • When should we consider ourselves “sick” and stay home?
  • you have any symptoms of COVID-19, you should stay at home. If you are not sure, stay at home until you are allowed to come to work by a medical professional.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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