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For millions of people across the world, the COVID-19 virus feels like the start of a horror movie – and the effects are becoming huge, with quarantine zones spreading by the day.The coronavirus, also called by this name, is literally burning its way across the four corners of the globe. It is toppling stock markets and placing heavy taxes on governments, infrastructure, and closer to home, our families.People from all walks of life, from the richest to the poorest, are starting to get the jitters. No amount of money can fix this.Some governments, even, think of the coronavirus as a political tool, mismanaging its responses for their agendas, not so much concerned with the actual global viral outbreak. No one knows how this is going to turn out. Sure, the mortality rate for those who are under 70 isn’t that high, but the novelty of this disease is showing itself to be terrifying because it is reshaping lives. Meetings all over the world have been cancelled; the airline industry is forecast to lose 30$ billion because of cancelled flights.
Check Out These Quick Facts Which Are Literally Changing Daily:
Italy closes all shops except pharmacies and food stores in a tough lockdown as death tolls continue to rise. Conte said the impact of the tightened restrictions from today, 12th March, on the rate of new cases would take at least 2 weeks for the effects to be seen. The country has closed museums, gyms, nightclubs, and all other venues in the country. Italy has over 12,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and a death toll of 827 already. Nearly 900 people are in intensive care in Italy with the virus. Iran, which is another virus hotspot, and Italy, they are really suffering.
Donald Trump suspends all travel between Europe and the US for 30 days, that’s starting 12th March 2020, midnight. These restrictions don’t apply to US citizens or green card holders or family members of US citizens, but foreign nationals. Trump is also cancelling any upcoming trips to Colorado, Nevada, and Wisconsin because of ongoing concern over the pandemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called this outbreak a pandemic. WHO chief, Dr. Tedros says that outside-China cases have increased 13-fold in just 2 weeks. WHO defines a pandemic as the spread of a disease worldwide, for which most people don’t have any immunity.
What Exactly Is This Coronavirus?
The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is part of a large family of viruses that cause illness. These can range from the common cold to more severe diseases. Did you know that the word ‘corona’ means ‘halo’ or ‘crown’?, a Latin word referring to the shape of the virus particle when it is viewed under the microscope. Coronaviruses are known to be zoonotic, which means they are transmitted between people and animals.
Signs Of Infection
Fever
Cough
Respiratory symptoms
Shortness of breath
Breathing difficulties
Sometimes, in the more severe case, the infection can turn into pneumonia, kidney failure, or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
To date, more than 3,800 people across the world have died from coronavirus, with over 110,000 infections already recorded.
Where Did This COVID-19 Virus, As It Is Referred To, Originate?
The “novel coronavirus” called COVID-19, named by WHO, originated in Wuhan, China. It is so named to enable discussions around the disease and its prevention, spread, transmission, severity, and treatment. It is the ICTV – the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, which gives viruses their names. There might be confusion between the major virus outbreak in 2003, which was called SARS-CoV and the coronavirus, which is called SARS CoV‑2. WHO says that the reason we are not calling the coronavirus by its SARS CoV‑2 name is that “from a risk communications perspective, using the name SARS can have unintended consequences in terms of creating unnecessary fear for some populations, especially in Asia which was worst affected by the SARS outbreak in 2003”. For that reason, it says, the coronavirus is carefully referred to as “the virus responsible for COVID-19”. These terms aren’t meant to replace the official SARS CoV‑2 name, though.
So recently, December 2019, there was an outbreak of this coronavirus in China, originating from a seafood and meat market in Wuhan, China. Now it has spread to other countries, and that includes the USA with cases being confirmed in Washington State, Oregon, New York, and California with deaths reported in Washington State and California.
However, researchers in Guangzhou, China, in early February 2020, were already suggesting that pangolins might have been the source of the disease. That was based on genetic comparisons of the virus found in humans and ant-eating animals – this, according to Nature.com. But other research published in The Lancet suggests that the virus might instead have originated somewhere else, before being brought to the market. One infection-disease specialist from Georgetown University, Daniel Lucey, told Science magazine that 13 out of the original 41 cases didn’t have links with the market – he said it was possible that the first cases may have spread from some undetected source already in November 2019.
Humans first get the coronavirus from contact with animals. From there, it simply spreads from human to human, and today, health officials don’t know what animal caused this COVID-19. It will spread, though, through contact with certain bodily fluids, such as when you cough or touch an infected person. If you go on to touch your eyes, your mouth, or your nose, you could become infected.
Can It Be Diagnosed & How?
Symptoms can appear in as few as just 2 days, but also as long as 14 days after being exposed.Chinese researchers indicate that SARS-CoV‑2 could be infectious during its incubation period as well. Should you think you have the coronavirus, you need to contact your doctor immediately.Before heading over to the doctor, call them first to let them know of your concerns. Then they will know to gather the necessary information and offer you guidance on your next course of action.Your doctor may run tests so he can rule out common infections. If he suspects it could be the coronavirus, he might suggest you self-isolate so as not to spread the infection.
Can Coronavirus Be Prevented Or Avoided?
Try not to come into contact with people who are sick or meeting in large groups and if you are ill, stay at home.
If you have a cough, cough into a tissue or your elbow or your upper sleeve – don’t cough into your hands.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, particularly after going to the bathroom, before you eat, after blowing your nose, sneezing, or coughing. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol in as well If soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, or nose.
If you are travelling to an area where there is COVID-19 present, speak with your doctor.
Is There Any Treatment?
At this moment in time, there is still no vaccine or treatment for this virus. Fortunately, though, symptoms start going away on their own. If your symptoms feel worse than say, for instance, the common cold, then contact your doctor.He or she might prescribe you some fever or pain medication. In the same way that you would drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest if you were diagnosed with flu, the same applied to the coronavirus.However, if you have trouble with your breathing, don’t hesitate to get medical care immediately. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you should wear a facemask to prevent you from spreading the virus to others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) doesn’t recommend people wear masks if they don’t have COVID-19.Unfortunately, with the outbreak coinciding in many countries during the cold and flu season, it is more than likely that patients might present themselves in pharmacies with plenty of queries about the virus.The pharmacist might want to elicit your travel history, which will be an essential part of helping to identify your risk of SARS-CoV‑2. Naturally, patients with underlying respiratory conditions will be concerned and have questions. Those with cold and flu symptoms, but who have not travelled to an affected area, should be managed as usual.
The Biggest Threat
As the COVID-19 spreads around the world, certainly, fear will also continue to rise with the knowledge that this virus may not let up for many more months. And with confirmed cases getting higher by the day, with thousands of other potential cases still unconfirmed, the world is starting to get really jittery.From what first was accepted with a mild indifference, the coronavirus is now holding the world in its deathly clutches and causing real panic and fear. Dr. Tedros from WHO is calling on all governments to change their course of the outbreak by taking “urgent and aggressive action.” Start at home with your kids and your family by being prepared – we can fight this!“A virus has three purposes: to duplicate, to infiltrate, and to spread from one host to the next. Ultimately, even a single virus can shut down an entire system” — Wayne Dyer.
Your Best Defence
If you want to be immunologically fit, you will need to be physically fit. Exercise mobilizes the white blood cells by increasing blood flow to seek and destroy bacteria and viruses in parts of the body.Adults need to do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic exercises such as gardening, hiking, or cycling – or 75 minutes of vigorous activity such as swimming, running, or fast aerobic classes.Older people who are more vulnerable to infection are advised to do whatever exercise they can find because it slows your immune system from declining with age. Healthy eating to keep your body strong and to build the immune system is also advised.
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