Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Most infected people will develop moderate to severe respiratory illnesses and recover without the need for special treatment. However, some will get very sick and will seek medical help. Older people and those with poor health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. Anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and get very sick or die at any age.
The best way to prevent and slow the spread is to become better acquainted with the disease and how the virus is spread. Protect yourself and others from infection by staying at least one meter away from others, wearing well-fitting masks, and washing your hands or using an alcohol-based scrub regularly. Get vaccinated when it's your turn and follow the local guidelines.
The virus can spread from the mouth or nose of an infected person to tiny fluid-filled particles when they cough, sneeze, talk, sing, or breathe. These particles range from large respiratory droplets to small aerosols. It is important to practice breathing habits, for example by coughing on a bent elbow, and staying home and isolating yourself until you feel better. COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop moderate to severe illness and recover without hospitalization.
Most common symptoms:
fever
cough
fatigue
Unusual symptoms:
Sore throat
a headache
pains and pains
diarrhea
rash on the skin, or discoloration of the fingers or toes
Red eyes or irritated.
Critical symptoms:
difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Mobility, or confusion
Get medical help right away if you have severe symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility.
People with mild symptoms who are in good health should control their symptoms at home.
On average it takes 5-6 days from a person to become infected with the virus to show symptoms, however it can take up to 14 days.
To prevent infection and reduce the spread of COVID-19, do the following:
Vaccinate once the vaccine is available to you.
Stay at least 1 meter away from others, even if they do not appear to be ill.
Wear a well-worn mask when physical exertion is not possible or in airless settings.
Choose areas that are more open, airy than closed. Open the window when you are inside.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or sanitize your hands
Close your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you feel unwell, stay home and isolate yourself until you recover.
COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.
Most common symptoms:
fever
cough
tiredness
Less common symptoms:
sore throat
headache
aches and pain
a rash on skin, or changing color of fingers or toes
Sleeping eyes
Serious symptoms:
difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
mobility, or confusion
Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility.
People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should manage their symptoms at home.
On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days
What Is a COVID-19 Variant?
Viruses are always changing, and that can cause a new variant, or strain, of a virus to form. A variant usually doesn��t affect how the virus works. But sometimes they make it act in different ways.
Scientists around the world are tracking changes in the virus that causes COVID-19. Their research is helping experts understand whether certain COVID-19 variants spread faster than others, how they might affect your health, and how effective different vaccines might be against them.
How Many Coronaviruses Are There?
Coronaviruses didn’t just pop up recently. They’re a large family of viruses that have been around for a long time. Many of them can cause a variety of illnesses, from a mild cough to severe respiratory illnesses.
The new (or “novel”) coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is one of several known to infect humans. It’s probably been around for some time in animals. Sometimes, a virus in animals crosses over into people. That’s what scientists think happened here. So this virus isn’t new to the world, but it is new to humans. When scientists found out that it was making people sick in 2019, they named it as a novel coronavirus. Experts call these strains SARS-CoV-2.
How Do Variants Happen?
Coronaviruses have all their genetic material in something called RNA (ribonucleic acid). RNA has some similarities to DNA, but they aren’t the same.
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