CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC

ABOUT CORONAVIRUS

A new virus called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the cause of a disease outbreak that began in China in 2019. The disease is called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Public health groups, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO, are monitoring the pandemic and posting updates on their websites. These groups have also issued recommendations for preventing and treating the illness.

How does it is Spreads

Data has shown that it spreads from person to person among those in close contact (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters). The virus spreads by respiratory droplets released when someone infected with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks.

COVID-19 symptoms can be very mild to severe. Some people have no symptoms. Mild symptoms may include fever, fatigue, cough, sore throat, headache, and decreased sense of smell or taste. More severe symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest pain, severe vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure.

𝙷𝙾𝚆 𝚃𝙾 𝚂𝙰𝙵𝙴 MYSELF 𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼 𝙲𝙾𝚁𝙾𝙽𝙰𝚅𝙸𝚁𝚄𝚂

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan China in December 2019 over 5,000 deaths have been recorded worldwide. This novel has caused so much distress globally, causing whole economies to halt and separating family members. While researchers are on their feet trying to find a lasting solution to the virus, personal efforts to avoid getting infected should be employed. Fortunately, the measures to be taken are quite easy and affordable.

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·          𝚆𝙰𝚂𝙷 𝚈𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝙷𝙰𝙽𝙳𝚂 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝚀𝚄𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙻𝚈

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least twenty seconds each time or carry around a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol base. Ensure you continue to rub your hands until they are dry.

𝙰𝚅𝙾𝙸𝙳 𝚃𝙾𝚄𝙲𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙴𝚈𝙴𝚂, 𝙽𝙾𝚂𝙴 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙼𝙾𝚄𝚃𝙷

Our fingers are carriers of viruses majorly because they touch more surfaces than any other part of our bodies. We have to use the ATM, the elevator, ride the bus and operate computers, just to mention a few and we need our fingers for these. It is advised that our fingers should not have contact with our eyes, nose and mouth as these are channels through which the virus can travel into the body and cause the dreaded Covid-19. However, if this cannot be avoided ensure your hands are thoroughly washed or disinfected with an alcohol -based hand sanitizer.

𝙿𝚁𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙲𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝚂𝙿𝙸𝚁𝙰𝚃𝙾𝚁𝚈 𝙷𝚈𝙶𝙸𝙴𝙽𝙴

If you catch yourself sneezing at any time, ensure you use a piece of tissue paper and dispose of it immediately. Do not sneeze openly or into your palms as this may cause any form of virus to spread, instead sneeze into your elbows if you do not have a piece of tissue paper handy.

𝙼𝙰𝙸𝙽𝚃𝙰𝙸𝙽 𝚂𝙾𝙲𝙸𝙰𝙻 𝙳𝙸𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙸𝙽𝙶

Maintain social distancing especially if the virus is reportedly spreading in your community. Avoid public functions, riding the public bus especially when it is crowded and work from home as much as possible. Keep a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from anyone who is coughing or sneezing, because droplets that may carry the virus may be released spreading the virus to anyone these come in contact with.

 𝙲𝙻𝙴𝙰𝙽 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙳𝙸𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙵𝙴𝙲𝚃 𝚂𝚄𝚁𝙵𝙰𝙲𝙴𝚂

While researchers have not been able to ascertain how long the coronavirus can last on surfaces, it is advisable to clean and disinfect surfaces regularly, especially in public places or home surfaces.

 𝚂𝙴𝙴𝙺 𝙼𝙴𝙳𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝙷𝙴𝙻𝙿 𝙴𝙰𝚁𝙻𝚈

If you notice any alarming symptoms, like coughing, fever, shortness of breath or pressure in the chest, do not hesitate to seek medical help. As an early diagnosis and prompt treatment can help eliminate the virus and aid an early recovery. Out of the 150,112 cases reported 73,731 persons have fortunately recovered. Self-medicating is highly discouraged because your local health center has more up to date details than any online platform you swear by.

𝚆𝙴𝙰𝚁 𝙰 𝙵𝙰𝙲𝙴 𝙼𝙰𝚂𝙺

While wearing a face mask is usually recommended for those who are already infected to avoid spread of the virus, if you are always out in public places where there may likely be infected people or you are a caregiver a face mask is very necessary.

The coronavirus emerged only in December 2019 with the first case reported in Wuhan China, but the world is already dealing with a pandemic, that the World Health Organization has already declared a pandemic of manifold proportions. Staying safe should be topmost on your priority list.

Since 31 December 2019 and as of 07 May 2020, 3 713 796 cases of COVID-19 (in accordance with the applied case definitions and testing strategies in the affected countries) have been reported, including 263 288 deaths.

Cases have been reported from:

Africa: 51 677 cases; the five countries reporting most cases are South Africa (7 808), Egypt (7 588), Morocco (5 408), Algeria (4 997) and Nigeria (3 145).

Asia: 597 979 cases; the five countries reporting most cases are Turkey (131 744), Iran (101 650), China (83 970), India (52 952) and Saudi Arabia (31 938).

America: 1 595 437 cases; the five countries reporting most cases are United States (1 228 603), Brazil (125 218), Canada (63 496), Peru (54 817) and Ecuador (29 420).

Europe: 1 459 723 cases; the five countries reporting most cases are Spain (220 325), Italy (214 457), United Kingdom (201 201), Germany (166 091) and Russia (165 929).

Oceania: 8 284 cases; the five countries reporting most cases are Australia (6 875), New Zealand (1 139), Guam (151), French Polynesia (60) and Fiji (18).

Other: 696 cases have been reported from an international conveyance in Japan.

Deaths have been reported from:

Africa: 2 011 deaths; the five countries reporting most deaths are Algeria (476), Egypt (469), Morocco (183), South Africa (153) and Cameroon (108).

Asia: 20 730 deaths; the five countries reporting most deaths are Iran (6 418), China (4 637), Turkey (3 584), India (1 783) and Indonesia (895).

America: 94 122 deaths; the five countries reporting most deaths are United States (73 431), Brazil (8 536), Canada (4 232), Mexico (2 704) and Ecuador (1 618).

Europe: 146 293 deaths; the five countries reporting most deaths are United Kingdom (30 076), Italy (29 684), Spain (25 857), France (25 809) and Belgium (8 339).

Oceania: 125 deaths; the 4 countries reporting deaths are Australia (97), New Zealand (21), Guam (5) and Northern Mariana Islands (2).

Other: 7 deaths have been reported from an international conveyance in Japan.