Important Information about the Coronavirus
It is a new strain of coronavirus. It was first identified in the city of Wuhan in China which lead to the known name today: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The COVID-19 virus is a new virus linked to the same family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and some types of the common cold.
The virus is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person (through coughing and sneezing), and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus. The COVID-19 virus may survive on surfaces for several hours, but simple disinfectants can kill it.
Here are four precautions you and your family can take to avoid infection:
- Wash your hands frequently using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub
- Cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue, when coughing or sneezing, and throw away the tissue into a closed bin
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has cold or flu-like symptoms
- Seek medical care early if you or your child has a fever, cough or difficulty breathing
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
In more severe cases, the infection can cause: pneumonia or breathing difficulties. More rarely, the disease can be fatal.
Source: UNICEF’s website
What Myths You Should Know About COVID-19?
❌ Contracting COVID-19 will kill you
✅ Not true. The mortality rate does not exceed 3%, and critical cases do not exceed 20%. You have a 97% chance of survival if you become infected with this virus.
❌Coronavirus is the most dangerous virus in the world
✅ Not true. There are other more dangerous viruses, such as Ebola Marburg virus, Hantavirus and many others.
❌The mask will protect me completely against the virus
✅ Not true. You may contract the virus by touching your eyes or the food you eat. It is therefore recommended to wash your hands several times during the day, and before eating any meal or touching the face.
❌Coronavirus came from bat soup
✅ Not true. The virus began in the Chinese city of Wuhan in a crowded market full of different animals and it is not known where the virus came from in the first place.
❌You can contract COVID-19 from packages from China
✅ Not true. Receiving parcels from China does not put people at risk of contracting the new Coronavirus as it does not survive long on objects, such as letters or packages.
❌ Coronavirus was deliberately produced
✅ Not true. The virus is not new, it was already present, but this time a new generation emerged, called Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.
❌ Antibiotics can treat the virus
✅ Not true. Antibiotics treat diseases caused by bacteria. Corona is not bacterial, it is viral.
❌ You can contract COVID-19 by touching banknotes & coins
✅ Not true. The rate of transmission by touching currencies is exceedingly small, especially since the virus does not survive outside. To protect yourself, wash your hands frequently during the day.
❌ If someone sneezes next to you, you can contract COVID-19 even if you are 8m away.
✅ Not true. Coronaviruses are viruses that do not spread through the air over long distances.
❌ Washing the nose regularly with a saline solution helps prevent contracting COVID-19
✅ Not true. There is no evidence that regular nasal washing with saline solution prevents infection with the new Coronavirus.
❌ Eating garlic helps prevent infection with COVID-19
✅ Not true. Garlic is healthy food and has some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence that eating garlic prevents infection with the new Coronavirus.
❌ There are drugs to prevent or treat novel COVID-19
✅ Not true. To date, there is no specific recommended drug for the prevention or treatment of novel Coronavirus.
❌ Only the elderly can contract COVID-19
✅ Not true. It affects everyone. However, the virus has strong symptoms on older people because of their weakened immune system.
❌ Spraying alcohol or chlorine on your body kills COVID-19
✅ Not true. Spraying alcohol or chlorine on your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Be aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces only.