COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a new virus, named coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan , China as a pandemic.
WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS
They circulate in animals and some can be transmitted between animals and humans. Several coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.
The new coronavirus, the seventh known to affect humans, has been named COVID-19.
WHERE DID IT COME FROM
China alerted the WHO to cases of unusual pneumonia in Wuhan on December 31.
COVID-19 is thought to have originated in a seafood market where wildlife was sold illegally.
In February 7, Chinese researchers said the virus could have spread from an infected animal to humans through illegally trafficked pangolins, prized in Asia for food and medicine.
Scientists have pointed to either bats or snakes as possible sources.
SYMPTOMS
Common symptoms of coronavirus are cold, fever, cough but the most severe symptom is pneumonia .In pneumonia multiple organs are failure and may be death.
The incubation period of COVID-19 is thought to be between one and 14 days. It is contagious before symptoms appear, which is why so many people get infected.
Infected patients can be also asymptomatic, meaning they do not display any symptoms despite having the virus in their systems.
HOW CAN WE SAFE FROM THIS VIRUS
The WHO declared the virus a pandemic on March 11 and said it was “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity” of the outbreak.
The WHO recommends basic hygiene such as washing the hands properly with soap and water and covering the mouth with your elbow when sneezing or coughing.
Maintain social distancing keeping at least one metre (three feet) between yourself and others.
If they are coughing and sneezing, don't touch face, eyes, mouth and any part of the body with unwashed hands.Avoid unnecessary, unprotected contact with animals and be sure to thoroughly wash hands after contact
As of September 20, the global death toll surpassed 957,000 amid more than 30.8 million cases. Over 21 million people have recovered from the disease worldwide, according to the data collected by the Johns Hopkins University in the United States.
