Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Hola, everyone! How are you doing? The hottest global issue we have right now is the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The disease spread like wildfire throughout the world. A pandemic, according to Merriam-Webster, is "an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population". Because it's a global issue, we might as well talk about it. Below is my research about the disease. You can check my sources at the bottom to learn more about COVID-19.
Coronavirus disease, also known as COVID-19, is an infectious disease caused by a newly-discovered coronavirus (hence the other term nCoV, or Novel Coronavirus). It started in the latter part of December 2019, when Chinese public health authorities reported several cases of acute respiratory syndrome in Wuhan City, in the Chinese province of Hubei. Chinese scientists soon discovered that the main causative agent is a novel coronavirus. This virus is called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The initial outbreak in Wuhan spread rapidly in other parts of China. Soon, cases were reported in several other countries.
Most people with the infection will have mild to moderate respiratory illness and will recover without special treatment. The most prone to develop serious illness from the infection are older people and those with underlying medical problems (e.g. cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer). In other words, people who have underlying medical conditions and those over 60 years old have a higher risk of experiencing severe disease and, worse, death. Common symptoms include fever, tiredness, and dry cough; these may appear 2-14 days after exposure (based on the MERS-CoV viruses’ incubation period). Other symptoms include shortness of breath, aches and pains, and sore throat; few people will report diarrhea, nausea or a runny nose. If emergency warning signs for COVID-19 are developed, one should get medical attention immediately.
The COVID-19 virus can affect multiple people in multiple ways. The virus spreads primarily through saliva droplets or nose discharges when an infected person coughs and/or sneezes. The most symptomatic (the sickest) are thought to be the most contagious. Although, the transmission is still possible before people show symptoms. It is also possible for a person to contract COVID-19 by touching a virus-contaminated surface or object then touching their own mouth, nose, or their eyes. In order to prevent and slow down transmission, we must be well-informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. To protect yourself and others from infection, here are the ways to prevent infection and to slow transmission of COVID-19:
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and water; clean them with alcohol-based hand rub (at least 60% alcohol). All surfaces of your hands should be covered; rub them together until they feel dry.
- At least a 1-meter distance between you and people coughing or sneezing should be maintained.
- Try not to touch your face.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and/or sneezing.
- If you feel unwell, it’s better to stay home.
- Refrain from activities that weaken the lungs, like smoking.
- Avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from large crowds of people.
- Wear a facemask if you are sick. No need if you are not sick unless you are taking care of someone who is sick.
- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily (not limited to tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks). If surfaces are dirty, clean them: use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
The outbreak of COVID-19, like other public health emergencies, are stressful times for everyone. Anxiety about a disease can cause social stigma toward people, places, or things. Stigma and discrimination can occur when a disease, such as COVID-19, is associated with a population, even though not all in that population is specifically at risk for the disease. People that have been released from COVID-19 quarantine are prone to discrimination, even though they are not a risk for spreading the virus.
As of now, no specific vaccines or treatments are available for COVID-19. Although, ongoing clinical trials are evaluating potential treatments. World Health Organization (WHO) will provide updated information as soon as new clinical findings become available. People who have mild symptoms, but are also healthy, should undergo self-quarantine; contact the medical provider or a COVID-19 information line to seek advice on testing and referral. People with cough, fever, or difficulty breathing should call their doctor to seek medical attention.
COVID-19 is really a terrifying disease; you won't know you have contracted the virus until you got tested or symptoms appear, the latter being sometimes too late. A lot of people did their best to avoid the virus but still got infected. We should be extra careful. Strict hygiene habits, vigilance, knowledge, and prayer are the keys to stopping this disease from destroying more lives.
What are your thoughts? React and comment down below your feelings about the matter. Or, you could go to the Contact Me page and follow/send me a DM through my Twitter account and other social media platforms. Click the Subscribe button to be updated via email. To learn more about the topic, click my sources below. Thank you for reading and be safe and healthy! God bless us all!
Source:
- Pandemic. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pandemic
- Coronavirus. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
- About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). (2020, February 24). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html
- COVID-19. (2020, March 19). Retrieved from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china
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