What is the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and How to Prevent It?

What is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus, or as called COVID-19, is a kind of respiratory illness that is caused by a new virus. It could cause illnesses such as MERS-CoV (respiratory syndrome, first identified in Saudia Arabia in 2012), SARS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome, first identified in China in 2003), or simply a common cold. The symptoms are different but range from a mild cough to pneumonia (an infection in one or both lungs). Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.

A type of new virus which is called the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has been identified as the source of the disease outbreak that began in China.

Evidence proves it spreads from person to person. It is recommended that good hygiene could prevent infection. In this blog, you’ll learn many different prevention methods against this disease.

Where did the Coronavirus come from?

It’s known that coronaviruses circulate in a range of animals. Sometimes these viruses can make the jump to humans; this is called spillover. It could be due to a range of different factors, such as mutations of viruses or increasing contact between humans and animals. For example, (MERS-CoV) is known to be transmitted from camels, and SARS-CoV is from civet cats. The animal reservoir of coronavirus 2109 is not known yet.

The first confirmed reported case of Coronavirus was in Dec 2019 in Wuhan City in China.

There isn’t much information about this new virus yet. Public health groups, such as WHO and the CDC, are tracking the situations and releasing updates.

Where does the name “Corona” come from?

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that consist of a core of genetic materials surrounded by an envelope with protein spikes. This gives it the appearance of a crown. Crown in Latin is called Corona. That’s how these viruses got their name.

What are the symptoms of Coronavirus?

There can be different symptoms from mild to severe. The mortality rate is around 2 percent, but it’s not finalized yet. Symptoms and signs of infection with the new Coronavirus could appear 2 to 14 days after exposure and can include:

• Flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, sore throat, and coughing
• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

The new coronavirus symptoms of severity can vary from very mild to severe, even death. Understanding this disease continues to grow and change. Most infected people are older people with severe illness, also people who have not received common vaccinations or people who had other significant existing medical conditions. The last one has been seen in people who suffer severe infections with other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza.

How can we say whether someone is infected with Coronavirus?

The infection can be diagnosed by a test called PCR or Polymerase Chain Reaction. This test identifies the virus based on its genetic fingerprint.

How is Coronavirus transmitted?

The exact dynamics of how the Coronavirus is transmitted is yet to be determined. It seems that it  spreads from person to person in close contact among the infected ones. Some experts say it might spread by respiratory droplets released when infected people sneeze or cough.

There are strong pieces of evidence that the Coronavirus spreads from person to person, particularly in the Hubei Province of China.

It is most likely that the virus spreads through:

• Intimate contact/relationship with an infected person
• An object or place that has been contaminated with the virus
• Touching/coming in contact with the surfaces or objects that have sneeze or cough droplets from an infected individual, then touching your face/mouth.
• Coming in contact with the droplets of sneeze or cough from an infected person

Who is at most risk from Coronavirus?

Most reported cases of Coronavirus are from Wuhan City in Hubei Province of China.

Overall, people most at risk of getting the virus are those who have:

• Recently been in mainland China
• Have been in intimate contact with someone who is a confirmed case of Coronavirus

How to prevent the transmission of Coronavirus?

This new virus currently has a limited geographic spread.

To prevent and protect against infections, Everyone needs to practice good hygiene. Samples of good hygiene include:

• The appropriate use of masks or protective equipment especially in healthcare medical setting
• Wash your hands with Hand sanitizer, soap and water regularly
• Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough and use a tissue, then discard the tissue immediately into a closed bin
• Use an alcohol-based hand rub, because they can wipe out the virus
• Avoid any form of close contacts, such as touching or kissing with others as much as possible
• Keep 3 feet (1 meter) distance with others, especially people who have fever, sneeze or cough
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes
• If you have difficulty breathing, fever, or cough, get medical care immediately
• Stay home from public areas, school, and work if you’re sick.
• Avoid any form of close contact with anyone who is sick or has the symptoms of a sickness
• Avoid sharing glasses, dishes, personal effects, bedding, and other household items if you’re sick
• When visiting wet markets, animal product markets, or live animal markets, practice general hygiene measures
• Clean and disinfect surfaces you often touch
• Avoid using undercooked or raw animal products

What are the risk factors for Coronavirus?

The current risk factors associated with the new Coronavirus seem to include:

• Recent travel from or residence in China
• Intimate contact with an infected coronavirus, such as health care worker or those who are taking care of infected people with the virus

The elderly or people who suffer from a particular medical condition such as heart disease or diabetes might be exposed to a higher risk of becoming infected with the new Coronavirus.

Actions that can be taken to prevent infection from the animal source include:

• Avoid unprotected and unnecessary contact with animals
• Wash your hands after coming in contact with animals or animal products
• Make sure meat is thoroughly cooked before consuming them

The vaccine against Coronavirus

According to a CNN report, the US biotech organization“Moderna” has announced an experimental coronavirus vaccine. The first trial of the vaccine may begin in April, but the testing process and approval would last at least a year.

“The first sample of the vaccine has been sent to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID),” Moderna has also said. “It is called mRNA-1273.”

“The first phase of experiments would be performed on a small number of healthy humans.” The officials of the company claim that making a vaccine available for use could start by the end of April.

The first report of the development of the vaccine was reported by The Wall Street Journal. The article said that two doses of vaccine would be tested on some volunteers to check if the vaccine provides protection against the virus.

Treatment of Coronavirus

Despite the hard work, the governments, WHO, and research groups have put through, no treatment for Coronavirus has been found. But most of the symptoms of Coronavirus can be treated with medical care.

Should you cancel your trip during the coronavirus outbreak?

No.

“WHO” has said there shouldn’t be any travel or travel restrictions. This includes most places in China. The level of risk of being infected with Coronavirus is very low in many countries. The epicenter is still in the Hubei province of China. Some countries have issued the current timing of people coming home, which is based on risk assessment identified by individuals countries.

As it has always been said, travelers should not cancel their plans, but they should take into account the various restrictions airlines have put into place when planning for the next trips. Check travel advisories If you’re planning to travel internationally. You might need to get your doctor’s advice if you have health conditions that make you more susceptible to respiratory infections and complications.

Traveling during the outbreak of Coronavirus

Please check travel advisories if you intend to travel internationally. It’s wise to consult with your GP if you have serious health conditions, which make you more susceptible to respiratory complications and infections.

Coronavirus in the USA

According to CNN, 71 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States have been reported by now Feb 30th, 2020.

At least 24 Americans on a cruise ship in Japan are confirmed abroad infected ones. Some other US citizens who are traveling abroad have been infected too. The stats change continuously.

Conclusion

Corona is not the worst infection. The most recent pandemics were the HIV pandemic as well as the1918 and 2009 H1N1 pandemics.

We have faced worse situations than Corona before. Officials suggest that not to panic, staying calm and raising your awareness are the best steps.

Prevention is better than cure, as it has always been said. Just following the safety instructions mentioned in the text is a huge step in fighting against Coronavirus.

In this blog, we covered everything you need to know about the Coronavirus and the most frequent and commonly asked questions by our clients at Southern Nevada Occupational Health Center (SNOHC). Here, we provide a complete and wide range of worker’s health and safety services to help your employees be safe and healthy also get the best results at work. To get any further information about services performed at SNOHC, you can navigate through the menu of this website. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions in the comment section below.