COVID-19 is an illness that is caused by a novel coronavirus, known as SARS CoV 2. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses causing sicknesses ranging from a common cold to more severe illnesses.
COVID-19 causes a range of symptoms including sore throat/coughs, headaches, difficulty breathing and in more severe cases, pneumonia. For most healthy individuals, symptoms often mirror the common cold, but for others, such as seniors and those with weakened immune systems, symptoms can be severe and lead to intensive hospital care.
COVID-19 (coronavirus) affects the respiratory system and is spread through small droplets from the nose and mouth. It is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing or direct contact with either someone who is sick or a surface a sick person has touched.
This is why the public has been urged to avoiding touching their face and staying two metres away from others when in public.
The average mortality rate of COVID-19 is estimated at one to two deaths per 100 infections (4.6% mortality rate) whereas the flu’s rate is about one in 1,000 (0.1% mortality rate).
There is no current vaccine or treatment for coronavirus.
There are various methods to help reduce your exposure to COVID-19.
Health professionals are continuously urging the public to help flatten the curve. This means they want everyone to do their part to reduce the peak number of cases that their community will see.
There are various ways to play your part in protecting your community from COVID-19. These include wearing a mask and gloves, washing your hands, not touching your face or mouth and keeping a distance of 2 meters (6 feet) between others to reduce the spread of infections.
As a result, personal protective equipment (PPE) can be an effective method in limiting your exposure to coronavirus in social settings and workplaces.