Common Questions and Answers
- What is a coronavirus?
- What is COVID-19?
- What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
- How does COVID-19 spread?
- Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through the air?
Coronaviruses
are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In
humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging
from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently
discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
COVID-19
is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus.
This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan,
China, in December 2019.
The
most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients
may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or
diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people
become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most
people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.
Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and
develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical
problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely
to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing
should seek medical attention.
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus.
The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the
nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people
then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their
eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets
from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is
important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.
5. CAN THE VIRUS
THAT CAUSES COVID-19 BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE AIR?
Studies
to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted
through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air. Click
here to see “How the COVID-19 spread?”