You might be surprised to learn that airborne viruses (including several types of coronaviruses) have been spreading all over the globe for centuries. The most recent type of Coronavirus, the COVID-19 or SARS-COV-2, has started spreading at an alarming rate over the past months. The first case of COVID-19 was reported in December 2019, in Wuhan, China.
While there are many questions about the Coronavirus that remain unanswered, this article aims to inform the readers about some of the things that we do know about this virus, including how to protect ourselves and others from becoming infected.
Because humanity has been dealing with coronaviruses for a long time, researchers are extremely effective in assessing the potential impact, risks, and preventive measures associated with this global problem. Throughout this article, we will discuss some of the most important details that we know about the COVID-19 such as the symptoms of the infection, the risks associated with it, and the preventive measures that will help us avoid the Coronavirus such as hygiene, protective masks, and avoiding crowds.
What Is COVID-19?
Initially identified in the Chinese Province of Hubei, more specifically in the city of Wuhan, COVID-19 is a virus strain that is currently affecting thousands of people all around the world. The spread of the virus started on December 31st, 2019 and, because little is known about his new type of coronavirus, the situation is being closely monitored by experts. The main cause for concern is the fact that COVID-19 is extremely contagious, is spreading quickly, and it causes severe illness in people who have a weak immune system.
How Does the Coronavirus Spread?
The new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 or SARS-COV-2, spreads easily and at a very fast rate. The good news, however, is that there are many other viruses out there that are much more contagious than COVID-19. The first major method through which people can contact COVID-19 is through close person-to-person contact (within less than 6 feet or 2 meters). According to the CDC, the great majority of people who are infected with this coronavirus will spread the disease by sneezing and coughing in the proximity of other people. If the infected person is not wearing a protective mask, they can infect their loved ones with viral particles that land on their skin, noses, and mouths.
The COVID-19 can also be caught by touching objects and surfaces where viral particles have recently landed and touched one’s nose, mouth, or eyes. Specialists haven’t confirmed whether the COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for extended periods of time, but we do know that other coronaviruses can sometimes live for days and even weeks. Using hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, and bleach-based cleaning products are effective ways of getting rid of any coronavirus, including the COVID-19. Other effective ways to avoid the coronavirus is by thorough and repeated hand washing, frequent use of hand sanitizer, wearing protective masks, and avoiding crowded places.
How Can We Avoid COVID-19?
As mentioned before, most people get infected with COVID-19 by being sneezed and coughed upon. In addition to that, most will catch the virus from their loved ones, whom they hug, kiss, and touch. One of the ways in which people can avoid spreading and catching this extremely contagious virus is by wearing a face mask as soon as they start experiencing symptoms. There are many different types of protective masks available on the market and the most effective ones that protect you from the COVID-19, but also from other viruses and bacteria are these charcoal disposable face masks that can be purchased online from $34,99 and these 3 Ply disposable masks that are available from $18.99.
How Do Protective Masks Help Us Avoid Coronavirus Infection?
People who are healthy should always wear protective masks when taking care of someone who is or who might be infected with the 2019 coronavirus. People who sneeze or cough should wear the mask themselves, especially in public and when meeting other people. Used in combination with hand washing or using sanitizer and disinfectants, protective masks can be extremely effective.
Read on to find out how to properly handle a protective mask.
How Do We Use Protective Masks to Avoid a Viral Infection?
Before putting on the protective mask, it’s important to make sure that your hands are perfectly clean. You can wash them with soap, use hand sanitizer, or rub them with alcohol. When covering your nose and mouth with the protective mask, ensure that there are no gaps between the mask and your face. While you are wearing the mask, you should avoid touching it without washing your hands first. As soon as the mask becomes damp, you should take it off and replace it with a new one. Protective masks are single-use, so they should never be re-used. In order to remove the mask safely from your face, always grab it from behind without touching the frontal part of the mask. Throw it away immediately, preferably in a closed bin and clean your hands.
What Are the Main Symptoms Associated with the 2019 Coronavirus?
Despite the collective efforts made towards avoiding the spread of the much-dreaded COVID-19, people are still getting infected. The good news is that most people who have COVID-19 experience mild symptoms and some might not have any symptoms at all. In some cases, however, this virus can be quite frightening. Some of the symptoms to look for when dealing with the coronavirus are shortness of breath, high fever, and coughing. These symptoms can appear anywhere between two and fourteen days after being exposed to the virus.
From a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, we learn that the great majority of people who caught the coronavirus have a fever (98 percent), dry cough (between 76 percent and 82 percent), and exhaustion and fatigue (11 percent to 44 percent). The coronavirus infection becomes more dangerous and severe with age. In Wuhan, China, the place where the first coronavirus case was recorded and where more than 94,000 cases were reported, the ages of people infected range from 30 to 79. Luckily, children seem to be unaffected by this infection and they have little to no risk of suffering from severe symptoms.
Other Important Facts about COVID-19
- Scientists are currently working on developing a vaccine for COVID-19. Therefore, it’s important to know that there is no available vaccine for this virus at the moment.
- For every infected person, chances are for 2 other people to get infected as well, especially when people are unaware of the infection. In most cases, people will infect their families, coworkers, or close friends.
- The best preventive measures are washing the hands with soap and water, using rubbing alcohol or sanitizer, and wearing a protective mask.
- Packages from China are not dangerous. According to recent studies, other viruses that are similar to COVID-19 don’t survive for extended periods of time on dry surfaces. So getting infected with coronavirus from touching a package that was in transit for several days is highly unlikely.