There is so much information on the news and online about this mysterious new illness that suddenly appeared and has affected millions of people around the world.
I’m no health professional, but I have read a lot about coronavirus and I thought it would be helpful to gather all that information and put it all together in one easy to read blog post. I hope that you find this information educational and informative. Please share it with your family members, friends and colleagues to help protect them from Covid-19.
What is Covid-19?
Some call it the invisible enemy. Others see this pandemic as a war. But what is Covid-19 and how can we beat this horrible disease?
Covid-19 is a new virus which causes flu-like symptoms such as continuous coughing, a fever, and shortness of breath. Covid-19 stands for Coronavirus Disease 2019.
This illness was first reported in Wuhan, China and has now become a global pandemic. As of today, April 3, 2020 there are over 1 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 worldwide. Approximately 218,000 people have recovered from this disease and there are over 54,000 deaths.
In the United Kingdom, where I live, there are over 33,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 191 people have recovered and nearly 3,000 people have died from this disease.
The number of Covid-19 cases in America is staggeringly higher. In the United States, about 245,000 people are confirmed to have coronavirus. Over 10,000 people have recovered and there are over 6,000 deaths reported.
What are the Symptoms of Covid-19?
According to the NHS (National Health Service), there are two main symptoms of coronavirus that you should be aware of. The first symptom is a fever. You don’t need a thermometer to measure your temperature. If your chest and back feel hot to touch then you may have a high temperature.
The other symptom is a continuous dry cough. A dry cough is one in which there is no production of mucus or phlegm.
Scientists have identified other symptoms of the Covid-19 disease that we should look out for. Studies have shown that a loss of taste and/or smell could be a strong indicator of the coronavirus. Other symptoms reported include tiredness, shortness of breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain and a loss of appetite.
Do You Need to Self-Isolate?
If you are displaying symptoms of the coronavirus, then you will need to stay at home. Staying at home means that you are self-isolating.
During self-isolation you cannot leave your home, you cannot go out to buy food or collect medicine, and you cannot allow visitors to come to your home.
You should only go out for a bit of exercise once a day and you need to stay at least 2 meters away from other people.
If you need to buy food or medicine, you can either order online or ask someone to buy it for you and deliver it to your door.
If you are not sure you need to self-isolate, check the NHS 111 website, if you live in the UK, or contact your health care provider if you live in another country.
If you live alone and have symptoms of coronavirus, then you must self-isolate for 7 days. If you live with someone and if you or the other person has symptoms, then you both need to self-isolate for 14 days.
How do You Treat Covid-19?
If you are experiencing mild symptoms of the disease then it can be treated at home. If your symptoms get worse, then you need to seek medical attention.
It is highly recommended that you need to stay home and avoid contact with other people. This will help to slow down the spread of coronavirus.
Other things you can do to treat the disease:
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Take paracetamol if you have a fever or if you have aches and pains.
- Drink ginger, lemon and honey tea to treat the cough.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Eat healthily.
How to Protect Yourself from Covid-19
Covid-19 is a new illness that doctors and scientists are still studying and still trying to understand how it affects people and how it can be treated.
Information about the virus is being updated frequently so one of the things you can do to protect yourself is to stay up to date by regularly checking the government websites for helpful advice and new information.
Other ways you can protect yourself include:
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer if you don’t have access to soap and water.
Always use a tissue to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your arm. Throw the tissues away and then wash your hands.
Disinfect your home by wiping door handles and other surfaces that are frequently touched by other people. Use antibacterial wipes if you have any. Cleaning with soap and water is just as effective.
Practice social distancing. This means work from home if you can, reduce non-essential travel, and stay at least 2 meters away from other people.
We all need to work together to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. Please follow the advice of the government and your health care provider. Stay home and stay safe.
