Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally, resulting in an ongoing pandemic. As of 11 May 2020, more than 4.16 million cases have been reported across 187 countries and territories, resulting in more than 285,000 deaths. More than 1.45 million people have recovered.
About
Signs and Symptoms
As is common with infections, there is a delay between the moment a person is first infected and the time he or she develops symptoms. This is called the incubation period. The incubation period for COVID‑19 is typically five to six days but may range from two to 14 days, although 97.5% of people who develop symptoms will do so within 11.5 days of infection
Most common symptoms:
- fever
- dry cough
- tiredness
Less common symptoms:
- aches and pains
- sore throat
- diarrhoea
- conjunctivitis
- headache
- loss of taste or smel
- a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes
Serious symptoms:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- chest pain or pressure
- loss of speech or movement
Transmission
The disease is spread during close contact, often by small droplets produced during coughing, sneezing, or talking. Individuals may catch the disease after breathing in contaminated droplets or when they settle in the noses or mouths of people in close proximity. A person can be infections up to two days prior to showing symptoms and the average infectivity period is estimated to be between 7 and 12 days for moderate cases, and in severe cases, an average of two weeks. However on surfaces the amount of active virus decreases over time until it can no longer cause infection also surfaces are easily decontaminated with household disinfectants which kill the virus outside the human body or on the hands.
Prevention
Preventive measures to reduce the chances of infection include staying at home, avoiding crowded places, keeping distance from others, washing hands with soap and water often and for at least 20 seconds, practising good respiratory hygiene, and avoiding touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. The CDC recommends covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and recommends using the inside of the elbow if no tissue is available. Proper hand hygiene after any cough or sneeze is encouraged. The CDC has recommended the use of cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, in part to limit transmission by asymptomatic individuals.