As the world struggles to contain the Coronavirus, there is a whole lot of information going around about the Virus. Knowing what is true and not true has become very important as a vast majority wake up with mind boggling questions about the COVID-19.

With over 244,725 cases and 10,024 deaths recorded and still counting, it is obvious that the COVID-19 pandemic is as the the World Health Organization rightly declared – “humanity’s greatest threat”.

Most Asked Questions About The Coronavirus Pandemic And Their Answers

Google Trends – the world’s largest repository of real-time search results, has been used to find out what people want to know about the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are 10 of the most common questions and their answers.

1. What is a coronavirus?

Coronavirus is a large family of viruses that can cause illness in humans or animals.

In humans, they can cause respiratory infections, from the common cold to more diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The new virus also attacks the respiratory system, leading to a disease called COVID-19.

2. What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, fatigue, and dry cough. These symptoms are usually mild and develop gradually. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this disease occurs in a mild form in more than 80 percent of cases .

About 14% of them develop severe illnesses, including pneumonia and shortness of breath, while about 5% have critical illnesses, including respiratory failure, septic shock and multiple organ failure.

Discover even more signs and symptoms of COVID-19 on Aljazeera.

3. Is the new coronavirus deadly?

Yes, the disease is fatal in 2 percent of cases , the World Health Organization said on February 17, citing an article published by China detailing more than 44,000 confirmed cases .

Older people or patients with pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes are most at risk.

Read more on what the new coronavirus does if a person gets infected on Aljazeera.

4. Is coronavirus contagious?

Yes, the new virus can spread from from one person to the other.

5. How does coronavirus spread?

The disease is mainly transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or exhales. It can also be transmitted through contaminated surfaces.

6. How long do coronaviruses live on surfaces?

It is unclear how long the new coronavirus will survive on the surface, but the World Health Organisation says it behaves in a similar way as other viruses. The Agency says coronaviruses, including the one that causes COVID-19, can persist on the surface for several hours or up to several days .

7. Can humans get the new coronavirus from cats and dogs?

No! Humans cannot contract the Coronavirus from cats and dogs.

8. How do you treat the new coronavirus?

There is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-19. Those affected should receive care to relieve symptoms and the WHO says most patients recover due to supportive care.

Read more on the effort to develop a vaccine for the new virus here.

9. Are bats the animal source of coronavirus?

In a study published in late February, the WHO said bats appear to be the reservoir of the COVID-19 virus, but said the intermediate host has not yet been identified.

Some scientists suspect the new virus may have passed from bats to humans via pangolins, but this theory is yet to be proven.

10. What is MERS coronavirus?

MERS is a respiratory disease caused by a type of coronavirus similar to the one that causes COVID-19. The disease first emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and it is thought the animal source of the infection is the dromedary camel.

Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

11. What is meant by social distancing?

The practice of social distancing is a change in behavior that can help stop the spread of infections. They often involve reducing social contact, work, and study among apparently healthy people in order to slow transmission and reduce the scale of the outbreak.

12. How do you practice social distancing?

As an individual, you can reduce the risk of infection by reducing the frequency of contact with other people. Avoiding public places and unnecessary public gatherings, especially events with large numbers of people or crowds, will reduce the likelihood that you will be exposed to a new coronavirus, as well as other infectious diseases such as the flu.

13. Does social distancing work?

There is evidence from previous outbreaks, including the 1918 flu pandemic and the 2014 Ebola outbreak, as well as from simulations of outbreaks, that social distancing can effectively limit the spread of infections. We don’t know exactly how the new coronavirus spreads, but such viruses are transmitted primarily by droplets ejected from the mouth and nose of infected people when they cough or sneeze, which can land on people’s surfaces and hands.

14. How are countries implementing social distancing?

China took particularly tough measures in Hubei province, where the first new cases of coronavirus were detected. In addition to quarantining the region and building isolation facilities, the Chinese government has used mobile phone tracking to track people’s movements and prevent people with confirmed infections from traveling.

Since Italy was banned, many other European countries have imposed travel restrictions and closed schools, as well as other public places such as restaurants and bars. The European Commission has put forward plans to close the borders of the European Union and restrict all non-essential travel to the Schengen area of countries that do not have border controls between them. The UK government advises its citizens to stop all non-essential contact with other people.

15. What are the potential negative impacts of social distancing?

This has already affected the global economy, because people have stayed at home, and demand for goods and services has fallen.

“Social distancing is a social effort to contain the transmission of infection, and it is associated with significant economic costs,” says Calypso Chalcis from Imperial College London. “There are always compromises, ” she says.

Concern was also expressed that social distance may lead to increased loneliness, especially among older people who are at higher risk of developing severe covid-19.

16. How can you maintain social distance from people you live with or care for?

It is recommended that you separate yourself as much as possible from the people you live with. If you can’t avoid sharing a bathroom or toilet, clean these areas regularly. If you have covid-19 or suspect that you are at risk, the priority should be not to pass the disease on to others, especially if you are caring for someone vulnerable.

CREDIT

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/10-common-questions-coronavirus-answered-200227122234487.html

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237664-coronavirus-what-is-social-distancing-and-how-do-you-do-it/