The outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 has developed into a pandemic Lung disease Covid-19 affects people worldwide and the number of deaths is increasing.
What is the new corona virus?
This new virus has the official name SARS-CoV-2. The serious lung disease appeared for the first time with the now official name “Covid-19” in mid-December in the city of Wuhan (central China). It is one of several hundred different viruses that belong to the corona virus family. Many of these viruses are often only responsible for mild colds. Not much is known about the cause of the disease, except that the novel virus probably came from an animal in a market in Wuhan. It was then  transmitted to a human before the virus adapted to the new host and human-to-human transmission became possible.
What are the symptoms of Corona virus ?
The new lung disease Covid-19 mostly shows non-specific symptoms. Fever and dry cough are the most common complaints in three quarters of patients. Unclear fever alone can also occur with the disease. Headache and sore throat only occur sometimes. This also applies to symptoms such as fatigue, body aches and shortness of breath. Runny nose and a dripping nose are rare. Diarrhoea is also rare. If someone only has a cold or diarrhoea, infection with Covid-19 is more likely. Although people are often infected with the virus, they do not yet show any symptoms. The new Covid-19 viruses multiply in the throat just like the flu viruses. The pathogen infects cells of the lower respiratory tract in particular and can thus cause pneumonia. Some infected with the pathogen only suffer from mild cold symptoms with chills and a sore throat. Fever does not always occur.
According to the WHO, around 80 percent of cases are mild. This is also observed by the Chinese health authority. However, about 14 percent of patients experience severe symptoms such as shortness of breath.
Covid-19 has a life threatening effect on almost five percent. The lung disease then leads to respiratory arrest, septic shock or multi organ failure. The WHO states that children are only rarely affected. However, about 14 percent of patients experience severe symptoms such as shortness of breath.
Covid-19 has a life threatening effect on almost five percent. The lung disease then leads to respiratory arrest, septic shock or multi organ failure. The WHO states that children are only rarely affected.
How is the corona virus transmitted?
So far it is known that the Covid-19 virus is spread by droplet infection, for example when coughing or speaking. It is also suspected that the pathogen can also be detected in normal exhaled air. According to Chinese doctors, there is also suspicion that Covid-19 spreads through the digestive system. The doctors discovered the pathogen in stool samples after some patients had diarrhoea instead of the usual fever. A smear infection from the virus is also possible. It is also believed that Covid-19 can also be passed on by people who are themselves without symptoms.
How contagious is the corona virus?
The virus is easily transmitted and is likely to be passed on by people who do not suffer from symptoms themselves. The Robert Koch Institute states that the pathogen is significantly more infectious than originally thought. According to current knowledge, the incubation period is two to 14 days. China Daily reports an average incubation period of three days. In rare cases, there can be a period of up to 24 days between the infection and the appearance of the first symptoms. However, experts currently see no reason to extend the quarantine time of 14 days that has been customary to date.
How dangerous is the corona virus?
The new virus Covid-19 belongs to the same virus type as Sars, but according to virus researcher Christian Drosten (director of the institute for virologists at the Charit̩ Berlin) it is a different variant. The number of current illnesses now far exceeds that of the Sars pandemic in 2002/2003. At that time, a total of 8,000 people suffering from the infection were recorded, of which around one in ten died. РThe new Covid-19 which is also namely SARS-CoV-2 virus has so far affected 343,016 people worldwide, 15782 died of the virus consequences. According to the authorities, most deaths primarily affect older people with some serious previous illnesses.
Particularly vulnerable groups of people
- Older people. From around 50 to 60 years of age, the risk of developing a serious illness increases steadily.
- Smokers.
- People with certain medical conditions.
- Heart disease, such as coronary heart disease.
- Lung disease such as asthma or chronic bronchitis.
- Patients with chronic liver diseases.
- Patients with diabetes mellifluous.
- Patients with cancer.
- Patients with a weakened immune system.
How can you protect yourself from infection?
In order to be able to protect yourself as effectively as possible from an infection with the new type of lung disease called “Covid-19. You should know how it gets infected, the virus CoV-19 gets from person to person transfer. On the way to a droplet infection, for example if you are coughed up or a smear infection when you touch contaminated objects with viruses, such as doorknobs or light switches, and then touch your mouth, nose or eyes.
How to protect yourself
Wash your hands with soap regularly and thoroughly, at least over a period of 20 seconds because this is the only way to reduce the number of germs on your hands to a thousand or less. The additional use of a disinfectant is usually not necessary in a private environment.
This only makes sense if for example, a family member is ill or people with weakened defences live in the household with an increased risk of infection. However hand disinfection should be done when entering and leaving a hospital.
Avoid shaking hands. This is especially true in the case of illness.
Keep your distance from others. If someone is ill, the distance should be at least one to two meters.
Mouth and nose protection does not reduce the risk of infection for healthy people. The WHO points out that wearing a mask can also create a false sense of security and good hand hygiene is often neglected.
Follow the rules of conduct when coughing and sneezing
- If you have to cough or sneeze, keep at least one meter away from other people and turn away.
Use a disposable handkerchief and use it only once. Then dispose of in a trash can with a lid. Do not wash used tissues below 60 degrees. - If you have to sneeze or cough and don’t have a handkerchief, it is best to sneeze and cough in the crook of your arm and not in your hand.
Wash hands thoroughly with soap after blowing your nose, sneezing, or coughing. - If you are suffering from an acute respiratory infection and have to be in public, you can protect your fellow human beings by wearing a mouth-and-nose protection (for example a surgical face mask). The risk of infection from droplets that arise when coughing or sneezing can thus be reduced for other people.
Recommended behaviour for everyday protection
- Stay at home as often as possible. Limit personal meetings with older or chronically ill people to protect them.
- Avoid shaking hands and hugs. Ventilate common rooms regularly.
- Keep your distance from others. Especially to sick people with respiratory symptoms.
- Anyone who is ill should stay at home. First contact the doctor only by phone.
- If someone is ill in the same household, they should be separated from other family members. It is important to keep enough distance from each other.
- If possible, work at home. Keep necessary professional meetings short and work together in well-ventilated rooms. The distance to other people should be one to two meters.
- Avoid visiting restaurants or canteens. Avoid the peak times in any case. At best, eat alone in the office.
- If possible, do not use public transport. Better to walk, bike or drive your own car.
- Avoid large events and places with large crowds, such as swimming pools, shopping centres, theatres, clubs.
- Only visit public institutions such as offices and authorities in urgent cases.
- Postpone larger private celebrations and restaurants as far as possible. If a visit cannot be avoided, strictly comply with the hygiene rules.
- Do not go shopping during the usual peak hours. Best to use delivery services.
- Elderly or chronically ill people need help. Therefore, you should support them with support. Among other things, by buying groceries and other things for daily needs.
