COVID-19: Everything You Want to Know About It

COVID-19 is a new pandemic that has already grabbed headlines due to the severity of its impact and the speed of spread.  The United Nations website describes it as an event that the UN has rarely witnessed in its 75-year old history. The disease gained notoriety by the first week of December due to its fast outspread, deaths, and other reasons. Owing to its critical nature, Chinese authorities reported it to the World Health Organization (WHO), which declared it as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in January 2020, and finally as a pandemic in March 2020. This post provides information about this disease, its symptoms, and precautionary measures to be taken to avoid it.

COVID-19: A Brief Overview of the Disease

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that is caused by the newly discovered virus strain coronavirus or SARS COV-2. The disease has symptoms much like the regular flu and people suffering from it will experience mild to moderate symptoms. It is observed that people with weak immunity and aged above 60 are more likely to experience severe symptoms sometimes even leading to death. It is confirmed that almost 80% of confirmed patients are known to recover from the disease, whereas one in every six people may develop severe symptoms.

COVID-19 Symptoms You Must Know About

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most common symptoms of the disease include the following:

• Dry Cough
• Fever
• Tiredness

Some people have also reported symptoms such as:

• Sore throat
• Pains and aches
• Shortness of breath
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

Many people have also experienced bluish lips as a symptom of the disease. If you are experiencing any of the above-discussed symptoms you should immediately contact your doctor and seek medical attention.

How COVID-19 Spreads

COVID-19 usually spreads through infected people. It spreads through droplets that are produced during sneezing or coughing. The spread usually occurs in either of the two ways:

• Direct Contact: As the name suggests, a healthy person may catch an infection if he comes in close contact with a COVID-19 patient, especially if they do not cover their mouth while coughing or sneezing. The virus replicates in the human body at a faster rate and its incubation period is 2-14 days.
• Indirect Contact: The virus can survive on surfaces of high touch areas for several days. There are high chances of infection if a person touches infected surfaces or a cloth used by a patient to cover their mouth, eyes, or nose.

It may also be transmitted by people who have mild symptoms of the disease.

Tips to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

Social distancing has emerged as the major option if you wish to avoid the disease. Many countries have already imposed strict regulations on human interaction and movements. Although staying at home may sound dull for most active people there, it is recommended to avoid the disease. The following pointers will be helpful.

A] Practice Social Isolation: It doesn’t matter whether you are infected or not, you must avoid attending social gatherings or social events. In addition to this, you must:

1. Maintain a distance of at least one meter when you meet people at public places
2. Stay at home and not step out unless necessary
3. Avoid any physical contact with people in any form
4. Avoid touching high touch areas at office (if you are still working) or other organizations
5. Isolate yourself from other family members if you are experiencing any symptoms discussed above

B] Practice Good Physical Hygiene: WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend people to practice good hand hygiene. These organizations recommend people to follow these guidelines to avoid infection:

1. Wash hands regularly with water and soap. If either of these is not available, then sanitize hands using a sanitizer with 60% alcohol content.
2. Cover mouth with elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
3. Maintain a distance of one meter from the next person when coughing or sneezing.
4. Refrain from consuming alcohol or cigarettes that may affect your lungs.
5. Avoid touching any parts of your face after sneezing.

Robbins Instruments is a people-friendly company, which has been serving the plastic surgery and dermatology industries for several years now. The company is closely monitoring the guidelines issued by the state government and other leading organizations like WHO and CDC. All employees are encouraged to work from home and those who have been unwell are offered sick leaves. As the company serves the critical healthcare industry, it is functioning as usual. At the moment, the company has established stringent measures to prevent the spread of disease.