Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic details are as under:
Symptoms
COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.
The most common symptoms:
- fever
- cough
- tiredness
- loss of taste or smell.
Less common symptoms
- sore throat
- Headache
- pains
- diarrhea
- skin rash or discoloration of the fingers and toes
- red or irritated eyes.
Serious symptoms:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- loss of speech or mobility or confusion
- pain in the chest.
- If serious symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately. Always call before visiting a doctor or health care facility.
People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should manage their symptoms at home.
On average, it takes 5-6 days after contracting the virus for symptoms to appear, but it can take up to 14 days.
Preventions
To prevent infection and slow the transmission of COVID-19, follow these steps:
the disease and how the virus spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by staying at least 1 meter away from others, wearing a properly fitted mask and washing your hands frequently or using alcohol-based hand rubs. Get vaccinated when it’s your turn and follow local guidelines.
The virus can be spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small fluid particles when coughing, sneezing, talking, singing or breathing. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols. It’s important to follow breathing etiquette, such as coughing into your flexed elbow, as well as staying home and self-isolating until you’ve recovered if you feel unwell.
Tips for prevention
To prevent infection and slow the transmission of COVID-19, follow these steps:
- Get vaccinated when a vaccine is available.
- Keep a distance of at least 1 meter from other people, even if they don’t look sick.
- Wear a properly fitted mask when physical distancing is not possible or in poorly ventilated areas.
- Choose open, well-ventilated spaces over closed ones. Open the window if you are indoors.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- If you feel unwell, stay home and isolate yourself until you recover.
Advice for the public: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Small public gatherings
keep at least 1 meter distance from other people;
put on a mask;
avoid crowded or poorly ventilated places;
cover coughs and sneezes with a bent elbow or tissues; and
wash your hands often.
These measures are a good idea to protect yourself and others, even if the event or venue does not require you to take them.
COVID-19 advice for the public: Getting vaccinated
Safe and effective vaccines are available that offer strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Billions of people have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from COVID-19, help end the pandemic, and stop new variants from emerging.
Take all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine recommended by the health authority as soon as it is your turn, including a booster dose if recommended.
It is still possible to become infected with COVID-19 and spread it to others after being vaccinated, so continue to do what you can to keep yourself and others healthy. Continue to maintain a safe distance from others and avoid crowds, wear a well-fitting mask that covers your mouth and nose, ventilate rooms well, wash your hands regularly and cover coughs and sneezes. If you get COVID-19 after being vaccinated, you are more likely to have mild or no symptoms than if you had not been vaccinated.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: When and how to use masks
Masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to stop transmission and save lives; the use of a mask alone is not enough to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19.
If COVID-19 is spreading in your community, stay safe by taking simple precautions such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, washing hands, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue. Check local advice where you live and work. Do it all!
Make wearing a mask a normal part of being with other people. Proper use, storage and cleaning or disposal of masks is essential for them to be as effective as possible.
Here are the basic rules for wearing a mask:
- Wash your hands before putting on the mask, before and after taking it off, and after touching it.
- Make sure it covers both your nose, mouth and chin.
- When you take off your mask, store it in a clean plastic bag and either wash it daily if it is a cloth mask or throw the medical mask in the trash can.
- Do not use valved masks.
Transmission package: protect yourself and others from COVID-19
If COVID-19 is spreading in your community, stay safe by taking simple precautions such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, washing hands, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue. Check local advice where you live and work. Know your risk, reduce your risk!
- Protective measures
- How is the COVID-19 virus transmitted?
- Contact tracing and breaking transmission chains
- COVID-19 symptoms and flu