Covid-19 Coronavirus
Covid-19 Coronavirus
What you need to know about
Covid-19 Coronavirus
Coronavirus is a common virus that can infect your upper neck, sinuses, or nose. Most coronaviruses do not pose a threat.
Following an epidemic in China in December 2019, the World Health Organization recognised SARS-CoV-2 as a novel Covid-19 Coronavirus in the early months of 2020. The epidemic spread fast around the globe.
SARS-CoV-2-transmitted COVID-19 is a disease that can result in what medical professionals refer to as a respiratory tract infection. It can impact either your lower respiratory tract or upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose, and throat) (windpipe and lungs).
Similar to other coronaviruses, it spreads mostly through human contact. Infections can be dangerous or benign.
One of seven coronavirus types, SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for serious illnesses such as the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The other coronaviruses don’t pose a substantial threat to normal healthy people, but they do cause the majority of the colds that we experience each year.
Does SARS-CoV-2 have several strains?
Two strains were identified in an early Chinese study of 103 COVID-19 cases, and they were designated L and S. Although the L type was more prevalent in the early phases of the pandemic, the S type is older. Scientists are still figuring out what it all means, but they believe one may contribute to more incidences of illness than the other.
A virus may also alter or evolve as it spreads among humans, as this virus has done. There are a number of varieties that are now circulating, some of which are proving to be both more contagious and more lethal than the original virus.
Throughout the epidemic, researchers have closely monitored variations like:
- Alpha
- Beta
- Gamma
- Delta
- Omicron
- Lambda
- Mu
- BA.2
How long will the Covid-19 Coronavirus persist?
It is impossible to predict how long the pandemic will last. There are other reasons, such as public initiatives to halt the spread, research efforts to better understand the virus, search efforts for a cure, and the effectiveness of vaccines.
Symptoms of Covid-19 Coronavirus
The main signs and symptoms include:
- Fever
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Trouble breathing
- Fatigue
- Chills, sometimes with shaking
- Body aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Congestion/runny nose
- Loss of smell or taste
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
Pneumonia, respiratory failure, cardiac problems, liver issues, septic shock, and even death can result from the Covid-19 Coronavirus. A condition known as cytokine release syndrome or a cytokine storm may be the root of many COVID-19 problems. This occurs when an infection prompts your immune system to release an abundance of inflammatory proteins known as cytokines into your bloodstream. Your organs may suffer damage and tissue death. Lung transplants have been required in specific circumstances.
Get immediate medical attention if you or a loved one exhibits any of these serious symptoms:
- Shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
- Ongoing pressure or pain in the chest
- Confusion
- Can’t fully awaken
- Pale-coloured lips or face
Some patients suffering from Covid-19 Coronavirus have also been reported strokes. Remember FAST:
- Face. Is one side of the person’s face numb or drooping? Is their smile lopsided?
- Arms. Is one arm weak or numb? If they try to raise both arms, does one arm sag?
- Speech. Can they speak clearly? Ask them to repeat a sentence.
- Time. Every minute counts when someone shows signs of a stroke. Call 999 immediately.
Infected people may show symptoms in as little as two days or as long as fourteen. It varies from one to person.
The following signs and symptoms were identified by Chinese researchers as being the most typical among Covid-19 Coronavirus patients:
- Fever 99%
- Fatigue 70%
- Cough 59%
- Lack of appetite 40%
- Body aches 35%
- Shortness of breath 31%
- Mucus/phlegm 27%
Some Covid-19 Coronavirus patients who are admitted to the hospital also have life-threatening blood clots in their legs, lungs, and arteries.
How to proceed if you believe you have Covid-19 Coronavirus
If you reside in or have recently visited a region where COVID-19 is circulating:
Stay at home if you don’t feel well. Stay inside until you feel better, even if you only have minor symptoms like a headache and runny nose. This safeguards both the people you might encounter along the route and allows doctors to concentrate on patients who are more gravely ill. This is sometimes referred to as self-quarantine. Try to avoid being in the same room as other family members. If you can, use a bathroom on your own.
If you are having problems breathing, call your doctor. You must get medical attention as soon as you can. If you call rather than just show up at the surgery, the doctor can point you in the right direction, which might not be at their surgery. Call 111 if you don’t have a primary care doctor. Where to go for testing and treatment can be advised by them.
Keep up with Covid-19 Coronavirus news and follow your doctor’s recommendations. You’ll receive the treatment you require and advice on how to stop the virus from spreading from your doctor and the relevant healthcare authorities.
Visit our FAQ for additional details about COVID-19.
How can I tell if I have the flu, a cold, or COVID-19?
The signs of COVID-19 can resemble the flu or a severe cold. If: Your doctor suspects COVID-19
You cough and have a temperature.
Within the last 14 days, you have come into contact with persons who have it.
How much worse is Covid-19 Coronavirus than the flu?
Because the coronavirus is so young, unlike the flu, many people do not have immunity to it. The virus causes your body to produce substances known as antibodies if you do contract it. Researchers are examining if the antibodies keep you from contracting it again.
Compared to the flu, the Covid-19 Coronavirus also seems to be more frequently associated with severe illness and fatalities. However, the actual symptoms can differ greatly from person to person.
Is Covid-19 Coronavirus an annual illness like the flu?
The Covid-19 Coronavirus did not spread slowly as scientists had previously hoped due to increased temperatures and humidity levels. In-depth public health initiatives, according to experts, have a greater impact on the spread than the weather. In the past, flu pandemics have occurred all year long.
Diagnosis
Call your doctor or 111 If you believe you have been exposed to or if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 38 °C or higher
- Cough
- Trouble breathing
In most places, testing facilities are easily accessible. Some are drive-in only, while others need an appointment. Kits for home testing are also commonly accessible through the NHS.
The most typical test is a swab test. It searches for viral traces in your upper respiratory system. To collect a sample from the back of your nose and throat, you or the person doing the test inserts a swab up your nostril. However, certain regions may offer quick testing that provides answers in as little as 15 minutes. Normally, that sample is sent to a lab that searches for viral material.
The test is positive if the infection is showing symptoms. If the test comes out negative, there may not be a virus present or not enough to measure. The beginning of infection may see that. Results are often available in 24 hours, however first the tests must be collected, stored, transported to a lab, and then processed there.
Several at-home nasal swab tests, which you administer yourself and express mail back to the lab for analysis, as well as at-home fast testing, have been approved. These are available over the counter at pharmacies, retail locations, and online. Some municipal health departments or federally recognised health institutions also offer free at-home examinations.
A swab test can only determine whether the virus is already present in your body. However, you can also think about getting an antibody test, which can detect viral exposure even if no symptoms were present. This is crucial for officials trying to figure out how widespread COVID-19 is. They may eventually use it to determine who is virus-immune.
Causes
Its cause is unknown, and enquiries into its origin are still underway. The coronavirus comes in various varieties. They are prevalent in both humans and animals, such as cats, camels, cattle, and bats. The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, is comparable to MERS and SARS. All of them were bats.
Complications
Covid-19 Coronavirus can infect anyone, and the majority of cases are minor. The likelihood of developing a serious illness increases with age.
If you have one of these medical disorders, your risk of developing a major illness is also increased:
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- A weakened immune system because of an organ transplant
- Obesity
- Serious heart conditions such as heart failure or coronary artery disease
- Sickle cell disease
- Type 2 diabetes
The following circumstances could contribute to a severe Covid-19 Coronavirus illness:
- Moderate to severe asthma
- Diseases that affect your blood vessels and blood flow to your brain
- Cystic fibrosis
- High blood pressure
- A weakened immune system because of a blood or bone marrow transplant, HIV, or medications like corticosteroids
- Dementia
- Liver disease
- Pregnancy
- Damaged or scarred lung tissue (pulmonary fibrosis)
- Smoking
- Thalassemia
- Type 1 diabetes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children is the name given by medical professionals to the inflammatory illness that certain children and teenagers with COVID-19 are experiencing, and require hospitalisation. Doctors speculate that the virus may be involved. Similar to Kawasaki illness, which causes inflammation in children’s blood vessels, it produces symptoms similar to those of toxic shock.
How are Covid-19 Coronavirus and Mood Disorders Related?
In one extensive study, 91 million people with mood disorders and other mental health issues were examined. It was discovered that having a history of mental disorders puts you at a greater chance of hospitalisation or death, though not necessarily severe Covid-19 Coronavirus.
The study found that having a history of mood problems can raise your risk of hospitalisation and death if you have COVID-19 for a number of socioeconomic factors.
This includes:
- Poverty
- Inability to obtain preventative healthcare
- The capacity to comprehend health advice
- Inability to obtain affordable healthcare
- Living in confined spaces or facilities like mental health inpatient units, nursing homes, or shelters for the homeless
Additionally, individuals with mental health concerns may have specific symptoms of mood disorders, which might impair their capacity to take care of themselves and participate in their health. This can make it challenging to properly practise healthy behaviours like keeping a social distance or relocating to quarantine to stop the infection from spreading.
Furthermore, serious Covid-19 Coronavirus risk factors such as diabetes and heart disease are more prevalent in those with mental health and mood disorders.
Another study included 7,348 individuals with confirmed COVID-19 infections and previous mood and psychiatric disorders. It was discovered that those with schizophrenia had a more than doubled risk of dying from COVID-19. The greater death rate may have been caused by other unrecognised or closely watched health risk factors as well as potential delays in receiving medical care, according to study experts.
Transmission
The virus, SARS-CoV-2, primarily travels from person to person. Exhalation causes people to expel respiratory fluids in the form of droplets in a variety of sizes, such as while speaking, singing, exercising, coughing, or sneezing. These droplets spread illness and carry viruses. Within seconds to minutes, the biggest raindrops swiftly depart from the atmosphere. Small enough to remain suspended in the air for minutes to hours are the tiniest very tiny droplets and aerosol particles that are created when these thin droplets rapidly dry.
Within one to three meters of an infectious source, where the quantity of these extremely small droplets and particles is highest, there is the greatest risk of transmission. The virus can enter your body if you swallow or breathe them in. Even while some virus carriers don’t show any signs of illness, they might nevertheless pass the infection to others.
Although it is less common, you can potentially contract the virus by touching your mouth, nose, or perhaps your eyes after contacting a surface or object that has the virus on it. The majority of viruses can survive for a number of hours on a surface. According to a study, SARS-CoV-2 can survive for several hours on a variety of surfaces:
- Copper (pennies, teakettles, cookware): 4 hours
- Cardboard (shipping boxes): up to 24 hours
- Plastic (milk containers, detergent bottles, subway and bus seats, elevator buttons):2 to 3 days
- Stainless steel (refrigerators, pots and pans, sinks, some water bottles): 2 to 3 days
To get rid of the virus, it’s crucial to constantly wash or sterilise your hands and disinfect surfaces.
The virus has been detected in certain dogs and cats through testing. A few have manifested symptoms of sickness. Although there is no proof that humans may contract this coronavirus from an animal, it does seem possible for humans to transmit it to animals.
Community spread: What is it?
When a doctor or public health official is unsure of the infection’s origin, they will use this phrase. It usually refers to someone who contracts COVID-19 even though they haven’t been exposed to a carrier of the disease.
The COVID-19 infection of two people in York in January 2020, who had not visited an affected area or been exposed to a patient, was confirmed by the Health Secretary. This was the country’s first instance of communal spread. That person most likely came into contact with an infected but unaware person. The variants have also had events of this nature.
How fast is it spreading?
Every day, there are new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. For the most recent information on this breaking story, see our news report.
Coronavirus is extremely infectious
The rate of transmission is high. According to a preliminary study, one individual with it can spread it to between 2 and 3.5 other people. According to one study, the rate was greater, with one case spreading to 4.7–6.6 additional people. In contrast, seasonal flu can spread from one individual to between 1.1 and 2.3 others.
The COVID-19 variant known as the BA.2 variant, which is currently the predominant strain in the United States, is very contagious and is most likely to spread more quickly than the original virus. Researchers are still examining how quickly it spreads in comparison to Omicron, the formerly prevalent variety. Even if the infected person is immune to the disease or shows no symptoms, they can still transmit BA.2 to others.
According to the Department of Health, there is evidence that COVID-19 can be spread if you are within 2 meters of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes in a day. It was once thought that the exposure required to last for 15 minutes at a time.
By washing our hands often, keeping common surfaces clean, avoiding close contact with others, wearing cloth face masks when we can’t keep a distance of 6 feet, and being vaccinated, we can attempt to reduce the transmission rate.
Can food, packages, or groceries spread coronavirus?
Covid-19 Coronavirus is considerably more likely to be transmitted by another person than it is through packages, food, or groceries. If you belong to a high-risk category, stay at home and order food online or ask a buddy to do your grocery shopping. If you can, ask them to leave the items outside your front door. Wear a cotton face mask and attempt to keep at least 6 feet away from other customers if you are doing your own shopping.
A minimum of 20 seconds should be spent washing your hands before and after bringing items inside your home. Cleaning and disinfecting countertops and everything else your luggage has touched is a good idea because the coronavirus can survive on hard surfaces. If you’d like, you can clean plastic, metal, or glass packaging using soap and water.
No evidence has been shown that anyone has acquired COVID-19 via food or food-related containers.
Prevention
A crucial element of prevention is receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. But you should also do the following:
In public, cover your mouth and nose. Even if you don’t feel unwell, COVID-19 can still be distributed if you have it. Put on a mask to shield others. This doesn’t take the place of social isolation. You must still maintain a 6-foot space between you and people nearby. Use a face mask that isn’t intended for healthcare personnel. Additionally, avoid obscuring anyone’s face who is:
- Less than 2 years old
- Difficulty breathing
- Unable to remove the mask on their own whether they are unconscious or for another reason
Regularly wash your hands with soap and water, or sanitise them with an alcohol-based product. On your hands, this eliminates viruses.
Don’t touch your face. Coronaviruses can survive for several hours on surfaces that you contact. They can enter your body if they land on your hands and you then touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.
Practice social distancing. You should try to stay at home as much as possible because you can have the virus and spread it without realising it. If you must go outside, keep at least 6 feet between you and other people.
Clean and disinfect. Disinfect surfaces you frequently touch, such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, toilets, faucets, and sinks, after cleaning them with soap and water. Use a household cleanser that has been certified to treat SARS-CoV-2 or a mixture of household bleach and water (1/3 cup bleach per gallon of water or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water). To find out if yours was included, visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website. When cleaning, put on gloves and discard them afterwards.
Herbal treatments and teas cannot be proven to prevent infection.
Can a face mask protect you from infection?
In addition to vaccinations and social isolation attempts, wearing a mask is an additional layer of protection for everyone. Even if you don’t realise you have the virus or aren’t exhibiting any symptoms of infection, you can still distribute it when you chat or cough.
A mask should be worn in a variety of circumstances, including:
If you are fully immunised and are in a region where COVID is spreading at a high or “significant” rate, use a mask indoors and in public spaces. Wear a mask at all times in indoor public spaces if you haven’t had your shots completely. That applies to everyone aged 2 and older.
Even if you have had all of your vaccinations, use a mask in indoor public spaces if you have a chronic health condition or are taking medications that impair your immune system. Unless your doctor advises you otherwise, do this. Since the coronavirus is less likely to spread outside, you generally don’t need to wear a mask there. However, if COVID-19 cases are prevalent in your area, you might want to wear one during outdoor gatherings that entail close contact with individuals who have not received their full dose of vaccination.
Even at home, anyone who is ill and in close proximity to humans or animals should wear a face mask. They should be used by caregivers when sanitising a sick person’s bathroom or bedroom. Before medical assistance arrives, put on a mask if you need to dial 911.
Not everyone should wear a mask:
- Children under the age of 2 years old
- A person with a disability who is unable to wear a mask or who cannot do so safely
- A person whose profession poses a risk to their coworkers’ health or safety, as established by the workplace risk assessment, by wearing a mask
Treatment
Coronavirus Vaccine
Everyone aged 5 years old and over should get vaccinated, according to the Health Department. Three vaccines—Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson—have received approval. Pfizer’s paediatric formulation requires two doses, spaced three weeks apart, much like the adult counterparts do, while Moderna requires two doses, spaced one month apart.
Recovery
Covid-19 Coronavirus is not specifically treated. Mild cases require care to alleviate symptoms, such as rest, water, and fever control. For a fever, body aches, and sore throat, take over-the-counter medication. But adolescents and youngsters under the age of 19 should not take aspirin.
You may have heard that ibuprofen is ineffective for treating Covid-19 Coronavirus symptoms. However, according to the NHS, those who have the virus can continue to use paracetamol or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) as needed.
Antibiotics address bacteria, not viruses, therefore they won’t be of any assistance. If you hear about Covid-19 Coronavirus patients using antibiotics, it’s likely to treat an infection that developed concurrently with the illness.
People who have severe symptoms require hospital care.
Outlook
Every situation is unique. A few days after exposure, you can experience mild flu-like symptoms before becoming better. But other situations can be dangerous or even fatal.
Even minor symptoms can last for several weeks.
An NHS poll found that more than a third of adults over 18 with symptoms of the virus are still not fully recovered two or three weeks later. The symptoms that were most likely to linger were cough and fatigue.
Some additional Covid-19 Coronavirus survivors experience a disorder called chronic fatigue syndrome that resembles myalgic encephalomyelitis. They might have mental fog, extreme weariness, discomfort, difficulty thinking, or dizziness.