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Coronavirus is a virus that caused a disease called COVID-19
COVID-19 is a new highly infectious disease caused by a new virus called Coronavirus
- From others who have the virus
- Spreads from person to person through droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
- Droplets also land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
- People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets
- This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.
All age groups. But older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.
Please consult your doctor before taking any medication. We do not recommend self-medication with any medicines prevention or cure for COVID-19.
Portal Information
Please register on https://www.cowin.gov.in/home
TO BE ADDED
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Most common symptoms:
fever
dry cough
tiredness
Less common symptoms:
aches and pains
sore throat
diarrhoea
conjunctivitis
headache
loss of taste or smell
a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes
Serious symptoms:
difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
chest pain or pressure
loss of speech or movement
No. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.
Isolation is for those individuals who are confirmed or symptomatically suspicious for COVID19.
Quarantine is for healthy individuals who are suspected to have COVID19, they will stay quarantined for a minimum of 14 days.
Isolation is done for a person exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. For isolation, a person should ideally be in a well-ventilated room with an attached bathroom. Medicines may be taken to manage fever, cough, and cold as is generally advised. The isolated must avoid all forms of human contact. Work from home can be done through electronic media if possible. A mask must be worn at all times. For food and other services, family members can place the food outside the room which may be taken by the isolated. The used utensils may be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
Social distancing entails avoiding direct human contact to the best possible extent. It is recommended that one stays at least 6 feet away from other people because it is important for one’s own health, as well as for the health of the other individual. Once exposed to virus through an infected individual, it takes upto 14 days for the symptoms to develop. Time duration from exposure to onset of symptoms is called incubation period. During this incubation period, it is possible for an individual to be infectious. Hence, it is important to adopt a socially distant lifestyle for the coming days. One can engage with families at a distance, practice decent hand hygiene and general hygiene. If anyone has the flu, cough, cold, it is recommended to use surgical masks to avoid spreading droplets from ones nose and mouth into the air.
Those with mild cases of COVID-19 generally recover within 10-15 days. Severe cases are managed in hospitals and it takes much longer to recover.
Transmission FAQs
Virus is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets from an infected person rather than through the air.
The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.
The risk of catching COVID-19 from the feces of an infected person appears to be low. But it is always best to clean hands regularly, after using the bathroom and before eating.
Not known. If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
Prevention FAQs
You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID19 by taking some simple precautions:
- Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
- Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
- Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately. Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
- Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority. Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
- Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease. Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.
Precautions:
You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID19 by taking some simple precautions:
- Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
- Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
- Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately. Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
- Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority. Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
- Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease. Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.
Actions:
- Self-isolate by staying at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache, low grade fever (37.3 C or above) and slight runny nose, until you recover.
- If it is essential for you to have someone bring you supplies or to go out, e.g. to buy food, then wear a mask to avoid infecting other people. Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
- If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition.
- Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travelers. Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
- It should cover your mouth, nose and chin with the coloured side facing outwards.
- Pinch the metal edge of the mask so that it presses gently on your nose bridge.
- Remove a used mask holding only the ear loops.
- To be effective, change your masks regularly or if soiled or wet.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after disposing the soiled masks properly into a bin
Elderly people should ensure 100% home isolation during this time, and should be advised to wash hands after coming in contact with other members or after touching common surfaces. For people taking care of the elderly following proper social distancing protocol is advised. Keep physical interactions with the elderly to a bare minimum. Talking from a distance is encouraged to alleviate their anxiety.
Disease Risk
Older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.
Treatment & Vaccine
Some therapies have been approved. But we do not recommend self-medication with any medicines prevention or cure for COVID-19. Please consult a doctor to understand what medication will work for you.
Yes. There are 2 vaccines in India for COVID-19