Covid-19
Everything You Need to Know about the Coronavirus
What is a Coronavirus?
Covid-19 belongs to a family of coronaviruses that often infect animals such as bats and pigs. This particular strain of coronavirus has not been seen in humans before. There are now a total of seven strains including this one that have caused global infectious outbreaks in humans with the primary infection area being the respiratory tract.
Coronaviruses are not new to humans, just this particular strain. In fact four of the strains humans live with daily as they cause the common cold. The other two strains are actually two of the most deadly human infections. Firstly, severe acute respiratory syndrome more commonly known as SARS as well as the lesser known Middle East respiratory syndrome , MERS.
The current virus is being called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2 which has been shortened to Covid-19, with 19 standing for 2019, the year it was first detected in humans.
Where Did it Come From?
Scientists have claimed Covid-19 likely came from bats. Bats aren’t common transmitters to humans, most viruses that come from bats usually infect another mammal first before making their way to humans. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal one idea is that the intermediary animal may have been a pangolin or a scaly anteater, which is a small mammal sold in wildlife markets. It is believed that the outbreak originated in a market in Wuhan, China that sells animals and seafood products.
Is COVID-19 Airborne?
The short answer is no, Covid-19 is not airborne. However, whilst transmission through air is not the primary cause of the virus spreading once released into the air via a cough or a sneeze for example it can last on surfaces anywhere between a few hours and up to three days according to scientists at the World Health Organization (WHO). More importantly it can last for hours in the air, meaning that aerosolization (converting the virus substances into small particles light enough to travel on air) can still occur but very rarely for this particular virus.
Words: Alice I’Anson 2020
Cover Image: Henry Co via Unsplash
Who is Most at Risk?
Basically everyone. While originally the most vulnerable to the virus were the elderly, those with low immune systems or autoimmune diseases, pregnant women, infants and children the statistics are showing the millennials and boomers are at just as much of a risk. In New York alone most cases of Covid-19 have been detected in people under 40. It’s important to note that not everyone shows symptoms, this is particularly prevalent in the millennial age bracket which is why many countries around the world are enforcing social distancing policies.
What You can do to Avoid Contracting Covid-19 + Useful Tips
Wash your hands with soap for at least 30 seconds
Avoid shaking hands with people
Avoid gathering in large groups (practice physical social distancing)
Eat fruits and vegetables to keep your immune system as healthy as possible
Use hand sanitizer where necessary
Stay home if you’re sick, remember this isn’t just about you it’s about the people around you. No one will win an award for going to the office when they’re not feeling 100%
Educate yourself on symptoms and what to do if you contract the virus, but don’t freak yourself out. There’s a lot of information out there and much of it is misleading, so make sure you check your sources before self testing and self diagnosing
Take what your governments are saying seriously