Let's talk about what is the coronavirus, dangers, symptoms and how to prevent it.?

To date, 3,000 people have died from the outbreak of coronavirus or COVID-19 and the figure will continue to rise, which tells each of you that this number does not reflect the actual deaths caused by the coronavirus, much less the number of infected at the time that you are reading in this information.

There are currently 108,000 confirmed cases in 100 countries and territories. The mortality rate is still being evaluated, although some connoisseurs of this type of viral spice consider it to be around 2% depending on the country we are talking about and the ability of the health system to manage this type of epidermic which is spreading to Every nation in the world., we will be facing a pandemic.

The number of confirmed cases worldwide had reached almost 108,000 until last Sunday, (There was a 50% increase in cases in Italy yesterday, a significant jump in cases in Germany on Monday) with more than 7,000 cases outside of mainland China, where the outbreak began late last year. The virus has now been detected in at least 100 countries and the number will continue to grow.

Twelve other cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in England, medical director Dr. Chris Whitty said in a statement on Sunday.  22 deaths reported in the USU , one in Thailand and Australia. (The 500 US cases include 46 in California, one in Massachusetts, 13 in Washington state (including 2 fatalities), one in Arizona, three in Illinois, one in Wisconsin, two in Oregon, two in Rhode Island, one in New York and two in Florida.).

The coronavirus showed no signs of slowing its spread across the United States as confirmed cases surpassed 560 across 34 states and the District of Columbia.  The U.S. death toll rose to 22, while the worldwide total approached 4,000.

According to 560 cases confirmed in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration announced this weekend that tests to detect the coronavirus would be greatly expanded in the country, a movement that is expected to improve the detection rate of infections and help identify patterns of suspicion or confirmation cases.

What is a coronavirus? It is a novel virus named for the crown-shaped peaks that protrude from its surface. Coronavirus can infect both animals and people and can cause a variety of respiratory diseases, from the common cold to more dangerous conditions, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS.

The prognosis of Wuhan coronavirus infection depends on several factors that are still being studied. "Some of the most important are the age and coexistence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, Parkinson's or coronary artery diseases, which have been linked to a higher mortality rate," he describes.

Some specialists comment that the action of our immune system can be reinforced through the admission and treatment of infected patients. “Although there is no specific treatment against Wuhan coronavirus, different antivirals are currently being implemented, through which an improvement has been achieved in the Prognosis of the infected. Likewise, treatments for symptom control have also produced a significant improvement in the cure rate, ”they affirm.

Apart from the treatments provided to those affected, “there is hope in different vaccines that are currently being tested from the Chinese Center for the Control and Prevention of
Diseases and promoting through the Coalition for Innovation in the Preparation of Epidemics (CEPI) ”, concludes the doctor.

This protocol follows the one that WHO itself launched a few weeks ago and that in the last hours has been shared through groups.

These are the most important basic protection measures to prevent contagion:


A) Avoid close contact

It is recommended to avoid "close contact" not only with people who may have been in the affected area, but with all those who show "signs of respiratory condition such as cough or sneezing.  ” At first it was thought that the virus was transmitted in only one direction, from animals to people, but research confirmed that the transmission of person to person, through the air droplets.

“Keep at least 1 meter away between you and other people, particularly those who cough, sneeze and have a fever. Why? When someone with a respiratory illness, such as the 2019-nCoV infection, coughs or sneezes, projects small droplets that contain the virus. If it is too close, you can inhale the virus, ”says the Ministry of Health.

B) Frequent hand washing

As with other viruses such as influenza, frequent hand washing is the most effective measure both to prevent infection and to prevent the spread of the virus.

This is reflected in the document prepared by Health: “Generic measures of individual protection against respiratory diseases [such as pneumonia caused by the Wuhan virus] include performing hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or alcoholic solutions)”.

This washing should be done by rubbing palm on palm with enough soap, then interlacing the fingers, and rubbing the backs of the fingers against the palm. In addition, as recommended by health specialists, you should perform a rinse that includes the area of ​​the forearms and reaches the elbow, and drying with disposable paper towels. "This process should take between 40 and 60 seconds."

C) Cover your mouth and nose

The Ministry of Health also advises covering your mouth and nose with tissues or with a cloth when you cough or sneeze. It is more than usual to see how the people we have around us and with whom we agree on public transport cough or sneeze on our hands.

 “Everyone coughs in their hands. And of course, neither washed, nor gel, nor anything. With this level of knowledge / attitude towards viral respiratory infections we take it clear if something fat comes along. ”

If we do not have disposable tissues, it is best to cover your mouth with your forearm, to prevent possible droplets from spreading through direct contact.

D) Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

Hands touch many surfaces that may be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface
Likewise.

E) If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing.

 If you go to a health center for any type of respiratory condition, the WHO (World Health Organization) recommends informing physicians if you have traveled to a
area in which the presence of 2019-nCoV has been notified or if there has been close contact with someone who has traveled to any of those places and has respiratory symptoms.

"Whenever you have a fever, cough and shortness of breath, it is important that you seek medical attention immediately, as these symptoms may be due to a respiratory infection or another serious condition," the document said. "Respiratory symptoms with fever can have various causes,
 and depending on your travel history and personal circumstances, the 2019-nCoV could be one of them. ”

E) If you have mild respiratory symptoms

In the event that the respiratory symptoms are mild and you have not traveled to any of the areas affected by the coronavirus, WHO recommends practicing “basic hand and respiratory hygiene” and staying home until recovery occurs. Most likely, our condition is not related to the coronavirus. Raw or undercooked animal products

Likewise, the Ministry of Health and WHO also advise handling raw meat, milk and animal organs with care "in order to avoid cross contamination with raw foods, in accordance with good food safety practices".

F) The mask is only for the sick

As the protocol indicates, if we are healthy, we do not need to wear a mask. We repeat: we do not need to wear a mask. You only need to wear a mask “if you take care of someone suspected of being infected by Covid-19” or if you have a cough or sneeze. "The masks are only effective if they are combined with frequent hand washing with a hydroalcoholic solution or with soap and water."