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Covid 19
What is COVID-19?
The Novel Coronavirus is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus strains. The source of the virus is still unknown. However, the pandemic began in December 2019. The virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes. If another person touches an infected surface, they are also likely to be infected by the virus.
Please stay updated with your country’s governmental authorities for daily regulations & guidelines within the country. One can also subscribe to WHO Newslettersfor regular COVID19 updates. We think Facebook does a great job at highlighting common myths & misunderstandings about COVID-19 OR….. Bust the myths with jashanmal:
What are the Symptoms?
The virus affects different people differently & can include mild to severe respiratory illness.
For mild cases, the symptoms are cough, fever, tiredness/weakness.
For severe cases, the symptoms are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, loss of speech, or movement.
Do not stress! - if you show mild symptoms along with headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, or diarrhea- most patients infected mildly recover without hospitalization.
However, if you or a family member is showing symptoms, follow the below guidelines:
- 1. Do not Panic.
- 2. Self-Quarantine at home. Continue to maintain hygiene & safety measures.
- 3. Call your doctor or nearest hospital for guidance on the next steps to take.
Please note that symptoms may take a while to present themselves, generally between 1-14 days. Hence an infected person may be asymptomatic. Therefore, we must be vigilant and follow precautions thoroughly.
Prevention is better than the cure!
Here is our simplified infographic prepared after thorough research about COVID-19 and how to best prevent it:
- • For more on what masks are effective & their appropriate maintenance, check out the in-depth guide by Centre of Disease Control:
- • For Arabic speakers, here is a series of guidelines created by the Ministry of Health & Prevention in UAE for the corona pandemic:
- • Concerned about the welfare of your pets during this pandemic? Have a look at CDC’s guide to learn more on how to protect them:
- • Here’s an interesting guideline for food safety advice by the World Health Organization.
While the development of vaccines continues, we all should be improving our immunity which will enable our bodies to fight the disease better. *As this is a virus, antibiotics should not be used as a means of recovery. However if you are hospitalized, antibiotics may be prescribed for co-bacterial infections.
What are the Types of Tests Available?
Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests.
- 1) A viral test tells you if you have a current infection. – generally done with a kit for a nasal swab.
- 2) An antibody test might tell you if you had a past infection.
It is however best to check with a medical facility first, if you need to take a test & what type are available within your region/country. To learn more about testing, click here.