COVID-19 101: The basics everyone should know

COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, is an infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and has since spread globally, resulting in a pandemic. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a single-stranded RNA virus from the coronavirus family, which includes the viruses that cause Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1) of the 2003 outbreak and the MiddleEast respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) of 2012 outbreak.

As of April 16, 2023, COVID-19 had infected 762,791,152 people and killed 6,897,025. The virus spreads mostly by respiratory droplets when an infected person speaks, coughs, or sneezes. contacting a virus-infected surface and then contacting one's lips, nose, or eyes might also transfer it. The virus infects human cells by attaching to the ACE2 receptor on the surface of cells in the respiratory tract, lungs, heart, and other organs resulting in a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe. Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, and loss of smell or taste. In other cases, more serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, or bluish lips or face, may warrant hospitalization.

source: WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard | WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data

COVID-19 currently has no specific treatment. Most persons with mild or moderate symptoms can recover at home with supportive care such as rest, fluids, and over-the-counter fever and pain relievers. On the other hand, people with severe or critical illnesses may require hospitalization and sophisticated care, such as oxygen therapy, mechanical breathing, and other supportive treatments. Several medicines, including remdesivir, dexamethasone, and monoclonal antibodies, have been approved for emergency use in treating COVID-19. Vaccines for emergency use have also been developed and approved, with numerous distinct types of vaccines available globally. COVID-19 vaccines have been demonstrated to be extremely successful in averting serious disease, hospitalization, and death.

COVID-19 prevention involves a combination of strategies, including immunization, social separation, mask use, and frequent hand cleanliness. Vaccination is the most effective method of COVID-19 prevention since it lowers the risk of infection, severe illness, hospitalization, and mortality. Staying at least six feet away from others, avoiding crowded indoor settings, and reducing close interaction with individuals outside one's family are all examples of social distancing. Wearing masks can help to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets and aerosols, especially in enclosed environments with poor ventilation. Hand hygiene, such as washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer regularly, can also help lower the risk of infection.

 

References

LeDuc JW and Barry MA, (2004). SARS, the first pandemic of the 21st century. Emerg Infect. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1011.040797_02

WHO, (2012). Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) (Accessed, 16/04/2023). https://www.who.int/health-topics/middle-east-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-mers#tab=tab_1

WHO, (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (date accessed, 16/04/2023). https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1

Wu D, Wu T, Liu Q and Yang Z, (2020). The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: What we know. Int J Infect Dis. 94: 44–48. https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ijid.202 

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