What is Covid-19?
COVID-19 is a disease caused by the “novel corona virus”. Common symptoms are: Fever Dry cough Breathing difficulty Some patients also have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea About 80% of confirmed cases recover from the disease without any serious complications. However, one out of every six people who gets COVID-19 can become seriously ill* and develop difficulty in breathing. In more severe cases, infection can cause severe pneumonia and other complications which can be treated only at higher level facilities (District Hospitals and above).
How Does It Spreads
How does COVID-19 spread?
COVID-19 spreads mainly by droplets produced
as a result of coughing or sneezing of a COVID-19
infected person. This can happen in two ways:
> Direct close contact: one can get the infection
by being in close contact with COVID-19
patients (within one Metre of the infected
person), especially if they do not cover their
face when coughing or sneezing.
> Indirect contact: the droplets survive on
surfaces and clothes for many days. Therefore,
touching any such infected surface or cloth
and then touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes
can transmit the disease.
The incubation period of COVID 19 (time between
getting the infection and showing symptoms) is
1 to 14 days
Some people
with the infection, but without any
serious symptoms can also spread the disease.
Source of Virus
The virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Spread is more likely when people are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in many affected geographic areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.