According to CDC symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure as like the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses. How COVID-19 Spreads Current knowledge about how the virus that causes corona virus disease 2019 i.e. COVID-19 spreads is mostly based on what is known about similar corona viruses.
For confirmation of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, reported
illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and
death.
Symptoms are-
i. Fever
ii. Cough
iii. Shortness of breath
Person-to-person spread :The virus is spread mainly from person-to-person.
Among people who are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet)
Via respiratory exchange or droplets, when an infected person coughs or
sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths and noses of humans who are
nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Spread by contact with infected objects: It may be possible that a person
can get corona virus by touching a object that has the virus on it and then
touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not
thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
When does spread happen?
Those People are thought to be most contagious who are most symptomatic.
Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been
reports of this with this corona virus, but this is not the actual way of
virus to be spread.
How efficiently does the virus spread?
How fast a virus spreads from person-to-person may vary virus to virus.
Sometimes viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses
are less so. Another factor is what happen if the spread continues over
multiple generations of people (if spread is sustained). The corona virus
seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in Hubei province and other
parts of China.
In the USA, spread from person-to-person has occurred only among a few
close contacts and has not spread any further to date. There is still
more to be learned. COVID-19 is an challenging disease to us and there is
more to learn about its transmission, severity, and other features and what
will happen in the United States.
Protective Measures Against Corona Virus
i. Wash your hands multiple times: Wash your hands multiple times with soap
and water or use an alcohol ,if your hands are not visibly dirty. Washing
our hands with soap or using alcohol eliminates the virus if it is on our
hands.
ii. Hygienic respiration : During coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth
and nose with flexed elbow or tissue or cover it by a mask– discard tissue
immediately into a closed bin and clean your hands with alcohol or soap and
water.
Why? Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing prevent the
spread of germs and viruses.
If you sneeze into your hands, then you may contaminate objects or people
that you touch.
iii. Practice social distancing: Maintain at least 1 meter distance between
yourself and other people, particularly those who are coughing, sneezing and
have a fever.
If someone is infected with a respiratory disease, like COVID-19
coughs or sneezes they project small droplets containing the virus. If you
are too close, you may get the virus through breathe.
iv. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth: Our Hands touch many object and
surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus. At the same time If you
touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your contaminated hands, you can
transfer the virus from the surface to yourself.
If you get fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, seek a medical care
early.
v. Tell your healthcare provider : if you have traveled in an area in China
where 2019-nCoV has been reported, or if you have been in close contact with
someone with who has traveled from China and has respiratory
symptoms.
Why? If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing it’s important to
seek a medical attention promptly as this may be due to a respiratory
infection.
Respiratory problems with fever, coughs may have a range of causes, and
depending on our personal travel records and circumstances, COVID-19 could
be one of them.
If you have mild respiratory symptoms and no travel records around or
within China. If you have mild respiratory problems and no travel records
around or within China, carefully practice basic respiratory and hand
hygiene and be at home until you are recovered, if possible.
Summary As preventive measures, Try to be hygiene if you are going to visit
any animal market, Ensure regular hand washing multiple times with soap and
potable water after touching animals and animal products;
Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with hands; and avoid touching sick
animals or spoiled animal products. Strongly avoid any contact with other
animals in the market (e.g., stray cats and dogs, rodents, birds,
bats).
Avoid physical contact with highly infected animal waste or fluids droplets
on the soil or structures of shops and market facilities.
Avoid consumption of raw or uncooked animal products ,Handle crude animal
product, milk or animal organelles with care, to avoid cross-contamination
with foods that are not well cooked, as per good food safety
practices.
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COVID-19