COVID19, CORONA VIRUS FAQs

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COVID19, CORONA VIRUS FAQs

• curie.health

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What is COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS?

• According to the WHO, Corona virus is a group of
  infectious viruses that cause a contagious
  disease called Covid19 when it infects a living
  host (E.g. Humans).

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What is a virus?

• It is an infectious, microscopic nucleic acid
  molecule surrounded by a protein coat and that
  can multiply in a living host such as a human or
  an animal.

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How bad is the current COVID19 situation?

• According to WHOs publication on 18 March, 2020,
  globally, 191127 cases and 7807 deaths have been
  reported around the world. These statistics are
  changing every minute.
• As of India, WHO confirms a total of 137 patients
  and 3 deaths that have been reported as of 18
  March, 2020.
•  In Tamil Nadu, according to the Ministry of
  Health and Family Welfare, 2 cases have been
  reported as of 19 March, 2020. Out of the two,
  one case has been treated and discharged.

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Source World Health Organisation (WHO)
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When do I get symptoms and what are the symptoms
of COVID19?

• According to the WHO, symptoms of Covid19 may
  take up to 14 days to start, following an
  infection (Incubation period).
• The most common symptoms include a fever, dry
  cough (cough without sputum), generalised
  tiredness and in severe cases, breathing
  difficulty (1 in every 6 people).
• However, other flu like symptoms such as runny
  nose, sore throat, nasal congestion, body pain,
  diarrhoea etc. have also been reported.
• Many others do not experience symptoms and up to
  80 of the infected people recover fully without
  any extensive treatment.

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Symptoms of COVID19
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Who is at a higher risk of COVID19?

• Elderly population, people with high blood
  pressure, heart disease, diabetes or similar
  comorbidities and those with decreased immunity
  (E.g. Cancer patients, HIV patients, kidney
  failure patients, transplant patients etc.)
  should be extremely cautious as there is a higher
  chance of them developing serious illness and
  associated complications.

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Higher risk of COVID19
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How does this virus spread?

• According to the CDC, the main method of spread
  of virus is
• Person to person contact The most common method
  is by close proximity (within 6 feet) to an
  infected person and by droplet infection
  following coughing or sneezing.
• In some instances, a person who has been infected
  but is not yet symptomatic (or with mild
  symptoms) can spread the infection to others
  around them.
• Contact with contaminated surfaces and objects
  The Corona Virus is believed to survive on
  various surfaces for up to 3 days and any contact
  with these surfaces can lead to a possible
  infection.
• Community spread The virus can survive in air
  and hence, spreads within the community without
  any direct contact with an infected person or
  object.
• At present, infection spread through pet dogs or
  cats is not reported apart from a single isolated
  case in Hong Kong where Corona virus was found in
  the fur of a dog. WHO also advises people to
  avoid visiting any live animal markets, to avoid
  touching surfaces contaminated by animals,
  touching raw meat or consuming raw meat.

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Virus spread
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What preventive measures should I take?

• Hand washing with soap and using a hand sanitizer
  that contains more than 60 alcohol.
• Coughing or sneezing onto a bent elbow.
• Maintaining at least a 3 foot distance from
  others.
• Avoiding unnecessary touching of your face with
  your hand
• Building your immunity by having a good diet,
  improving sleep patterns, having a healthy diet
  and reducing stress. This can help ease recovery
  if infected.
• Social Distancing and Self Isolation are the two
  measures that have been suggested all around the
  world. By doing so, chances of the infection
  spreading widespread within a short duration of
  time is reduced, thereby flattening the
  epidemiological Curve which represents the
  number of cases over a period of time.

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Preventive measures
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When should I suspect COVID19 infection?

• If you are not having any travel history or
  history of contact with an infected person and
  not showing any symptoms, self-quarantine for up
  to 14days is advisable. During this period,
  development of one or more symptoms should
  warrant a visit to the nearest health-care
  provider. The doctor would assess you and refer
  you for a COVID19 test if required.
• However, in the event of travel history or
  exposure to an infected person, with or without
  symptoms, you can visit a doctor who might advice
  you to have a COVID19 test.
• In case of an elderly person or someone with
  immunity deficiencies, be vigilant of any
  symptoms and visit the doctor immediately in case
  of symptoms or breathing difficulties.

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Are there any medications I should take when I
get symptoms? Will antibiotics be useful?

• According to the WHO, antibiotics do not have any
  effect on the infection and therefore should not
  be misused for prevention or treatment.
• If symptoms develop, best option is to visit the
  hospital before self-treating. New reports from
  WHO also suggest that pharmacy available pain
  killers such as Ibuprofen or similar pain killers
  can aggravate symptoms of COVID19. Therefore, it
  is best not to self-medicate.

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Is there a treatment or vaccination for COVID19?

• As of now, there is no known drug specific to
  COVID19. Treatment is symptomatic and with the
  use of several anti-viral medications which will
  be prescribed to you by the doctor. Vaccination
  is still under investigation and has not come to
  the market yet.

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Does wearing a mask prevent COVID19?

• Wearing a mask when you are not infected, not
  symptomatic or looking after an infected person
  is not advised by the WHO. The disposable masks
  are only for a single use and multiple use of
  these masks could pose a threat by itself.
• Also, there is a shortage of masks worldwide and
  those who genuinely require it (healthcare
  workers, infected people) might not be able to
  buy it, if there is unnecessary usage of these
  masks.
• Hand hygiene should be followed before and after
  the use of masks and the correct methods of
  wearing the mask should be followed.
• Also, the use of multiple masks should be
  avoided.

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Does wearing a mask prevent COVID19?
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Smoking, Alcohol consumption and COVID19

• According to the WHO, smoking or excessive
  alcohol consumption is not advisable and may
  weaken your immune system

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What should I do if I am from Chennai and I
suspect COVID19 infection?

• In Chennai, The Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital
  is the first place that should come to your mind
  in case of a suspected COVID19 infection.
• Once you go to the hospital, a doctor would
  consult you, take a detailed history and
  clinically examine you. He would then order for
  the COVID19 test if warranted. A nasopharyngeal
  swab is then taken and sent in for testing to the
  concerned lab (Kings Institute in Guindy is one
  of the govt. approved labs). The swab might take
  less than 5-10mins and is not painful.
• Other tests such as an X-Ray or CT chest, blood
  tests, sputum samples, aspirate samples etc.
   might also be taken to confirm the diagnosis.

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