What You Need to Know About coronavirus (Covid-19)

By Bethel Okoye

As the Coronavirus pandemic ravages the world with death toll on the increase, here are things you should know about the disease.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus. The disease causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty in breathing. It can also be transmitted from human to human.

What are the Symptoms?

According to the WHO, signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

In more severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, multiple organ failure and even death. The incubation period range from one to 14 days. Most infected people show symptoms within five to six days.

How Do You Protect Yourself from Covid-19?

Wash your hands frequently with soap under a running water and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or sanitizer.

Maintain social distancing bay staying at least 3 feet distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Your hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth.

Practise good respiratory hygiene. Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze and then dispose used tissue immediately.

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early. Stay home if you feel unwell.

If you have a fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, seek medical attention. If you develop symptoms of Covid-19, place yourself on self-isolation and call the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on their toll free number: 0800 9700 0010 or send Whatsapp messages to 07087110839 for daily update on Covid-19.