IN the face of increasingly widespread fears of Covid-19 pandemic, concrete steps can take right now to prevent the infection.The CDC recommend that all people wear cloth face masks in public places where it is difficult to maintain a 6-foot distance from others. This will help slow the spread of the virus from asymptomatic people or people who do not know they have contracted the virus. Cloth face masks should be worn while continuing to practice social distancing. Instructions for making masks at home can be found here. Note: It is critical that surgical masks and N95 respirators are reserved for healthcare workers.
To date, public health officials have reported tens of thousands of cases of Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.
This situation has caused many people around the world to feel anxious about becoming infected and social media outlets and public forums abound with questions about how to keep Covid-19 at bay.
This Special Feature is a practical guide that describes the best ways to avoid a respiratory infection at home, at work, at school, and while traveling.
Based on the information received so far, and on our experience with other coronaviruses, Covid-19 appears to spread mostly through respiratory droplets (when a sick person coughs, for example) and close contact.
In light of that information, the spokesperson said, the WHO recommended preventive actions to minimize exposure to droplets.
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO HAVE A ‘MILD’ CASE OF Covid-19: Covid-19 symptoms can vary widely in different people, ranging from deadly pneumonia to a loss of smell, or even no symptoms.
Many people report mild symptoms initially before more severe fever and coughing. While 80 percent of cases are estimated to be mild, they can still take a severe toll.
A majority of people with Covid-19 are expected to have relatively “mild” symptoms that resolve at home. While around 80 percent of Covid-19 cases are mild, even this mild infection can be a problem. Before you even know you have an infection, odds are you’ve spread the virus to three other people. If they’re 70 or older, there’s about an 8 percent chance they’ll die. And even for mild cases, Covid-19 can take a serious toll.
WHAT FACTORS DID PEOPLE WHO DIED WITH Covid-19 HAVE IN COMMON? Researchers have analyzed the records of 85 individuals who died with Covid-19 in the early stages of the outbreak in Wuhan, China.