The world has been hit by the Coronavirus and many nations are putting in desperate measures to stop it from spreading. So what is this Coronavirus, how does it spread and what can you do to keep your home and family safe from this pandemic? Let’s look at some facts we know so far.

What is the Corona virus?

To understand the Corona virus, we first have to understand what a virus is. Wikipedia defines a virus as “A small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses can infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea”. A virus isn’t visible to the naked eye and affects life forms. Almost every sickness is caused by a virus or bacteria. Bacteria can be weakened with antibiotics but viruses don’t have an immediate cure. Corona viruses (CoVs) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.

How it’s transmitted

The virus can be airborne and is mainly transmitted through sneezing. Corona viruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Several known corona viruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.

Symptoms of Corona virus

Here are common symptoms that can be seen within an infected person:

• Respiratory symptoms
• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath and breathing difficulties

In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Preventive measures

Follow these preventive measures to keep yourself safe.

• Regular hand washing
• Covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing
• Thoroughly cooking meat and eggs
• Avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing

Keeping your home and family safe

To keep your home and family safe you can follow the following procedures:

• Disinfect your home regularly
• Disinfect your phone
• Wash your hands before entering the house
• Wear a mask if you are sneezing
• Limit engagements with large crowds
• Stay in the sunlight

The video below will help you stay safe and healthy during these trying times.

Updates on Contra Virus

The charts below show the current state of the virus. Not many young people are dying from it. Most fatalities are from 60 years and above and it is normally associated with a previous or underlying disease that they had. More than half of the infected people have recovered from the new Corona virus so do not be alarmed and fearful about the disease. Be cautious, and follow the guidelines contained in this article to remain safe. More information on the virus and its trends can be gleaned from the infographics below.