What are coronaviruses?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some of which can infect people. Some cause mostly mild illness, such as the strains responsible for some common colds. Others can potentially also lead to severe, or even fatal, disease - such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which continues to circulate in some parts of the world. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak was caused by a coronavirus. It caused severe and fatal disease, however, is no longer in circulation. The natural reservoir for coronaviruses is thought to be animal hosts. New strains emerge from this reservoir, infect an 'intermediate' host, and from there infect people. The viruses may then be capable of being transmitted from one person to another. Some are efficient at human-to-human transmission, while others are not.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19 infection?

From what we know so far, the virus can cause mild, flu-like symptoms such as:

Fever

Cough

Difficulty breathing

Pain in the muscles

Tiredness

More serious cases develop severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis and septic shock that can lead to the death of the patient. People with existing chronic conditions seem to be more vulnerable to severe illness

Who is at risk of infection and what are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The disease can move from person to person, but it is not yet known how easily or sustainably it spreads. Scientists are studying the data as it becomes available. The initial cases reported having visited a seafood/animal market, which may have been a source of exposure. However now the main way the disease is spreading is from person to person. Some people have had a mild illness and recovered. Others have had more severe infections. Critical and fatal cases have occurred. Preliminary evidence indicates that people with underlying medical conditions, elderly people and those with compromised immune systems may be at higher risk for severe illness.The illness is still being studied. So far, we know that common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. These symptoms are not limited to COVID-19. Respiratory illnesses and pneumonia caused by other organisms (including bacteria) and other viruses (such as influenza) can also cause these symptoms. Other less common symptoms of COVID-19 include muscle aches, headache, nausea and diarrhoea. It is capable of causing severe illness, and some infected people have died. It is possible that people with underlying health conditions are at higher risk for severe disease.

How severe is COVID-19 infection?

At this point, there is too little data available to say with certainty how severe COVID-19 is but preliminary findings indicate that it is less fatal than SARS coronavirus.

Where can I get tested?

If your doctor believes there is a need for a laboratory test for SARS-CoV-2/ COVID-19, he/she will inform you of the procedure to follow and advise which laboratory can perform the test. Several laboratories in Europe can process SARS-CoV-2 samples.Please turn to your doctor or health authorities for further, more detailed information.

Should I close all my windows to prevent a spread of the virus?

No. Infectious disease experts suggest keeping windows and doors open to ventilate rooms. This will reduce the spread of diseases.

What does cough etiquette mean?

Cough etiquette, or respiratory hygiene, is a measure taken to reduce person-to-person transmission of infected droplets. Individuals should distance themselves, cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing. It is important that tissues are disposed of correctly (in nearest waste bin) after use and that hands are washed immediately with soap and water or alcohol based hand sanitizer (containing 60-85% alcohol).

Will I catch the virus if I go near an infected person who does not have any symptoms?

Dr Carmen Dolea, head of the International Health Regulations Secretariat at the World Health Organisation(WHO), said there is no such thing as a truly asymptomatic patient. Even if the patient is not showing symptoms like coughing or sneezing, he may still have clinical symptoms like fever. "For somebody to transmit the virus, they have to have some kinds of symptoms," she said in a recent video. Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, chief health scientist at the Ministry of Health,Singapore,said the risk of asymptomatic transmission is still unclear, though it is possible that a patient could be shedding viruses through a sniffle or his hands, which have come into contact with respiratory secretions. Prof Tan suggested reducing hand contact by not shaking hands, and by using other forms of greeting. "Clean your hands frequently, especially after you touch a lot of surfaces," he said. Most importantly, people who are sick should stay at home, avoid crowded places and wear a mask if they need to go out, as this reduces the risk for everyone else, he said.

What is the safe distance to keep from an infected person?

The WHO advises a distance of at least one metre. If someone infected with the coronavirus coughs within one metre of you, you could breathe in the virus through the droplets in the air.

Is there a vaccine?

Not yet. It may take months or years for a vaccine to be developed. Research and testing is underway.

Where is the outbreak predicted to spread?

Further imported cases into any location that has travellers from different locations is occurring. Wherever there is an infected person, there is the potential for the virus to spread to people in close contact with them and local outbreaks can occur.

Why is the number of cases increasing so rapidly?

Two of the main reasons for the rapid increase in the number of cases are that the virus is spreading from one person to another and that the capacity to detect cases is improving. This is why a sudden increase in the number of cases is often observed during the initial phase of an outbreak of an emerging disease.

How long this outbreak will last?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict how long the outbreak will last and how the epidemic will evolve overall. We are dealing with a new virus and therefore a lot of uncertainty remains. For instance, it is unknown whether transmission will decrease during the summer, as is observed for seasonal influenza.

What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?

Quarantine is the separation and monitoring of people who have been exposed to an infected person (or have been to an outbreak area) to see if they become ill.This separation helps reduce the risk that the quarantined person will spread the disease. Quarantine generally requires a person to remain in a nominated place or at home for a certain period of time after exposure to a disease.The duration of quarantine will vary depending on the estimated incubation period.For COVID-19, early estimates indicate a quarantine duration of 14 days. Isolation is the separation of people who are ill with a potentially contagious disease from those who are healthy.

What should I do to protect myself?

Avoid potential exposure.

Practice good hygiene measures and safe food practices.

Avoid direct contact with animals (live or dead) and their environment.

Do not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with droplets.

Keep distance from people who are obviously sick.

Maintain good personal hygiene.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.

Carry hand sanitiser for use when soap and water are not readily available.

Some authorities are advising hand sanitisers containing 60-85% alcohol.

Avoid touching your face.

Ensure food, including eggs, is thoroughly cooked.

Do not travel if you are sick.

Avoid sharing personal items with others. For instance, don't share utensils and drinking glasses at mealtimes.

Should I wear a face mask?

If your location has guidelines for the public, please follow them. In some locations, authorities are requiring people to wear a mask when in public places. You must comply with any official directives. In other locations, authorities are asking only people who are sick, or if they can't, those in close contact with them, to use a face mask to cover their coughs and sneezes while they are seeking medical attention. Other authorities encourage groups at higher risk for severe complications e.g. older adults or those with underlying illness, to consider wearing a mask. Some authorities have advised to use masks while travelling or working in public places to reduce the chances of droplet transmission.While surgical face masks may stop people touching their mouth, they do not stop them breathing in the virus, nor the virus entering the eyes. They will also catch some of the droplets that are coughed and sneezed out. Fitted respirators, such as ‘P2’, ‘P3’ or ‘N95’ masks, require training and fitting. These are generally not being recommended for use by the public. They may be recommended to be used by those in close contact with infected people, such as healthcare workers or family members caring for sick relatives.

Should I just wear gloves?

You can do so, but this is not necessarily practical. Also, if your gloves are dirty and you touch your face, you can still transfer the virus to your face.

Why must I cover my mouth or nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing?

The virus spreads via droplets. Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing prevents the spread of germs and viruses. If you sneeze or cough into your hands, you may contaminate objects or people that you touch.

Why do I have to wash my hands frequently?

The virus is spread via droplets, and hands may touch surfaces contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus to yourself. Washing your hands with soap and water will get rid of the virus if it is on your hands.

What environmental measures can be taken?

Environmental measures aim at reducing transmission of infection and include the routine cleaning of frequently used surfaces and objects; minimising shared objects; and good ventilation. Frequently touched surfaces and objects should be washed with water and detergent, followed by a dilute household bleach solution. These objects /surfaces may include desks, phones, keyboards, doorknobs and toilets. Laundry should be washed according to detergent manufacturer’s instructions at the warmest specified temperature. Shared objects should be kept to a minimum including such things as drinking glasses, eating utensils, towels and linen. Good air ventilation is important in rooms where people gather regularly.