Covid-19 Symptoms And Preventive Measures You Should Know

Corona viruses are zoonotic, meaning they are normally transmitted between animals and people. The corona virus disease (COVID-19) is caused by a new strain of corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) that has not been previously identified in humans. It was first reported to WHO on the 31st of December, 2019 in Wuhan, China.

Scientists and public health officials are working hard to identify the source of the SARS-CoV-2 which is the virus that causes COVID-19. The initial transmission appeared to be from an animal source, but there has been person-to-person transmission in countries.

There have been reported outbreaks of COVID-19 in some closed settings, such as restaurants, nightclubs, places of worship or places of work where people may be shouting, talking, or singing.

This means that aerosol transmission, especially in indoor locations where there are crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces where infected persons spend long periods of time with others, cannot be ruled out.

WHO has called for more studies to investigate such instances and assess their significance for transmission of COVID-19. Symptoms include:

• Cough
• Fever
• Shivering /shaking (chills)
• Body pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Recent loss of taste or smell
• Difficulty in breathing/shortness of breath
• Diarrhoea/abdominal pain
• Runny nose/catarrh
• Fatigue (tiredness)

There is no specific cure yet for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials to test various potential antivirals. Current management of cases aims to relieve the symptoms while the body’s immune system fights the illness. Currently, the national case management guidelines stipulate that hydroxychloroquine should only be used in clinical trial settings, until there is scientific evidence on its efficacy and safety.

his is an effective strategy to reduce physical interaction between people towards limiting the spread of COVID-19. This means maintaining a distance of at least 2 metres from others.

This measure involves strict adherence to:

• Non-contact greetings (avoiding shaking of hands and hugs)
• Maintaining at least 2 metres physical distance between yourself and individuals
• Avoiding gatherings of more than 20 persons and any gathering where physical distancing is not observed
• Always wear your face mask to protect yourself and our loved ones.
• Always wash and sanitize your hands regularly.