Notes

The new coronavirus outbreak, which originated in Wuhan, China, to be a pandemic by The World Health Organization (WHO). As of September 20, amid more than 30.8 million cases, the global death toll surpassed 957,000. According to the data collected, over 21 million people have recovered from the disease worldwide.

According to the World Health Organization, ranging from the common cold caused the coronavirus family illness and more severe diseases such as SARS-severe acute respiratory syndrome and the MERS- Middle East respiratory syndrome. The virus circulates in animals, and some can be transmitted between humans and animals. Several coronaviruses are circulating in various animals that have not infected humans.

The new coronavirus has been named COVID-19 and the seventh known to affect humans. Fever, breathing difficulties and coughing are some common signs of infection. In severe cases, it can cause death or fatal damage like pneumonia and multiple organ failure.

Between one and fourteen days is the incubation period of COVID-19. It is very contagious before symptoms appear, which is why so many people get infected. Infected patients can also be asymptomatic, meaning they do not display any symptoms despite having the virus in their systems. China actually alerted the World Health Organization to unusual pneumonia cases in Wuhan’s city on December 31.

COVID-19 virus is thought to have originated where wildlife was sold illegally, in a seafood market. On February 7, the virus could have spread from an infected animal to humans said by Chinese researchers and through illegally trafficked pangolins, prized in Asia for medicine and food. Scientists have pointed to either snakes or bats as possible sources.

A collective social observance of each of the individual measures is equally important as those measures themselves, for protection against the disease. It is critical for containing and controlling the disease’s spread to treat diagnosed cases and isolation of those who had contact with sick persons or infected.

Those who had contact with diagnosed cases, it is recommended to isolate them. Until the test results and detail information of the suspect case are available, those who had close contact with a certain suspect case need to be isolated. Even if the test results are negative for the suspect, isolation is needed as a precaution. At least 14 days, should be the isolation period due to the virus incubation period. It is through contact tracing efforts that the persons they contacted are identified and their patients. The morbidity increases during the pandemic, and through contact tracing and isolation can be controlled.

This enables efficient use of the available health personnel capacities and healthcare institutions that can combat the pandemic with proper precaution, thereby preventing a halt and overburdening of the country’s healthcare system. Therefore, we all need to act responsibly and support this goal together or as individual members of society.

The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. It is said that it was “deeply concerned by the alarming levels of severity and spread” of the outbreak and recommends basic hygiene such as with your elbow covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing and regularly washing hands with soap and water.