Corona viruses are a large group of viruses many of which cause no or minor illnesses, like the common cold. Some cause illness in people, and others only infect animals. Usually these infections do not cross over from animals to people.

On rare occasions, coronaviruses that infect animals “change” and develop the ability to infect people. This has occurred with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) where the causative viruses were probably initially infections of bats. The new (novel) corona virus was probably also an infection of bats but is now able to infect people.

The new (novel) corona virus is officially called Coronavirus Disease-2019 or COVID-19 (because it was first detected in 2019).

COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, linked to a live animal market. This virus is now able to infect humans and can spread from person to person:

 

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet)
• Via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and are inhaled into the lungs of a person nearby.
• Possibly through touching an infected person who has touched their own mouth and nose which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.

 

People are thought to be most contagious when they have symptoms and are sick. There is also evidence that spread might be possible when people are infected but before they become sick, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Symptoms include:

Testing is performed on a blood sample in specialised laboratories. Currently, testing can be done in 16 laboratories in Africa including in Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Zambia. Soon, more laboratories in Africa will be able to test for the virus including in South Sudan, Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique. A negative test result for a person with these symptoms means that the COVID-19 virus is not causing their current illness. There are no approved simple rapid tests for COVID-19 infection at present.

How is COVID-19 infection treated? There are no specific drugs to treat COVID-19 infection. People who are sick should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions.

Fourteen (14) percent of confirmed cases are severe, with serious pneumonia and shortness of breath. Another 5% of patients develop respiratory failure and critical illness. About 2.3% of confirmed cases have resulted in death. Therefore, the vast majority of confirmed cases have mild infection, with cold-like symptoms and mild pneumonia. It is not known why some people suffer more from the virus than others, but those who have developed serious illness tend to be those with underlying disease, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, hypertension or cancer.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection. The only way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Everyday preventive actions include:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay at home if you are sick.
Cover your nose and mouth with disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then properly dispose of the tissue.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Alternatively, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands first with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Reduce handshaking (within cultural acceptability).

These precautions also apply to people travelling to other parts of their own country, or other countries.

Only wear a mask if you have symptoms of COVID-19 infection (coughing or sneezing) or are looking after someone who may have COVID-19, to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.

Disposable face masks can only be used once.

Remove the mask from behind (do not touch the front of mask) and discard it immediately in a closed bin. Remember to wash your hands with an alcohol-based sanitizer or soap and water.

Quarantine means separating a person or group of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease but have not become sick. This is to prevent the possible spread of the disease. The duration of quarantine is usually for the incubation period of the disease, that is, the time from contact with the infection to developing the sickness. For COVID-19, the period of quarantine is 14 days. Someone who has been released from COVID-19 quarantine is not considered at risk for spreading the virus to others.

People can fight stigma and help, not hurt, others by providing social support. Counter stigma by learning and sharing facts. Communicating the facts that viruses do not target specific racial or ethnic groups, and how COVID-19 actually spreads, can help to stop stigma.

Paper bills can contain bacteria and viruses that can lead to the spread of disease. Wash your hands carefully after handling money. Better yet, use the various mobile and online banking solutions available to you. And just as is the case with other activities, remember to wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer after bank transactions.

Various countries have put in place different measures for members of the public who develop the symptoms of the disease and those seeking further information.