Corona virus 2019
Background:
COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by SARS-COV-2. SARS-COV-2 is same family with viruses that cause Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). It was first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and spread to more than 100 countries in few months. On March 2020, WHO has characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. Up to 16 March 2020, there are 169533 COVID-19 cases worldwide, and 6515 people among them died. The number of infection is still increasing dramatically each day.
Symptoms
Day 1: Most patients experience fever, fatigue and a dry cough. Some patients may also have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and diarrhea. Around 80% of patients recover from the disease without special treatment.
Day 5: Around 1 out of every 6 COVID-19 patients develops more serious conditions, where they have difficulty in breathing. Older people and those with pre-existing health condition, such as high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes.
Day 8: Some patients with severe cases may develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is often fatal. The current fatality rate for COVID-19 is around 2%.
Transmissions
Many cases at the epicentre of the outbreak in Wuhan, China have linked to the Huanan Seafood market, which sells different wildlife. Even though the source of SARS-COV-2 is still unknown, the evidence suggests animal-to-person spread at the beginning. It becomes person-to-person spread later, and spread to all regions of China, followed by different countries around the world.
SARS-COV-2 can be transmitted by respiratory droplet produced by infected person when they coughs and sneezes. SARS-COV-2 is able to survive on the surface for few days and it can be spread when a person, who has touched this contaminated surface, touches his mouth, nose or eye.
Treatment
There is currently no approved drug for COVID-19. Several clinical trials for medicine are ongoing.
Infection Control
WHO has recommended the following protection measures;
- Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
- Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
- Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
- Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
- Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
Coronaviruses are enveloped, positive single-stranded RNA viruses. They can be inactivated by 70% ethanol. Hisept has a range of products, including hand sanitizers, antiseptic solution, surface and instrument disinfectants that can effectively inactivate virus, including coronavirus. The virucidal activity of these products have been proved by EN 14476 tests.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
https://www.businessinsider.my/coronavirus-covid19-day-by-day-symptoms-patients-2020-2?r=US&IR=T