Coronavirus: 80% of victims heal without hospital treatment and 6 other facts from WHO

According to Worldometer, there are now over three million (3,075,523) coronavirus (COVID-19) cases across the world as at Tuesday morning, April 28.

Over two hundred thousand people (211,788) have died from the virus while 925,114 have recovered.

As COVID-19 continues to spread, Legit.ng highlights some basic facts everyone should know about the infectious disease.

The key facts (Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19) are provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to ensure people are more enlightened about the disease.

1. Common symptoms

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness.

However, some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but only have very mild symptoms.

2. Recovery rate

Most people (about 80%) recover from COVID-19 without needing hospital treatment.

Around 1 out of every 5 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing.

People who experience fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

3. Anyone can get infected

Anyone (children, adults, older people) can catch COVID-19 and become seriously ill. Even people with very mild symptoms of COVID-19 can transmit the virus.

Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, or cancer, are at higher risk of developing serious illness.

4. How COVID-19 spreads

People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease spreads primarily from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are expelled when a person with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks.

These droplets are relatively heavy, do not travel far and quickly sink to the ground. People can catch COVID-19 if they breathe in these droplets from a person infected with the virus.

5. How to avoid getting infected

Physical distancing, that is, staying at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from others, is one of the preventive measures.

Washing your hands regularly with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand rub is another preventive method. Also, avoid going to crowded places, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.

Also, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue. If a tissue is used, discard it immediately and wash your hands.

6. Anti-biotics do not work in preventing or treating COVID-19

Antibiotics do not work against viruses; they only work on bacterial infections. COVID-19 is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not work. Antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

7. No vaccine, drug or treatment for COVID-19 yet

To date, there is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicines against COVID-19.

However, .people, particularly those with serious illness, may need to be hospitalized so that they can receive life-saving treatment for complications. Most patients recover thanks to such care.

Possible vaccines and some specific drug treatments are currently under investigation. They are being tested through clinical trials.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) declared that the use of non-medical face masks, which include self-made or commercial masks or face covers made of clothes only reduce and not prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.

The director-general of the agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement issued on Monday, April 27, in Abuja, said these categories of protective masks are not of standard but essential to limit the spread of droplets.

Legit.ng gathered that they were not intended for use in healthcare settings or by healthcare professionals.

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Source: Legit.ng