What we know so far about the disease
Symptoms
The new illness that emerged last December in China – officially called COVID-19, previously known as 2019-nCoV – is caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Corona means “crown” or “halo” in Latin, describing the viruses’ typical shape when seen under an electron microscope. The common cold is a type of coronaviral illness, but it tends to cause nasal congestion, which COVID-19 doesn’t always do. COVID-19′s typical symptoms (dry coughing, fever and aches) resemble more serious and dangerous coronaviruses, like SARS and MERS. Initially the symptoms can also look like flu, which is caused by a different virus type, but don’t let the similarity fool you: COVID-19 is far more dangerous (more on that below).
Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:
The air by coughing and sneezing
Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
Touching the eyes, nose or mouth after touching an infected surface
Rarely, fecal contamination
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS?
Headache
Dry cough
Fever
In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE VIRUS
Belongs to large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from common cold to more severe diseases such as MERS and SARS
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people
There are no specific treatments for coronaviruses, but symptoms can be treated
MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Canada, WHO
Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:
The air by coughing and sneezing
Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
Touching the eyes, nose or mouth after touching an infected surface
Rarely, fecal contamination
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS?
Headache
Dry cough
Fever
In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE VIRUS
Belongs to large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from common cold to more severe diseases such as MERS and SARS
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people
There are no specific treatments for coronaviruses, but symptoms can be treated
MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Canada, WHO
Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:
The air by coughing and sneezing
Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
Touching the eyes, nose or mouth after touching an infected surface
Rarely, fecal
contamination
COMMON SIGNS OF INFECTION
Headache
In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death
Dry cough
Fever
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE VIRUS
Belongs to large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from common cold to more severe diseases such as MERS and SARS
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people
There are no specific treatments for coronaviruses, but symptoms can be treated
MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Canada, WHO
How COVID-19 CAN KILL YOU
COVID-19′s death rate varies considerably from country to country and among age groups, but even conservative estimates put it tens of times higher than seasonal influenza (0.1 per cent), though generally lower than SARS (10 per cent). The graphics below offer a step-by-step explanation of COVID-19′s lethal effects on the body in severe cases.
VIRUS
The virus enters the lungs and attaches itself to cells which make up the lungs’ protective lining.
CELLS
RNA
RECEPTOR
VIRUS
Once attached to a cell’s receptor, the virus injects its RNA into the cell, providing it with the blueprint to build copies of the virus.
IMMUNE
CELL
INFECTED
DEAD
The infected cell eventually self-destructs, releasing the virus to infect neighbouring cells. Exponential growth in infected cells triggers an excessive response by the immune system. Immune cells sent to fight the virus begin to destroy both infected and healthy cells.
ALVEOLI
BACTERIA
BACTERIAL
INFECTION
If enough of the protective lining is destroyed, it leaves the alveoli – the tiny air sacs via which breathing occurs – vulnerable to bacterial infection. This can lead to severe respiratory problems, making mechanical ventilation necessary to help the patient survive.
The immune system can become overwhelmed while the bacteria multiply. If bacteria enter the blood, they can overrun the body and cause death.
MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: KURZGESAGT
VIRUS
The virus enters the lungs and attaches itself to the cells that make up the protective lining of the lungs.
CELLS
RNA
RECEPTOR
VIRUS
Once attached to a cell’s receptor, the virus injects its RNA into the cell, providing it with the blueprint to build copies of the virus.
IMMUNE
CELL
INFECTED
DEAD
The infected cell eventually self-destructs, releasing the virus to infect neighbouring cells. Exponential growth in infected cells triggers an excessive response by the immune system. Immune cells sent to fight the virus begin to destroy both infected and healthy cells.
ALVEOLI
BACTERIA
BACTERIAL
INFECTION
If enough of the protective lining is destroyed, it leaves the alveoli – the tiny air sacs via which breathing occurs – vulnerable to bacterial infection. This can lead to severe respiratory problems, making mechanical ventilation necessary to help the patient survive.
The immune system can become overwhelmed while the bacteria multiply. If bacteria enter the blood, they can overrun the body and cause death.
MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: KURZGESAGT
VIRUS
The virus enters the lungs and attaches itself to the cells that make up the protective lining of the lungs.
CELLS
RNA
RECEPTOR
VIRUS
Once attached to a cell’s receptor, the virus injects its RNA into the cell, providing it with the blueprint to build copies of the virus.
IMMUNE
CELL
INFECTED
DEAD
The infected cell eventually self-destructs, releasing the virus to infect neighbouring cells. Exponential growth in infected cells triggers an excessive response by the immune system. Immune cells sent to fight the virus begin to destroy both infected and healthy cells.
ALVEOLI
BACTERIA
BACTERIAL
INFECTION
If enough of the protective lining is destroyed, it leaves the alveoli – the tiny air sacs via which breathing occurs – vulnerable to bacterial infection. This can lead to severe respiratory problems, making mechanical ventilation necessary to help the patient survive.
The immune system can become overwhelmed while the bacteria multiply. If bacteria enter the blood, they can overrun the body and cause death.
MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: KURZGESAGT
Transmission
Though SARS had a higher death rate than COVID-19, it infected and killed far fewer people (8,098 infections and 774 deaths worldwide, according to the U.S. CDC’s estimates). One reason for this is that, whereas SARS carriers generally knew they were sick, carriers of the new coronavirus can be contagious before symptoms develop. Some people may recover from COVID-19 without ever knowing they were infected, and don’t realize until later that they spread the virus to others.
Testing
Health officials in Canada and other countries have a variety of tests to make sure whether a patient has COVID-19 or some other illness. Getting a test in person generally involves a health professional taking a sample from inside your nasal cavity using a swab. Depending on where you live in Canada, tests may be available either at dedicated clinics or in at-btcc交易所官网home visits from health officials. If you start showing the symptoms of COVID-19, contact your local health ity or family doctor and do as they advise.
Prevention
Health Canada has approved one COVID-19 vaccine candidate so far that’s shown high effectiveness in clinical trials, and Ottawa has purchased millions of doses of that drug and six others in development. Provincial and federal governments are still organizing their vaccine rollout plans through 2021.
How do I ‘flatten the curve’?
When diseases reach uninfected populations, a graph of the new infections will generally follow a curve: Infections rise, then peak, then fall. You’ll see a lot of officials talk about “flattening the curve,” or preventing the peak infections from exceeding their health systems’ ability to handle them. A big part of this is physical distancing: Avoiding public gatherings, staying btcc交易所官网home from work or school and changing social habits, like waving instead of shaking hands. If front-line health workers are spared from a sudden and overwhelming increase in new cases, lives will be saved.
HOW TO ISOLATE AT btcc交易所官网home WHEN YOU HAVE COVID-19
Isolation means staying at btcc交易所官网home when you are sick with COVID-19 and avoiding contact with other people to help prevent the spread of disease to others in your btcc交易所官网home and your community. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, it is expected that you take the following measures.
AVOID CONTAMINATING COMMON
ITEMS AND SURFACES
At least once daily, clean and disinfect surfaces that you touch often, like toilets, bedside tables, doorknobs, phones and television remotes. Do not share personal items with others, such as toothbrushes, towels, bed linen, utensils or electronic devices.
CARE FOR YOURSELF
Monitor your symptoms as directed by your health-care provider or Public Health ity. If your symptoms get worse, immediately contact your health-care provider or Public Health ity and follow their instructions.
LIMIT CONTACT WITH OTHERS
Do not leave btcc交易所官网home unless absolutely necessary, such as to seek medical care. Do not go to school, work, other public areas or use public transportation (e.g. buses, taxis). Arrange to have groceries and supplies dropped off at your door to minimize contact.
KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and dry with disposable paper towels or dry reusable towel, replacing it when it becomes wet.
MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL,
SOURCE: GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
HOW TO ISOLATE AT btcc交易所官网home WHEN YOU HAVE COVID-19
Isolation means staying at btcc交易所官网home when you are sick with COVID-19 and avoiding contact with other people to help prevent the spread of disease to others in your btcc交易所官网home and your community. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, it is expected that you take the following measures.
AVOID CONTAMINATING COMMON
ITEMS AND SURFACES
At least once daily, clean and disinfect surfaces that you touch often, like toilets, bedside tables, doorknobs, phones and television remotes. Do not share personal items with others, such as toothbrushes, towels, bed linen, utensils or electronic devices.
CARE FOR YOURSELF
Monitor your symptoms as directed by your health-care provider or Public Health ity. If your symptoms get worse, immediately contact your health-care provider or Public Health ity and follow their instructions.
LIMIT CONTACT WITH OTHERS
Do not leave btcc交易所官网home unless absolutely necessary, such as to seek medical care. Do not go to school, work, other public areas or use public transportation (e.g. buses, taxis). Arrange to have groceries and supplies dropped off at your door to minimize contact.
KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and dry with disposable paper towels or dry reusable towel, replacing it when it becomes wet.
MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL,
SOURCE: GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
HOW TO ISOLATE AT btcc交易所官网home WHEN YOU HAVE COVID-19
Isolation means staying at btcc交易所官网home when you are sick with COVID-19 and avoiding contact with other people to help prevent the spread of disease to others in your btcc交易所官网home and your community. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, it is expected that you take the following measures.
AVOID CONTAMINATING COMMON
ITEMS AND SURFACES
LIMIT CONTACT WITH OTHERS
At least once daily, clean and disinfect surfaces that you touch often, like toilets, bedside tables, doorknobs, phones and television remotes. Do not share personal items with others, such as toothbrushes, towels, bed linen, utensils or electronic devices.
Do not leave btcc交易所官网home unless absolutely necessary, such as to seek medical care. Do not go to school, work, other public areas or use public transportation (e.g. buses, taxis). Arrange to have groceries and supplies dropped off at your door to minimize contact.
CARE FOR YOURSELF
KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and dry with disposable paper towels or dry reusable towel, replacing it when it becomes wet.
Monitor your symptoms as directed by your health-care provider or Public Health ity. If your symptoms get worse, immediately contact your health-care provider or Public Health ity and follow their instructions.
MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
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