Editor’s note: For the latest updates on the 2023 coronavirus outbreak, check out our news coverage.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that can cause what doctors call respiratory tract infection. In early 2020, the World Health Organization recognized SARS-CoV-2 as a new type of coronavirus. The epidemic quickly spread around the world. It can be the upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose and throat) or the lower respiratory tract (trachea and lungs).
It spreads in the same way as other coronaviruses, basically through person-to-person contact. Infections range from mild to fatal.
SARS-CoV-2 is one of seven types of coronaviruses, adding those that cause serious ailments such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Other coronaviruses cause most of the colds we suffer during the year. However, they do not pose a serious risk to healthy people otherwise.
Is there more than one SARS-CoV-2?
Yes, the COVID-19 virus continues to mutate and there are several variants that are now spreading. Some are more contagious and fatal than the virus.
Throughout the pandemic, scientists have been largely tracking diversifications such as:
How long will the coronavirus last?
There is no way to say how long the pandemic will continue. There are many factors, adding to the public’s efforts to slow the spread, researchers’ attempts to become more informed about the virus, their search for a cure, and the good fortune of vaccines.
Symptoms include:
The virus can lead to pneumonia, respiratory failure, center problems, liver problems, septic surprise and death. Many COVID-19 headaches can be caused by a condition known as cytokine syndrome or cytokine storm. This is when an infection activates your immune system. Formula to flood your bloodstream with inflammatory proteins called cytokines. They can kill tissues and damage their organs. In some cases, lung transplants have been necessary.
If you notice the following serious symptoms in yourself or someone who enjoys it, seek immediate medical attention:
Strokes have also been reported in others with COVID-19. Remember QUICKLY:
If infected, symptoms may appear in as little as 2 days or as long as 14 days. It varies from user to user.
According to researchers in China, these are the most common symptoms in other people with COVID-19:
Some other people hospitalized with COVID-19 also have harmful blood clots, which add to the legs, lungs, and arteries.
What to do if you have it
If you or have traveled to a domain where COVID-19 is spreading:
For more information on COVID-19, see our FAQ.
How do I know if it’s COVID-19, a bloodless or flu-free?
The symptoms of COVID-19 may resemble those of a flu or no blood. Your doctor will suspect COVID-19 if:
Cold vs flu vs flu
COVID-19 Allergies
COVID-19 [female]
(may be moderate to severe)
Is COVID-19 worse than the flu?
Unlike the flu, many other people are not immune to the coronavirus, and because it has mutated with new strains. If you contract it, the virus activates its structure to produce things called antibodies. Researchers need to see if the antibodies protect you from a new infection.
The coronavirus has higher rates of severe illness and death than the flu. But the symptoms themselves can vary greatly from user to user.
Is COVID-19 seasonal like the flu?
While scientists first of all hoped that higher temperatures and humidity levels would only help slow the spread of the coronavirus, this was not the case. Experts recommend caution and say exhaustive fitness efforts have more influence on the spread than weather. Also, beyond the influenza pandemics that have occurred this year.
Investigators don’t know what caused it and investigations into its origin are ongoing. There is more than one type of coronavirus. They are not unusual in humans and animals, including bats, camels, cats, and livestock. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is MERS and SARS. They all descend from bats.
Anyone can get COVID-19, and most infections are mild. The higher you are, the higher your risk of serious illness.
You also have a higher threat of serious illness if you have any of those conditions:
Conditions that can lead to severe illness similar to COVID-19 include:
Some children and teens hospitalized with COVID-19 have an inflammatory disease doctors call multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Doctors can be similar to the virus. It causes symptoms similar to poisonous surprise and Kawasaki disease, a disease that causes inflammation in children. blood vessels.
If you have pre-existing temperament disorders, you may be at the highest risk of hospitalization or death, but not necessarily severe COVID-19.
That said, schizophrenia is the biggest threat besides age for COVID mortality. People with schizophrenia spectrum disorder are prone to metabolic syndrome, which includes higher blood pressure, high blood sugar and is linked to systemic inflammation. All of this is exacerbated through COVID.
Mood and anxiety disorders were not linked to the increased risk, but other people living with intellectual fitness disorders may experience certain symptoms that may interfere with their ability to care for themselves and participate in their fitness decisions. It’s tricky to track fitness behaviors, such as maintaining social distancing or quarantine to slow the spread of infections.
In addition, other people with mental health and temperament issues are more likely to have conditions such as diabetes and problems at the center, which are the main risk points for severe COVID-19.
There are also several socioeconomic reasons why pre-existing temper situations may increase your threat of hospitalization and death if you contract COVID-19.
How does COVID-19 spread?
COVID-19 is basically transmitted from user to user. People release the fluids they breathe by exhaling (for example, breathing quietly, talking, singing, exercising, coughing, sneezing) in droplets of other sizes. These droplets carry viruses and transmit infections. The largest droplets temporarily settle in the air, in seconds or minutes. The smaller very fine droplets and aerosol debris formed when those fine droplets temporarily dry out are small enough to remain suspended in the air for minutes or hours.
The threat of transmission is within 3 to six feet of an infectious source where the concentration of those very fine droplets and debris is ArrayIf you inhale or swallow them, the virus can enter your body. Some other people inflamed with the virus have no symptoms, but they can still spread the virus.
Although less likely, you can also get the virus by touching a surface or object on which the virus is located and then touching your mouth, nose or, in all likelihood, your eyes. Most viruses can live for several hours on a surface on which they land. OVID-19 can last several hours on other types of surfaces:
That’s why it’s vital to wash or disinfect your hands and disinfect surfaces to get rid of the virus.
Some dogs and cats have been tested for the virus. Some showed symptoms of illness. There is no evidence that humans can contract this coronavirus from an animal, but it appears that it can be transmitted from humans to animals.
What spreads?
Doctors and fitness officials use this term when they don’t know the source of the infection. With COVID-19, it refers to a user who contracts the virus even if they have not been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
In February 2020, the CDC showed a COVID-19 infection in California in a user who had not traveled to an affected domain or who had not been exposed to someone with the disease. This marked the first case of network propagation in the United States. Most likely, this user exposed someone who turned it on but didn’t know it yet. These types of occasions also occurred with variants.
How fast is it spreading?
The number of others who became inflamed or re-inflamed with COVID-19 changes every day. Check out our report for the latest updates on this upcoming story.
How contagious is coronavirus?
The transmission rate is high. Early studies estimated that a user with it can transmit it to 2 to 3. 5 other people. For comparison, a user who has seasonal flu will spread it to 1. 1 to 2. 3 more people.
The Omicron variant, which is now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States, is highly contagious and spreads faster than the virus.
The CDC reports that there is evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted if you are within 6 feet of a contagious user for a total of 15 minutes a day.
We can work to reduce the rate of transmission by wearing a high-quality face mask when we can’t stay 6 feet away from others, washing our hands frequently, keeping common surfaces clean, restricting contact with others, and getting vaccinated.
Can the coronavirus be transmitted groceries, packages or food?
You’re much more likely to get COVID-19 from someone else than from packages, groceries, or food. If you’re part of a high-risk group, stay home and use a delivery service or ask a friend to do the shopping. Groceries for you. Ask them to leave pieces outside your door, if you can. If you’re shopping for groceries on your own, wear a high-quality face mask and stay at least 6 feet away from other shoppers. .
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds before and after bringing items into your home. Coronavirus can persist on hard surfaces, so clean and disinfect countertops and bags you’ve touched. You can clean plastic, steel or glass containers with soap and water. if you wish.
There is no evidence that you contracted COVID-19 from food or food containers.
Call your doctor or local fitness branch if you have been exposed and have symptoms such as:
Home verification has come a long way since the pandemic began, and you can check seamlessly. Otherwise, verification services are easily found in maximum areas. While some require an appointment, others are alone in the car. Home verification kits are also widely available.
A swab test is the most common testing method. Look for symptoms of the virus in the upper respiratory tract. You or the user performing the test places a swab in your nose to take a pattern of the back of your nose and throat. This sample is sent to a lab that looks for viral material, but some regions may have immediate tests that produce effects in as little as 15 minutes.
If there are symptoms of the virus, the verification is positive. A negative check can simply mean that there is no virus or that there was not enough to measure. This can occur at the beginning of an infection. It takes 24 hours to get the results, but checks must be collected, stored, sent to a lab, and processed.
The FDA has granted approvals for several home nasal swab tests, which you collect yourself and send to the lab for analysis, as well as immediate at-home testing. You can buy them without a prescription at pharmacies, retail stores, points of sale, or online. Home tests can also be done for free at some local fitness departments or federally licensed fitness centers.
A swab check can only indicate if you have the virus in your frame at that time. But you may also need to get an anti-frame check that can show if you’ve ever been exposed to the virus, even if you haven’t had symptoms. This is vital in officials’ efforts to determine how widespread COVID-19 is. Over time, it can also help them determine who is immune to the virus.
The FDA is working with labs across the country to expand more testing.
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a key component of prevention. But he also sticks to those steps:
There is no evidence that herbal treatments and herbal teas can prevent infections.
COVID-19 Preparedness Tips
In addition to practicing the prevention listed above, you can:
Can a face mask you from infections?
A mask is an extra layer of coverage for everyone, in addition to vaccinations and social distancing efforts. You can spread the virus when you communicate or cough, even if you don’t know you have it or if you don’t show symptoms of infection.
It is to use a high-quality mask in a variety of situations:
Wear a mask in public places if you are in an area where there is a maximum or “substantial” amount of COVID spread. This applies to other people 2 years of age and older.
If you have a chronic illness or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, wear a mask indoors, even if you are fully vaccinated. Do this unless your doctor tells you otherwise. In general, you do not want to wear a mask outdoors, where it is more difficult for the coronavirus to spread. But if COVID-19 cases are high in your area, consider dressing in crowded outdoor locations and for outdoor gatherings that involve close contact with others who are fully vaccinated.
Everyone wears a face mask if they have health problems and are around other people or animals, even at home. Caregivers use them to clean and disinfect the room or bathroom of a person with health problems. If you want to call 911, wear a mask before medical assistance arrives.
Some other people don’t wear a mask:
What are the other face masks?
You have options:
Cloth masks are washable and reusable. Those that have several layers of breathable fabric and fit perfectly to the nose and mouth. It’s a smart concept to buy some that have a nasal cord and are made with a fabric that can block light.
Disposable masks, also known as surgical masks, are also widely available. Choose those that have layers of nonwoven material. Choose a length that fits well into your nose and mouth and comes with a nasal thread. Don’t wear one that has spaces on the sides of your face or nose, or has rainy or dirty equipment.
N95 respirators are perfectly compatible with the face and remove 95% or more of the smallest debris from the air.
It is to acquire a fundamental disposable respirator N95. Choose one that is of the best quality and has “NIOSH Approved” on the label.
Is it safe to travel during a pandemic?
Crowded places can increase your chances of getting COVID-19. It is vital to verify the prestige of COVID-19 transmissions in the region you are traveling to before traveling and to take mandatory precautions during your stay.
Some questions can help you if it’s safe to travel:
If you decide to travel, stay away from people with health problems. Wash your hands and make sure you don’t touch your face. Wear a high-quality cloth face mask when around other people.
How can the spread of coronavirus be prevented?
Since the virus spreads from one user to another, it is important to restrict your contact with other people as much as possible and at large gatherings. Most states and towns have lifted restrictions, but that doesn’t mean the virus has disappeared. Continue to adhere to protective practices, such as dressing in a high-quality cloth face mask in public places and washing hands.
The following terms now have a common place:
Precautions deserve to be followed even if you are vaccinated.
The CDC recommends that they be vaccinated starting at 6 months of age. There are 4 vaccines that have obtained FDA approval; Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax and Johnson
Pfizer and Moderna have developed bivalent boosters, so named because they opposed the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron BA. 4 and BA. 5 variants.
The most productive fitness experts have a preference for the type of vaccine you choose. They prefer to opt for an mRNA-based vaccine (like those from Pfizer and Moderna) or a DNA vaccine like Noravax than the J vaccine.
That said, getting any COVID-19 vaccine is better than getting vaccinated, experts say.
The Pfizer and Moderna booster shots are for anyone five years of age and older at least 2 months after receiving the first two doses.
When it comes to boosters, you don’t have to stick to the same vaccine you received. For example, if your initial doses were from Moderna, you can get a booster dose from Pfizer.
COVID-19 vaccines have evolved at an unprecedented speed, and human trials began in March 2020. The FDA says no shortcuts have been taken to allow approval and that inoculations are Array. The CDC has stated that they are for pregnant women and there is no evidence that antibodies formed from the COVID-19 vaccine cause problems in pregnancy.
There is no express remedy for COVID-19. People who have a mild case want care to relieve their symptoms, such as rest, fluids, and fever control. Take over-the-counter medicines for a sore throat, body aches, and fever. aspirin to young people or adolescents under 19 years of age.
You may have heard that you don’t take ibuprofen to treat COVID-19 symptoms. But the National Institutes of Health says other people with the virus can use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen as usual.
Antibiotics may not help because they treat bacteria, not viruses. In January 2022, the FDA limited the use of two monoclonal treatments previously used to treat COVID-19 infections after finding that they were ineffective compared to the Omicron variant. These two monoclonal antibody treatments are bamlanivimab and summersevimab (given together) and REGEN-COV (casirivimab and imdevimab). Sotrovimb is the only monoclonal treatment with activity opposite to the Ominon variant.
Many clinical trials are underway to explore remedies used for other situations that may simply fight COVID-19 and expand new ones.
A large number of steroid medications are used, to which dexamethasone is added, which is used to treat situations such as arthritis, blood/hormone/immune disorders, and allergic reactions. More efficacy studies are still underway.
Is there one for coronavirus?
There is no cure yet, but researchers are scrambling to find one.
Each case is different. You may have mild flu-like symptoms for a few days after exposure and then get better. But some cases can be serious or fatal.
Symptoms may persist for weeks, even if they are mild.
More than one-third of other people over age 18 who develop symptoms of the virus are not completely cured 2 to 3 weeks later, according to CDC research. Fatigue and coughing were the symptoms most likely to persist.
Some other people who have had COVID-19 develop a condition of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome. They may have mental confusion, severe fatigue, pain, difficulty thinking, or dizziness.
What is coronavirus recovery?
Scientists and researchers are constantly monitoring COVID-19 infections and recoveries. But they don’t have data on the final results of the infection. Early estimates expect the overall recovery rate from COVID-19 to be between 97% and 99. 75%.
Can coronavirus times be contracted?
Yes. This is the explanation of why to remain alert against infection and transmission of the virus.
As with other coronaviruses that only cause colds, you are immune for a period, but this goes away over time. This also happens to be the case with this coronavirus. It is estimated that immunity lasts up to 3 months.
Having COVID-19 regularly affects the antibodies that help protect you from reinfection. But the virus continues to mutate and those changes can lead to new variants that allow the risk of reinfection.
The CDC studies the frequency of reinfections, who has the greatest threat of reinfection, how reinfections occur temporarily after a past infection, and the severity of reinfections to initial infections.
Are coronaviruses new?
Coronaviruses were first known in the 1960s. At most, everyone gets a coronavirus infection at least once in their lifetime, at most probably as a young child. In the United States, normal coronaviruses are not unusual in the fall and winter, but they can get a coronavirus infection at any time.
The symptoms of most coronaviruses are similar to those of any other upper respiratory infection, with a runny nose, cough, sore throat, and fever added. In most cases, you may not know if you have a coronavirus or some other virus that causes the common cold, such as a rhinovirus. This type of coronavirus infection is treated the same way a cold is treated.
Have there been serious coronavirus outbreaks?
Coronaviruses have two serious epidemics:
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