What is Coronavirus?
CORONAVIRUSES (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
Watch this short video to find out more.
How Coronavirus spreads?
AS A NEW DISEASE we are still learning how COVID-19 spreads, the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States. To learn what we know now, click HERE.
The name
OFFICIAL NAMES HAVE been announced for the virus responsible for COVID-19 (previously known as “2019 novel coronavirus”) and the disease it causes. The official names are:
Disease Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2
(SARS-CoV-2)
To learn more about the virus naming, click HERE.
How long can Coronavirus live on surfaces?
- In the air: 3 hrs
- Copper: 4 hrs
- Cardboard 24 hrs
- Plastic 2-3 days
- Stainless Steel 2-3 days
Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as compared with SARS-CoV-1. Read more about surfaces HERE.
What are the symptoms of Coronavirus?
- Fever
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Flu and cold symptoms
- Unusual symptoms: Loss of smell, conjunctivitis, digestive problems
For more comprehensive details, click HERE.
What is Pneumoniae?
IT IS A LUNG INFLAMMATION caused by bacterial or viral infection, in which the air sacs fill with pus and may become solid. Inflammation may affect both lungs (double pneumonia), one lung (single pneumonia), or only certain lobes (lobar pneumonia). For a short video explaining more, click HERE.
What to do if you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have it?
Department of Health and Human Services: If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have it, follow these steps. Click HERE.
State Health Departments: What to do if you are concerned you have COVID-19. For information on each US state, click HERE.
Illinois
- Stay home if you are sick and call your health care provider if you have coronavirus symptoms to discuss whether you should be evaluated in person and considered for testing.
- Providers determine whether to conduct testing based on the Illinois Department of Public Health’s criteria, which evaluates a combination of symptoms and risk factors.
- To help relieve symptoms: stay home and rest, take pain and fever medications and drink plenty of liquids. Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.
- After a provider sends samples to the public health lab, results should be available approximately 24 hours later.
- Commercial labs are also conducting tests, which are then sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health’s laboratory for confirmation.
- General questions about COVID-19 and Illinois’ response can be answered over the phone at 1-800-889-3931 or via email at DPH.SICK@ILLINOIS.GOV. More information is available on the Illinois Department of Public Health’s coronavirus website.
“Step by Step guide” to self-isolation
IF YOU ARE NOT sick enough to be hospitalized but are showing symptoms of coronavirus, you need to self-isolate to keep others in your home and your family safe. For a short video, click HERE.
are the young susceptible to COVID-19?
A RECENT ANALYSIS of COVID-19 cases in the United States reveals that while older people are at high risk of becoming seriously ill, the disease can hit younger adults hard, too. It shows that 1 in 5 people landing in the hospital are 20 to 44 years old.
The CDC analysis, released March 18, 2020, covers 2,449 reported cases from February 12 to March 16. Among 508 patients who required hospitalization, 20 percent were 20 to 44 years old. And of 121 people who were admitted to an intensive care unit, 12 percent were in that age group. For the complete ScienceNews story, click HERE.
—> Information curated by Dr. Edel Marie Jose
FULBRIGHT CHICAGO 