Most common questions on coronavirus answered

Last updated on: 19 March,2020 04:42 pm

As worries over the virus mount, below are the most common questions and their answers.

LAHORE (Web Desk) - Coronavirus is spreading across the globe, with at least 150 countries on six continents confirming cases as of Thursday.

The virus has infected more than 220,000 people and killed over 8,000 others since it was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December.

As worries over the virus mount, below are the most common questions and their answers.

How is the virus transmitted?

It’s likely that the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) originated in an animal species, and then spread to humans.

Person to person spread of the novel corona virus is reported, but it is not yet understood how easily this happens.

Other human coronavirus strains are spread from person to person through contaminated droplets from a person who is sick with the illness (through coughing or sneezing) or contaminated hands.

Is there a vaccine against the novel coronvirus?

Currently there are no available vaccine that protect against Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Is there any treatment for Coronavirus Disease?

There is no specific treatment. It is mainly supportive treatment that aims at reducing symptoms.

It depends on the virus, but common signs include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

What can I do to protect myself?

Standard recommendations to reduce exposure to and transmission of a range of illnesses include maintaining basic hand and respiratory hygiene, and safe food practices and avoiding close contact, when possible, with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.