I’ve been reading and hearing many alarms regarding the coronavirus (dubbed Covid-19). While there is a lot information out there, I’ve come across a few really good articles and here is the brief summary of what I think is the most relevant and informative at the moment for peace of mind:
What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
It starts with a fever, followed by a dry cough. After about a week, it leads to shortness of breath which causes some patients to require hospital treatment. Interestingly enough, the infection rarely seems to cause a runny nose or sneezing. And – there seems to be good news for kids.
So far, it appears that more than 80% of the [coronavirus] infections are pretty mild, no more severe than the common cold,’ says Cody Meissner, an infectious disease expert and professor of pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine. “And children appear to have even milder infections than adults,” Meissner says. This is based on preliminary data, he says.
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/20/807483553/coronavirus-is-contagious-but-kids-seem-less-vulnerable-so-far
The incubation period – between infection and showing any symptoms – lasts up to 14 days, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) but some researchers say it may be as long as 24 days. And Chinese scientists say some people may be infectious even before their symptoms appear.
How can you protect yourself or your loved ones?
According to WHO:
- Make washing your hands – and those of your kids – a priority and a habit. Soap or hand gel can kill the virus.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing – ideally with a tissue – and wash your hands afterwards, to prevent the virus spreading
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth – if your hands touch a surface contaminated by the virus, this could transfer it into your body
- Don’t get too close to people coughing, sneezing or with a fever – they can propel small droplets containing the virus into the air – ideally, keep 3 feet away
- Check for the latest news at CGC.
Additionally, I’ve been seeing interest in the disposable face masks or surgical masks and explored this option some more. Turns out, they do not offer protection against this virus! The virus is small enough to penetrate the mask. However, there are masks with vented particulate respirators which will significantly reduce the amount of virus particles. There are the N95 and N99 kids – which claim to protect against 95% and 99% of all airborne particles. You may consider getting them if you’re anticipating travel – especially by plane. If you’re going for the looks – you’re out of luck. At the moment of the writing, most of the products available on Amazon are ridiculously overpriced, so I’d suggest for you try a local hardware store instead.
Turns out, surgical masks do not offer protection against this virus!
Can coronavirus be treated or cured?
Right now, treatment relies on the basics – keeping the patient’s body going, including breathing support, until their immune system can fight off the virus.
However, the work to develop a vaccine is under way and it is hoped there will be human trials before the end of the year.
Hospitals are also testing anti-viral drugs to see if they have an impact.
There is a detailed FAQ provided by WHO which has some really good specifics here.
Can coronavirus be transmitted through packages sent from China?
Fortunately, coronavirus is one of the few products that popular Chinese websites just cannot ship.
As with all viruses, they can survive on the surface for a long time, but it really depends on the environmental conditions in terms of humidity, temperature and UV exposure. The general consensus here is that the conditions and time the package would take would probably be unfavorable and any coronavirus-related pathogens would simply die.
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