22/03/2020
Countries around the world are closing borders and putting citizens under lockdown in a bid to contain the new coronavirus outbreak, labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO's declaration has increased pressure on governments to ramp up their response, sparking emergency action plans and upending life around the globe.
How contagious is it?
According to the WHO, the new coronavirus so far has an average R0 (contagion metric) between 2 and 2.5, which means a person infected with COVID-19 can pass it on to more than two people.
It makes the virus more contagious than seasonal flu (R0 1.3), which can be transmitted on average to one person.
COVID-19 is also more contagious than H1N1, R0 between 1.2 and 1.6, and Ebola with R0 of 1.6 to 2.
But it is less contagious than SARS, which was passed on to up to four people or MERS, which had a transmission rate between 2.5 and 7.2 in some places.
The likelihood of someone getting another person sick depends on many factors that can be tough to estimate and that vary based on circumstances. Those can include: the way it gets transmitted (through the air or in bodily fluids); whether a pathogen is contagious during its incubation period; how long that incubation period lasts; and how many people the average patient has contact with.
How to protect yourself?
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap; cover your face with a tissue - or your elbow - when coughing or sneezing, and then throw the tissue in a waste bin; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; clean surfaces and objects you touch often; seek medical attention if you have symptoms; and avoid direct contact with live animals in affected areas.
Scientists doubt the effectiveness of face masks in protecting a healthy person from airborne viruses, saying they are more useful in keeping an infected person from affecting others.
Because masks are loose and permeable, they cannot completely block particles.
An increasing number of countries has advised people to self-quarantine for at least two weeks while implementing a series of sweeping social distancing measures, including banning public gatherings and shutting down schools.
But as the number of cases grows, so do the myths surrounding the new coronavirus.
Here and here, we clear up some of the rumours and misconceptions around the outbreak.
Social distancing to 'flatten the curve'
It is essential to maintain social distancing - including staying at least 1.8 metres (six feet) away from anyone around you.
The aim of social distancing is to slow the spread of the virus, giving global health systems more time to care for patients who need help, which is also known as "flattening the curve".
Social distancing is most effective when the infection can be transmitted via droplet contact (coughing or sneezing), which is the case with the coronavirus.
Cancellation of public events that draw large crowds, such as sport events and music festivals, is an essential part of social distancing, but avoiding smaller gatherings is equally important, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Social distancing techniques that allow you to avoid crowds or crowded spaces are working from home instead of at the office, closing schools or switching to online classes, and visiting loved ones via electronic devices instead of in person.
Symptoms to look for and who is most at risk
According to the WHO, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, fatigue and dry cough. Some patients may experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, a runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea.
Current estimates of the incubation period - the amount of time between infection and the onset of symptoms - range from one to 14 days. Most infected people show symptoms within five to six days.
However, infected patients can also be asymptomatic, not displaying symptoms despite having the virus in their system.
The elderly and those with underlying medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
What to do if you think you caught the virus
A dedicated hotline has been set up in several countries for people who suspect they have been infected.
People in the country are asked to contact the hotline before going to a hospital, to avoid the possibility of spreading the virus in an unprepared healthcare facility or on the way there.
Individuals are required to contact specialised help as soon as they suspect they are ill, and to limit contact with others as much as possible.
To date, there is no vaccine and no medicine for COVID-19. While some traditional or home remedies can provide comfort and alleviate symptoms of the disease, there is no proof that existing medicine can prevent or cure it, according to the WHO.
How to prepare for self-quarantine or lockdown
At least 14 days are recommended for a self-quarantine, while the duration of a lockdown depends on the decision of a local government.
Given the likelihood that more and more people around the world will be house-bound, preparing one's home for that eventuality is an increasing concern.
Among the things being stocked are:
Non-perishable foods, including shelf-stable beverages, sauces, pasta, pulses, rice, cereal, crackers, and dry goods, including tea, sugar, and coffee.
Basic medical supplies, including over-the-counter medications to alleviate possible symptoms - which, in mild cases, have a lot in common with the symptoms of the common cold. Medicines for fever, congestion, and cough are recommended. It is also important to keep a one-month supply of prescription medication on hand as well in case getting to a pharmacy for a refill becomes difficult.
Cleaning and hygiene supplies needed would include soaps for handwashing, bathing, laundry, and cleaning, as well as disinfectants to keep surfaces clean.
Also important is preparing some activities that can be undertaken within the home, whether a list of books to read or an entertainment or exercise subscription that can be used without going out.
The WHO has acknowledged the crisis is causing the public increased levels of anxiety. In recently published guidance, it advises people who are feeling stressed to avoid reading, watching and listening to news excessively.
