Map of the world depicting countries which are most affected by Covid-19 pandemic
Coronavirus is a family of viruses that can cause the common cold or other more severe diseases such as the new coronavirus disease COVID-19, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). It is a contagious disease that can cause mild-to-severe respiratory symptoms along with others such as shortness of breath, cough, and fever.
The latest deadly strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19) that has led to the current pandemic was first detected in China’s Wuhan on December 31, 2019. While the 2019 Novel Coronavirus was named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the disease associated with the virus is called COVID-19.
The coronavirus outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, and then a pandemic on March 11, 2020.
The transmission of COVID-19 novel coronavirus takes place mainly due to person-to-person contact. It spreads primarily through respiratory droplets, which becomes airborne only when a person suffering from COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
At the time of writing (on August 18, 2020, at 8.57 am), these facts about coronavirus, COVID-19 tracker of John Hopkins University, shows that the total global count of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 was 21,826,342 and the total number of fatalities was 773,152.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic threatens the economic landscape, reversing decades of progress made in the field of income inequality and poverty, and jeopardizing the future of a generation of children.
| S.No. | Country | Total Cases (Oct 13, 2020) | Deaths |
| 1 | The United States | 7,804,337 | 215,086 |
| 2 | India | 7,175,880 | 109,856 |
| 3 | Brazil | 5,103,408 | 150,689 |
| 4 | Russia | 1,318,783 | 22,834 |
| 5 | Colombia | 919,084 | 27,985 |
| 6 | Argentina | 903,730 | 24,186 |
| 7 | Spain | 888,968 | 33,124 |
SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (causing COVID-19) and seasonal flu (influenza) are contagious diseases transmitted from one person to another. Both have similar symptoms. However, SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and Seasonal Flu virus are very different and don’t behave similarly. Genetically, SARS-CoV-2 is identical to the SARS-CoV-1 virus.
COVID-19 is more transmissible than seasonal influenza, and there is still no vaccine for the former. The mortality rate of seasonal influenza/flu is comparatively low. As the SARS-CoV-2 virus is new, the human body has yet to adapt to SARS-CoV-2 infection and create immunity.
No vaccine is readily available to date. That’s why the rate of spread of infection and mortality rate are both high. This means that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is capable of affecting the entire human population.
Coronaviruses are generally found in animals. However, only a few of them infect humans. Many species of animals (mainly bats) are the natural hosts of coronaviruses.
It is believed that the virus of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) was initially spread from animals to humans. However, it is mainly human-to-human transmission now. Estimation says that one infected person can transmit the disease to around 2-3 other people, on-an-average.
The human-to-human transmission takes place through small respiratory droplets, mainly when a person infected by SARS-CoV-2:
When a healthy person comes in contact with the droplets and then touches the nose, eyes, or mouth, the COVID-19 infection spreads from one person to another.
It is important to note that SARS-CoV-2 can survive on different surfaces from a few hours to a few days. While it can survive for a few hours on cardboard and copper surfaces, it can survive for days on stainless steel and plastic surfaces.
So, always clean your hand with soap or hand sanitizer/rub (having at least 70% of alcohol content) after venturing outside the house or meeting people or touching handrails, tables, and doorknobs.
COVID-19 infection’s incubation period (which starts from exposure to the virus and continues until the onset of COVID-19 symptoms) is currently estimated to be around 14-days currently.
The infectious period is estimated to be around:
The infectious period of COVID-19 may start 1-2 days before the appearance of the symptoms. The most contagious period a COVID-19 infected person is during the symptomatic period, no matter whether it is mild or very non-specific.
There is some evidence that shows COVID-19 infection can spread from one person to another, even 2-days before the infected person shows any symptom. However, it is still not clear enough and can’t be said with certainty that COVID-19 infection spreads from asymptomatic persons.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 infection are:
Other less common symptoms of COVID-19 infection are:
COVID-19 infection can happen to anyone, no matter whether it is a kid, a young person, or old. It can get severe irrespective of age.
You should visit a medical practitioner to diagnose COVID-19 infection immediately if you experience fever/cough and other symptoms such as:
W.H.O says that around 80% of infected people from COVID-19 recover without being admitted to a hospital. Only about 1-in-5 people get seriously ill and develop breathing difficulty. That’s when they need to be hospitalized.
No matter how sunny or warm it may be, you can always catch COVID-19 infection because the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can survive higher than 77 °F (25 °C).
However, it needs special mention that you should get out for more sunshine exposure because it helps in more Vitamin D production in your body, which in turn boosts your immunity.
No, drinking hot water, tea, coffee, and other drinks will not protect you from COVID-19 infection.
Till now, there is no proven cure for COVID-19 infection. It has been seen that people have recovered just by themselves. However, you may consider some of the following things to manage mild symptoms of COVID-19 infection:
The use of surgical face masks may reduce the risk of getting infected from other people having COVID-19 infection. Always wear masks properly for maximum effectiveness.
However, there is no definite evidence that says that face masks will prevent you effectively from COVID-19 infection. However, it needs special mention that these masks only protect your nose and mouth, not your eyes and hands. So, take the proper precaution of your hands and eyes when you go out and come in contact with others.
There is still no vaccine available for humans to protect you from COVID-19 infection.
However, many companies and countries are in the trial phase of discovering the vaccine for COVID-19 infection. There are around 231 vaccine candidates in development across the world until August 2020. However, none of them have yet completed the 3-stages of safety and effectiveness trials.
At least 24 vaccine candidates have announced (till August 2020) that they have started clinical trials (varying from Phase I to Phase III trials). While 6 of them have begun Phase III trials, 18 candidates are in the I-II trial phase of their vaccines.
Many of these vaccines are expected to be available in the market by the end of 2020 or early 2021. If successful in all the trial phases, these vaccines will help you acquire immunity against the COVID-19 infection.
Related Link:
Related Maps:
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean, off the…
The Euro is the official currency of the European Union. It is, however, not incumbent…
There are many countries or regions that are partially recognized by the UN, have disputes…
The Alaska Statehood Act was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958,…
The name Persia may, however, only be used to refer to Iran in some contexts.…
Hawaii is an Island State in the US. It is one of the 50 states…