1. What is a coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
2. What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus that didn’t affect humans before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, this new virus and disease were unknown beforehand. Infected patients may suffer from cough, fever, and pneumonia in more serious cases.
3. What illness is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and what is its course?
New virus SARS-Cov-2 causes an infectious disease called COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease). The most frequent symptoms are fever, fatigue and dry cough. Some patients may suffer from muscle pain, running nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. The symptoms are usually mild and develop gradually. Some people get infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel bad. The majority of people (around 80%) recover without the necessity of treatment. 1 out of 6 people who develop COVID-19 is seriously ill and has respiratory problems. The virus is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. Elderly people, immunocompromised people or suffering from other diseases, especially chronic ones. The first cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections were reported in Wuhan, Chinese district Hubei in December 2019. People suffering from fever, cough and respiratory problems should report it in a way recommended by the government of the country of their stay.
4. How does COVID-19 spread?
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick. WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share updated findings.
5. Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through the air?
Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air.
6.Can CoVID-19 be caught from a person who has no symptoms?
The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill. WHO is assessing ongoing research on the period of transmission of COVID-19 and will continue to share updated findings.
7. How long does the virus survive on surfaces?
It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
8. Is there anything I should not do?
The following measures ARE NOT effective against COVID-2019 and can be harmful:
Taking antibiotics (See question 10 “Are there any medicines of therapies that can prevent or cure COVID-19?”) In any case, if you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early to reduce the risk of developing a more severe infection and be sure to share your recent travel history with your health care provider.
9. How long is the incubation period for COVID-19?
The “incubation period” means the time between catching the virus and beginning to have symptoms of the disease. Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days. These estimates will be updated as more data become available.
10. Who is at risk of developing a severe illness?
Older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes) appear to develop serious illness more often than others.
11. How can I protect myself from coronavirus?
The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. At present, there is no vaccine against the new coronavirus. Other methods preventing infection that can be used are presented in COVID-19 RECOMMENDATIONS tab. These methods are also used as prevention from other illnesses spread through respiratory droplets, e.g. seasonal flu (whose pick of infections is noted between January and March each year).
12. How to put on, use, take off and dispose of a mask?
A mask should be used only by healthcare workers, caretakers and people with respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough.
13. Is DEZONTOX-A effective in the elimination of coronavirus and flu viruses?
Coronavirus and flu viruses belong to a group of enveloped viruses. Research has proved the effectiveness of alcohol based disinfectants in the elimination of such viruses. Additionally, DEZONTOX-A products are biocidal products and have a law requested license allowing sales of the products issued by the Regulatory Office for Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products, registration number 0156/TP/2020. Products with such a license guarantee that their biocidal function has been confirmed with research. Choosing our products you receive the guarantee of effectiveness.