COVID-19: All You Need to Know About Coronavirus

As of August 2020, Coronavirus disease has now been wreaking havoc for the better part of the year with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. India is currently noting a tally of 3.38 million total cases, with over 75,000 daily new infections. This has caused quite some trepidation among citizens regarding the far-reaching consequences of this disease. 

Regardless of the infectious nature of COVID-19, there are several precautionary measures that individuals can undertake to minimise the risk of contracting it. Following is an in-depth look at all the critical information pertaining to the disease that one must be aware of, to keep the chances of contracting this infection low.

What is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus is an umbrella term to denote several types of disease-causing viruses, which are mostly known to infect birds and mammals. The SARS-Cov-2 is the latest strain of this virus, which has been identified as the cause for COVID-19.

Following are a few facts about this Coronavirus infection –

• It originated in the Wuhan district of Hubei province in China in December 2019.
• The virus spreads from one individual to another, mostly via secretions from nose and mouth, including through small droplets discharged while sneezing or coughing. It can also be transmitted to a healthy individual, should they touch a contaminated surface and then their nose, eyes or mouth.
• Individuals experiencing symptoms of the disease can get themselves tested via nasal aspirate, swab test, tracheal aspirate, blood test and sputum testing.
• There is no vaccine yet that can effectively help in the prevention or treatment of Coronavirus.

Nonetheless, there are several preventive measures that one can adopt to reduce the risks of getting infected. 

Measures to undertake to reduce the risk of infection

While there are no fool-proof methods to prevent the spread of this infection, there are a few methods that one can undertake for precaution. These are –

1. Washing hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. In case of unavailability of soap and water, individuals can use alcohol-based sanitisers to disinfect their hands.
2. Individuals should avoid touching their face without washing their hands thoroughly.
3. Wearing a mask is mandatory while stepping outdoors. As per guidelines put forth by the WHO, the most effective ones in this regard would be N95 masks without valves. Individuals can also forego N95 masks for surgical and triple-layer cotton ones.
4. Surfaces that are touched frequently should be cleaned and disinfected properly.
5. Individuals should ensure that they cough and sneeze into tissues and dispose of them immediately after use.
6. Those who are feeling sick should isolate themselves immediately and avoid physical contact with others until the time they recover.

To prevent the risk of spreading the virus, individuals must take note of its symptoms, and seek professional medical aid immediately to stop them from aggravating.

Symptoms of Coronavirus

Some of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 include the following – 

• Cough
• Chills and fever
• Muscle and body ache
• Shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing
• Loss of taste and smell
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Headache 
• Diarrhoea
• Congested or running nose
• Vomiting or nausea

Apart from these, severe symptoms of the infection also include – 

• Acute respiratory syndrome
• Pneumonia
• Kidney failure

If the above symptoms devolve into becoming more severe, the infection can also be fatal. While the fatality rate of Coronavirus in India is quite low compared to its infection rate, individuals must by no means ignore the symptoms, should they show up.

Other safety measures to undertake

Apart from learning to identify Coronavirus symptoms and undertaking steps to reduce the risks of contracting it, individuals can put into place a few other measures to alleviate concerns arising from the disease. 

For instance, availing a coronavirus insurance to cover the costs of Coronavirus treatment, in case of hospitalisation, can be extremely beneficial.

For instance, opting for the COVID-19 Protection Cover provided by Bajaj Finserv under its Pocket Insurance & Subscriptions can impart one with the following benefits – 

• Hospitalisation coverage, in case an individual is hospitalised for a period of more than 24 hours to seek treatment for COVID-19.
• Coverage for expenses incurred while seeking treatment for related comorbidities alongside COVID-19.
• Pre and post hospitalisation charge coverage for up to 30 days.
• Cover for AYUSH treatment availed to treat COVID-19.

Thus, individuals can ensure that they reduce their financial liabilities arising in due course of seeking COVID-19 treatment if they have such a Pocket Insurance & Subscriptions plan in place. 

Thus, with comprehensive knowledge about what is COVID-19, how to identify it and most importantly, the safety measures to reduce its risks, individuals can effectively eliminate chances of any severe trouble arising during such times.  

Read Also: COVID-19 – Read out the Signs and Symptoms of Coronavirus