What is coronavirus?


Coronaviruses are a type of virus. There are many different kinds, and some cause disease. A newly identified type has caused a recent outbreak of respiratory illness now called COVID-19 that started in China.

How is coronavirus spread?

Recent information indicates coronavirus may be passed from one person to other person. Community spread is being seen, also. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in a particular area, including some people who are not sure how or where they became infected. Coronavirus has been detected in people throughout China and in over 80 other countries, including the India.


The spread of this new coronavirus is being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization and health organizations like Johns Hopkins across the globe. On Jan. 30, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency.

How did this new coronavirus spread to humans?


Coronavirus appeared in Wuhan, a city in China, in December 2019. Although health officials are still tracing the exact source of this new coronavirus, early hypotheses thought it may be linked to a seafood market in Wuhan, China. Some people who visited the market developed viral pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus. A study that came out on Jan. 25, 2020, notes that the individual with the first reported case became ill on Dec. 1, 2019, and had no link to the seafood market. Investigations are ongoing as to how this virus originated and spread.

Incubation period for CORONAVIRUS

It appears that symptoms are showing up in people within 14 days of exposure to the virus.

Symptoms of Coronavirus

Coronavirus symptoms include:

  1. Cough
  2. Fever
  3. Shortness of breath
In rare cases, coronavirus can lead to severe respiratory problems, kidney failure or death.
If you have a fever or any kind of respiratory difficulty such as coughing and shortness of breath, contact your doctor or a health care provider and explain your symptoms.
Tell your doctor if you have traveled outside the country in the last 14 days, particularly to countries affected by COVID-19 (currently China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea). Also, be sure to tell them if you suspect you have been close (within 6 feet) of someone who has COVID-19 for an extended period. Your health care provider or the emergency room team will recommend next steps.
If you have a medical emergency, call 911 and let them know about your symptoms and recent travel history.

Treatment of Coronavirus

As of now, there is not a specific treatment for the virus. People who become sick from COVID-19 should be treated with supportive measures: those that relieve symptoms. For severe cases, there may be additional options for treatment, including research drugs and therapeutics.

Protection from coronavirus

There are many way to protect yourself:

  1. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly for at least 15 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  2. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue paper or clean cloth .
  3. Don't touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
  4. Stay home when you are ill.
  5. Clean surfaces and objects people frequently touch.

Precautions for coronavirus

Several health agencies in China and other countries, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States and the World Health Organization (WHO), are keeping a careful eye on this illness and taking steps to prevent it from spreading