Disclaimer: all information in this article has come from trusted sources which will be listed at the end of the article.
The C-word. As ‘The Coronavirus’ progresses across the globe, it has become the most talked and worried-about topic for the last two months. So, let’s start with the basics:
What actually is the Coronavirus?
The Coronavirus, also known scientifically as COVID-19, is a new illness which was identified in late December of 2019. It isn’t just one virus, it’s a group of viruses known as the Coronavirus family which specifically targets the respiratory area of your body like in your lungs.
Where did it come from?
The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, a city with the same population as London, in a seafood market selling live animals where several tenants and shopkeepers started to become ill. There are rumours about the virus originating in snakes and bats, which were both sold at the seafood market, but this hasn’t been scientifically proven yet.
What does the Coronavirus actually do?
This strain of the virus specifically causes symptoms as listed:
On a more serious note, the virus can progress into illnesses much worse like pneumonia, a potentially lethal illness in the lungs. This is why it’s so important for older people to stay indoors as they are the most vulnerable to the virus. This doesn’t mean that younger people shouldn’t be worried as well, but especially older people are at risk of dying from the virus.
What should I do if I have these symptoms?
The British NHS advice is to stay at home from school/work (if either hasn’t already closed) for at least 7 days until the symptoms go away or progress into something worse. If the symptoms do get worse, the advice is to call 111 (this is for the UK, if you live elsewhere the advice could differ) where health professionals will advise you what to do.
If you are symptomatic, it’s important to stay away from older relatives (age 70+) and especially people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes or people with bad chest’s.
What can you do to stop yourself and others from getting it?
The most important actions you can do to stop the spread it is:
What you SHOULDN’T do:
As the pandemic continues, which is the term used when a virus spreads rapidly to other countries, many countries, specifically European countries have started to close schools, bars and restaurants to stop the virus. This is because the virus can already infect someone and cannot cause symptoms, making it difficult to identify and contain it. People might be worried, but as long as you follow the advice your government is giving you, you are decreasing the likelihood of the virus infecting you and the people around you.
Stay calm and stay positive!
Sources used for this article:
British NHS Advice - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
WHO Summary - https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1
(Photo credit: Menna, a TWE photographer) See more of her work at @mennas.photographyy
Taarifa zote katika makala hii zimetoka kwa vyanzo vya kuaminika ambavyo vitatolewa mwishoni mwa makala. Neno la C. Kadiri "Coronavirus" inavyoendelea ulimwenguni kote, imekuwa mada inayozungumzwa na kuhofiwa zaidi kwa miezi miwili iliyopita. Kwa hiyo, hebu tuanze na mambo ya msingi: Coronavirus ni nini hasa? Virusi vya Corona, vinavyojulikana kama COVID-19, ni ugonjwa mpya ambao uligunduliwa mwishoni mwa Desemba 2019. "Hii sio virusi moja tu, ni kundi la virusi vinavyojulikana kama familia ya coronavirus ambayo hasa inalenga eneo la kupumua la mwili wako kama vile mapafu yako. """ Lilitoka wapi? Virusi hivyo viliambukizwa kwa mara ya kwanza mjini Wuhan, China, katika soko la samaki na samaki, ambapo wakazi kadhaa na wafanyabiashara walianza kuugua. Kuna uvumi kuhusu virusi vinavyotokana na nyoka na popo, ambazo zote mbili ziliuzwa katika soko la vyakula vya baharini, lakini hii haijathibitishwa kisayansi bado. Coronavirus inafanya nini? Aina hii ya virusi husababisha dalili kama ilivyoorodheshwa hapa chini: Kwa maelezo ya uzito zaidi, virusi vinaweza kuendeleza magonjwa mabaya zaidi kama vile nimonia, ugonjwa unaoweza kusababisha kifo katika mapafu. Hii ndiyo sababu ni muhimu sana kwa watu wazima kukaa ndani ya nyumba kwani ndio walio hatarini zaidi kwa virusi. Hii haimaanishi kwamba watu vijana hawapaswi kuwa na wasiwasi pia, lakini hasa watu wazima wako katika hatari ya kufa kutokana na virusi. Ninapaswa kufanya nini ikiwa nina dalili hizi? Kwa mujibu wa ushauri wa NHS, watu wanapaswa kukaa nyumbani, kutoka shule hadi kazi (kama hakuna moja ambayo imefungwa) kwa angalau siku saba hadi dalili zitakapopungua au kuendelea kuwa mbaya zaidi. Ikiwa dalili zinazidi kuwa mbaya, tafadhali piga simu 111 (kwa Uingereza, ikiwa unaishi mahali pengine, ushauri unaweza kuwa tofauti) ambapo wataalamu wa afya watakupa ushauri wa nini cha kufanya. Ikiwa una dalili, ni muhimu kukaa mbali na jamaa wazee (umri wa miaka 70+) na haswa watu wenye hali ya msingi ya afya kama vile kisukari au watu wenye kifua kibaya. Unaweza kufanya nini ili wewe na wengine msipatwe na ugonjwa huo? "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Kwa sababu ya janga hilo, ambalo ni neno linalotumiwa wakati virusi vinaenea haraka katika nchi nyingine, nchi nyingi, haswa nchi za Ulaya, zimeanza kufunga shule, baa na mikahawa ili kuzuia virusi hivyo.""" Hii ni kwa sababu virusi vyaweza kuambukiza mtu na haiwezi kusababisha dalili, na hivyo kufanya iwe vigumu kuitambua na kuizuia. "Watu wanaweza kuwa na wasiwasi, lakini maadamu unafuata ushauri ambao serikali yako inakupa, unapunguza uwezekano wa virusi kukugusa na watu wanaokuzunguka. """ Endelea kuwa mtulivu na kuwa na mtazamo chanya! "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""Mwanzoni mwa Utafiti wa UK"" (Utafiti wa UK) na ""Mwanzoni mwa Utafiti wa UK"" (Utafiti wa UK) na ""Mwanzoni mwa Utafiti wa UK"" (Utafiti wa UK) na ""Mwanzoni mwa Utafiti wa UK"" (Utafiti wa UK) na ""Mwanzoni mwa Utafiti wa UK"" (Utafiti wa UK)."