What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which is a respiratory pathogen. WHO first learned of this new virus from cases in Wuhan, People’s Republic of China on 31 December 2019.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are
Fever
Dry cough
Fatigue
Other symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include:
Loss of taste or smell,
Nasal congestion,
Conjunctivitis (also known as red eyes)
Sore throat,
Headache,
Muscle or joint pain,
Different types of skin rash,
Nausea or vomiting,
Diarrhea,
Chills or dizziness.
Symptoms are usually mild. Some people become infected but only have very mild symptoms or none at all.
Symptoms of severe COVID‐19 disease include:
Shortness of breath,
Loss of appetite,
Confusion,
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest,
High temperature (above 38 °C).
Other less common symptoms are:
Irritability,
Confusion,
Reduced consciousness (sometimes associated with seizures),
Anxiety,
Depression,
Sleep disorders,
More severe and rare neurological complications such as strokes, brain inflammation, delirium and nerve damage.
People of all ages who experience fever and/or cough associated with difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or loss of speech or movement should seek medical care immediately. If possible, call your health care provider, hotline or health facility first, so you can be directed to the right clinic.
What happens to people who get seriously ill?
Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing hospital treatment. About 20% of those who get COVID-19 become seriously ill and require oxygen, with 5% becoming critically ill and needing intensive care.
Complications leading to death may include respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis and septic shock, thromboembolism, and/or multiorgan failure, including injury of the heart, liver or kidneys.
In rare situations, children can develop a severe inflammatory syndrome a few weeks after infection.
Who is most at risk of severe illness from COVID-19?
People aged 60 and over, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, obesity or cancer, are at higher risk of developing serious illness.
However, anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die at any age.
How can we protect others and ourselves if we don’t know who is infected?
Stay safe by taking some simple precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, cleaning your hands, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue. Check local advice where you live and work. Do it all!
When should I get a test for COVID-19?
Anyone with symptoms should be tested, wherever possible. People who do not have symptoms but have had close contact with someone who is, or may be, infected may also consider testing – check with your local health guidelines. While a person is waiting for test results, they should remain isolated from others. Where testing capacity is limited, tests should first be done for those at higher risk of infection, such as health workers, and those at higher risk of severe illness such as older people, especially those living in seniors’ residences or long-term care facilities.