The fact is that we may be dealing with COVID-19 for years to come, and although we don’t know all there is to know about this virus, there is still much that you can learn. At The Care Clinic, we strongly believe in empowering our current and potential patients through health education. So, in this post, we are going to explore 4 facts that you absolutely must know about COVID-19 to help protect your health and that of your loved ones.
But, before we process, let’s look at a definition for COVID-19
According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
1. The coronavirus spreads easily and rapidly from person to person!
COVID-19 droplets will exit an infected person’s mouth or nose when they cough, sneeze, talk, laugh, sing, etc., and it spreads from that infected person to other people and objects within their environment. When an uninfected person comes into contact with these droplets, they can become infected.
2. COVID-19 symptoms can range from mild to severe.
You must have heard stories from people who have previously been infected and many, if not all of them will have varying severity of symptoms. Well, that’s because COVID-19 tends to affect different people in different ways. So, someone may have a mild version of the virus, while others may experience moderate or severe symptoms.
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, please reach out to The Care Clinic for information and assistance.
- Fever
- sore throat
- cough
- pain
- Tiredness
- rash
- loss of taste or smell
3. There are preventative measures that work!
While COVID-19 is highly contagious and has no cure and minimal treatment options, there are some simple ways to prevent yourself and your family from getting infected.
Physical distancing (sometimes called social distancing)- stay away from crowds and give six feet distance between yourself and strangers when possible.
Wash your hands often- use soap and running water to cleanse your hands for at least two minutes as often as possible, especially after being on the road. If you don’t have running water, use a container to pour the water over your hands.
Sanitize your hands- when you are out and about, walk with a bottle of sanitizer and use it after touching doors, money, store items, etc.
Wear a mask- wear a properly fitting mask, particularly when in poorly ventilated and crowded environments.
Practice good respiratory etiquette- ok, so this tip is more likely to prevent you from spreading the virus to loved ones. Always cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
4. Some infected persons can be asymptomatic!
Yes, that’s right! You could have the virus and not experience any symptoms whatsoever; however, you are still very much contagious, so you can infect others. If you have been around an infected person, live, or traveled to an area of high infection, it is recommended that you get tested. You can call The Care Clinic to schedule an appointment to be tested.
These are the top need-to-knows about COVID-19, but if there is anything you are confused about or would like to know, please feel free to reach out to us at The Care Clinic, our caring and qualified staff is waiting to assist.
References
World Health Organization: WHO. (2020, January 10). Coronavirus. Who. int; World Health Organization: WHO. https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1