Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
As coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread widely in South Africa, there are now 1686 confirmed cases and 12 death cases (at the time this article was published).
The WHO (World Health Organization) declared the outbreak a global health emergency in January 2020, as cases surged in China, where the novel coronavirus was first detected.
Globally the number of coronavirus cases surged past the 1.3million and the death toll over with over 70 000 cases. As the pandemic continues to spread, most countries have taken strict measures such as the lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Scientists and researchers around the world are also working hard, putting together their minds to understand the new virus and to develop a vaccine.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illnesses.
Common symptoms include:
- fever
- tiredness
- dry cough.
Other symptoms include:
- shortness of breath
- aches and pains
- sore throat
- and very few people will report diarrhea, nausea or a runny nose.
People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should self-isolate and contact their medical provider or a COVID-19 information line for advice on testing and referral.
People with fever, cough or difficulty breathing should call their doctor and seek medical attention.
How Does Coronavirus Attack Your Body?
Start by watching this video below:
The new virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets, such as those generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus enters the body through the mouth, nose or eyes, then it hits the mucous membranes in your throat, attaching to the body’s cell receptors.
Within 14 days, your immune system may respond with early symptoms like a sore throat, a fever, or a dry cough.
When the virus enters your body it binds to two cells in the lungs – goblet cells that produce mucus and cilia cells that have hairs on them and normally prevent your lungs filling up with debris and fluid such as virus and bacteria and particles of dust and pollen.
The virus attacks these cells and starts to kill them – so your lungs begin to fill with fluid making it hard for you to breathe. This phase of the disease is thought to last about a week.
At this point, your immune system will start to kick in and fight off the invaders. You will develop a fever and your high body temperature will create a hostile environment for the virus. You will start to get rid of the mucus in the form of coughing and a runny nose.
But in some people – particularly the elderly and those with other health conditions – the immune system can go into overdrive. As well as killing the virus it also starts to kill healthy cells.
This heightened immune response can trigger a “cytokine storm” – white blood cells activate a variety of chemicals that can leak into the lungs, which along with the attack on the cells damages them even further. Scans of the lungs show “ground-glass” opacity and then “crazy paving” patterns, as they fill with mucus making it harder and harder to breathe.
Bacterial infections can also take hold at this point and your weakened immune system will struggle to fight them off. While people with weakened immune systems and the elderly are more likely to become critically ill.
In South Africa, the death cases that occurred range from people that are between the ages (46 to 86).
Safety measures to curb the spread in South Africa
President Cyril Ramaphosa on 16th March 2020 declared a national state of disaster following the outbreak of the coronavirus in South Africa. That was followed by the 21-days nationwide lockdown that kickstarted on 26th March 2020 and will last until 16 April 2020, if not extended.
Staying safe
Stay home, avoid public places by all means. And remember to wash your hands frequently with soap or use hands sanitizer.
If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19, and need medical care:
-Call your doctor or clinic and report your symptoms.
-Wear a facemask when you enter the healthcare facility.
-Ask your healthcare professional to inform the NICD if you test positive for COVID-19.
-Keep a distance of at least one-and-a-half meters from your family members at home.
Here are the Johannesburg COVID-19 testing centres/sites below:
Emergency Hotline: 0800 029 999
WhatsApp Support Line: 0600-123456 (send HI to 0600 123 456 on WhatsApp)
Additional sources: WHO and The Telegraph.
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