How does the virus spread among humans?
Through “breathing drops” that an infected person spits when he speaks, coughs or sneezes, according to the World Health Organization. The droplets disperse in the air and can land on another person’s mouth or nose, or aspirate into the lungs and infect it. The drops can also settle on adjacent surfaces like a desk, counter or door handle, and survive for a while. A person can become infected by touching the affected surface, and then touching his mouth, nose or eyes.
Breathing drops are heavy and do not travel far in the air, so it is advisable to keep 2 meters away from other people. Scientists are also investigating whether the new virus can spread through the urine or feces. Tests have revealed the digestive virus in some patients.
How long can the virus survive on surfaces?
Up to 72 hours on plastic or stainless steel surfaces, up to 24 hours on cartons and up to 4 hours on copper, according to a study in the New England Medical Journal of the U.S. Government and academics. But they are decaying quickly, said Vincent Munster, a virologist at the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, who led the study.
The study also showed that the virus could survive in small drops, aerosols, for about three hours, though it weakened as it progressed. These drops are small enough to stay suspended in the air for about half an hour to an hour, depending on the airflow.
Clean the tables, countertops, handles and other items that touch them frequently. Wipes of disinfected paper and ordinary detergents kill the virus.
Can face masks protect me from the virus?
Health experts and mask makers say that only a properly used 95N respirator can protect against the virus. The CDC says there is no need for a mask unless a person is being treated. In addition, the stock of masks is limited and should be kept to health workers and caregivers.
What else can I do to protect myself?
The most important thing is to wash your hands frequently, at least 20 seconds at a time. In the office, back home, in front of the food and when you touch the surfaces. You can also use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Do not touch the eyes, nose or mouth. Wipe objects and surfaces with household detergent. Keep away from patients. Stay 2 meters away from others.
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It is worth storing more of your prescription drugs, cleaning and disinfecting products and a few long-stay necessities at home, such as canned beans, rice and pasta, and beverages, as well as painkillers and heat-reducing drugs.
What we know about the science behind the new virus
First of all, what is a Coronavirus?
The virus belongs to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses, due to the crown-shaped pegs on their surfaces. They mostly infect bats, pigs, and small mammals. They easily pass mutations and can pass from animals to humans, and between humans. In recent years, they have played a more central role in communicable diseases worldwide.
Seven known strains infect humans, including the current new virus, and cause lower respiratory disease. Four of these strains cause normal colds. Two others, however, are among the most deadly: SARS (acute respiratory syndrome) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS).
The new virus is called acute respiratory syndrome Corona 2, or SARS Cove-2. The disease he causes is called Covid-19 (the number is 2019 when it was discovered).
How deadly is the virus?
World mortality rates range from 2% to 4% or more, according to daily infections and deaths. The real lesson will only become known after the epidemic experts can determine the denominator, meaning how many people have actually contracted. This number will include people who have never had any symptoms, or who have felt as though they had the flu and have not been tested for Corona.
The mortality rate varies from region to region, according to a report by an international health delegation that China sent to China. In the first few weeks in Wuhan, it was 5.8%.
The overall mortality rate can be less than 1%, according to some US experts, to the extent that the number of disease-free or minor symptoms is more than twice the number of cases confirmed. It is still far more lethal than the seasonal effect, with a death rate of about 0.1 %.
Covid-19 looks less deadly than Sars, which erupted in China in 2002 and spread worldwide in 2003. Sears killed about 10 percent of the people he infected. Covid-19 is also far less deadly than Mars or Ebola, but it spreads from person to person easier than SARS, according to some studies and models.
At what rate does it spread?
Disease models experts estimate that on average, every infected person transmits the virus to another 2.6 people, although the range is 1.5 to 3.5 people. These rates are high compared to some common flu viruses. Some are lower than SARS and are much lower than measles, where one infected person can transmit the disease to 12-18 people.
These estimates are preliminary and can be lowered by means of social remoteness and cleanliness.
There is a discussion about how easily the virus is transmitted. The World Health Organization experts in China reported that the infection occurred mainly between two families. Other outbreaks indicated a more open spread pattern.
According to most estimates, the disease appears two to 14 days after infection. One report described a 27-day case after the infection. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore) found that the median incubation period of a virus is 5.1 days.
Can I get infected again after passing the disease?
Not yet known. Sometimes a person is immune to another disease, but not always. The blood tests detect how many antibodies are in the body of patients who may be able to solve this mystery maybe.
Can you catch someone who has not yet developed symptoms?
Some studies show that people without symptoms, or with early or mild symptoms, can transmit the virus to others. Scientists say such a transfer can be common, and a possible explanation for the rapid spread. In any case, a distance of 2 meters is recommended for every person in the community where there is an outbreak.