The novel Coronavirus pandemic is threatening public health globally and the global death toll has already reached a million. The virus is hard to control because it binds tightly to human cells.
As the reported cases of COVID-19 rise day by day, scientists are trying to uncover as much information about the Coronavirus as possible. Let’s brush up our knowledge with the current known facts about Coronavirus.
1. Effective Coronavirus treatment is still under research
At present, COVID-19 infected persons are being treated with four types of drugs: 1) Interferon beta-1a, that impacts the immune system; 2) Remdesivir, that is an antiviral drug; 3) a combination of HIV drugs Lopinavir and Ritonavir; and 4) Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, that are medication for malaria disease. But these are all experimental treatments. COVID vaccine is also under development.
2. Asymptomatic persons can spread the virus too
There are many people who have been tested positive for COVID-19 but they never showed any symptoms. Unfortunately, even an asymptomatic infected person can spread the virus through his breath and contact.
3. Coronavirus can survive on surfaces for days
Coronavirus can be released in the environment through respiratory droplets of an infected person. Not only can the virus spread by direct transmission, but also through infected surfaces. It is understood that the virus can survive on cardboard for a day and on plastic and steel for about 2-3 days.
4. You may have already developed antibodies to the Coronavirus
If you’re lucky enough, it is absolutely possible that you might have already contracted the virus but never got severely ill. In the absence of major symptoms, it may be easy to assume that a COVID-19 infected person has got a common cold. If you’ve silently recovered from the infection, you must have already developed antibodies to the virus too.
5. There are some unusual symptoms of COVID-19
Most of the COVID-19 patients have reported with symptoms like fever, sore throat, cough and shortness of breath. These symptoms appear similar to flu and can be easily misdiagnosed. There are some unusual symptoms too, like loss of smell and loss of taste.
6. Digestive issues can also be a symptom of infection
Although very few in number, some of the COVID-19 patients have also reported with symptoms of indigestion, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal pain. In fact, a study has shown that there are some patients who have only digestive symptoms without fever or cough.
7. The infection may be more common in people with blood type A
Based on a study of hospitalized patients in China, it has been understood that people having blood type A were more susceptible to being infected with Coronavirus. On the other hand, people with blood group O were less likely to be infected with the virus.
8. People who have recovered from the infection may get reinfected
Like having a cold once, does not guarantee immunity from getting the infection again, same is the case with Coronavirus. People who have recovered from the COVID-19 disease may still be susceptible to reinfection. The immune response to reinfection differs from person to person.
9. Infants are more vulnerable than older children
Older children above 1 year of age have a lesser risk of becoming seriously ill due to the COVID-19 infection. But infants are highly vulnerable to severe illness and getting critical if they catch the infection.
COVID-19 is a major illness and the symptoms can take upto 4-5 days to become critical. If you face minor symptoms with fever, or you have definite symptoms like loss of smell or taste, you should contact a medical professional without any delay.
