Pandemic 101
When we all cheered “Happy New Year!” at the top of our lungs and dazzling fireworks embellished the night sky on the first day of 2020, we celebrated joyously expecting this year to be our year. We prepared ourselves for new beginnings and thrilling experiences; geared with big smiles and racing hearts ready for the days to come. But that was until an unexpected and unprecedented disease broke out, and the COVID-19 pandemic struck the whole world. In the blink of an eye, COVID-19 knocked every continent off of its feet, sparing no one from its life-threatening effects and all of the necessary safety measures to prevent them. Nearly a whole year of our lives was taken from us as we were advised to stay at home and continue our daily activities within our four walls, waiting restlessly for cure. Since then, there have been more than 68.3 million cases, 1.5 million fatalities, and 47.4 million recoveries from this disease globally (John Hopkins University, 2020) and counting without a clear end in sight.
If you’re still unsure of what all of this means or
want to know more about the pandemic we’re currently living through,
here’s a rundown of what you need to know:
The Coronavirus disease, commonly known as COVID-19, is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the newly discovered coronavirus with the name SARS-CoV-2. This novel virus was first discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and has since spread globally. It is mainly transmitted through the liquid from the mouth and nose of an infected person coming in contact with another person.
What is the
Coronavirus
& COVID-19?
COMMON
Fever
Dry cough
Fatigue
​
SEVERE
Shortness of breath
Loss of appetite
Confusion
Persistent pain
Chest pressure
High temperature
What are the
symptoms?
OTHER
Loss of taste or smell
Nasal congestion
Conjunctivitis/Red eyes
Sore throat
Headache
Muscle/Joint pain
Skin rashes
Nausea/Vomiting
Diarrhea
Chills
Dizziness
There is no approved cure yet, but there are various candidate vaccines currently being tested, like the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Is there a vaccine
or a cure?
Everyone is at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus. But according to statistics, the elderly (aged 60 and above) and those with pre-existing medical conditions, such as Diabetes and high blood-pressure, are at higher risk as they are more prone to developing illnesses.
Who can get
infeected?
To prevent catching & spreading COVID-19:
​
-
Stay at home
-
Follow social distancing
-
Wash your hands often
-
Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing
-
Go for a check-up when you begin experiencing symptoms, especially of the severe type
How can I
prevent myself
& others from catching it?
When you begin to experience the symptoms, immediately start self-isolation. Distance yourself from others for a minimum of 10 days and an additional 3 days without symptoms. If you can, get tested for the virus as soon as possible.
What should
I do if I'm experiencing
symptoms?
Following necessary safety protocols such as staying at home and social distancing will not only prevent the virus from spreading and yourself contracting it, but it will also decrease the chances of others contracting it. Although it may get difficult or tiring to follow these measures, doing so benefits all and prevents COVID-19 from causing any more harm.