Introduction

The new coronavirus is the causative agent of the viral disease that has become a global pandemic and has induced the global economic recession. Known as COVID-19, this disease has threatened public health on a large scale and has forced authorities around the world to opt for long-term lockdown to break its chain of progression. According to the UN Secretary General, the situation due to COVID-19 is reminiscent of the crises that occurred during the Second World War. Globally, more than 16 lakhs of people have been infected by this disease and it has caused more than 82,000 deaths worldwide.

Origin of COVID-19

COVID-19 originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in the last month of 2019 when local health workers claimed that this viral disease was transmitted from animals to humans. Since then, it has spread to different countries around the world. Today, the disease is prevalent in more than 100 countries around the world. As it is a new virus, there is no specific vaccine or drug available to prevent this viral disease. Since December last year, there have been many attempts to understand the new coronavirus. Despite the vast amount of data available, not much is known about this recently mutated coronavirus. In this article, we will walk you through some unknown things and facts about the virus.

Known facts about the new Corona virus

1. This recently silenced virus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where people contracted this virus from livestock products.

2. The Corona virus is scientifically called SARS-CoV-2.

3. Since the disease was discovered in 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) has dubbed it COVID-19.

4. Just a few days ago, the WHO decided to call this COVID-19 a ‘Pandemic’.

5. This virus belongs to a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from a mild cold to serious illness. Some of the serious illnesses caused by this family of viruses include severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

6. Common routes of virus transmission include physical contact with, or through, coughing or sneezing droplets from an infected person.

7. This viral disease is very contagious.

8. Symptoms are mild at first for an infected person, and infections increase over time. Symptoms associated with COVID-19 include dry cough, fever, sore throat, stuffy nose, tiredness, diarrhea, or runny nose.

9. About 80% of people with COVID-19 recover without much medical intervention. However, each of the six infected people becomes seriously ill and requires serious medical intervention as they develop dyspnea.

10. Ordinary people can avoid contracting this disease by observing social distancing, washing their hands with disinfectants or hand soaps at regular intervals, stopping touching their face, nose and eyes, avoiding travel, and stopping the practice of hugs and handshakes. .

After we have looked at the known facts, let’s now look at some unknown facts about this disease.

1. Since there is no prescribed cure for the treatment of COVID-19, all that patients will receive is supportive treatment based on the symptoms produced by them.

2. Vaccines against the Corona virus are being developed in countries such as the United States and China. However, they are undergoing clinical trials in these countries, which is a required step before obtaining approval from local government agencies.

3. An average person infected with COVID-19 can transmit the virus to two or more people.

4. Mainly, the elderly, children under the age of 10, and those who have a weak immune system and pre-existing medical conditions can develop serious illnesses. According to doctors, people with heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, or previous lung infections can get serious illnesses from exposure to this virus.

5. When the affected person sneezes or coughs, the droplets that come out contain this virus. Virus particles present in airborne droplets remain virulent for approximately 3 hours in airborne droplet suspensions.

6. Although the use of masks does not guarantee 100% protection against the transmission of COVID-19, it is recommended that people infected with viruses use them to stop the spread of droplets of coughs or sneezes in the air. Even people with the common cold and cough are advised to wear the mask to prevent the spread of droplets from coughs or sneezes. Healthy people do not need to wear a mask.

7. Although no data is available to substantiate the recurrence of COVID-19 infection, there have been cases of people contracting the infection after making a full recovery once. For example, a Japanese woman was reported to have contracted the reinfection after recovering once.

8. Despite previous beliefs that COVID-19 infection tends to decrease during the summer seasons, there has been an increase in infections in all climatic areas. That is why the WHO has made it clear that the transmission of this disease does not depend on the climate.

9. There is no information to suggest when COVID-19 infection is likely to subside and life around the world would return to normal.

10. Although there is no evidence to suggest the spread of the Corona virus from domestic dogs or cats, there has been one case where a tiger at the zoo contracted the COVID-19 infection. More data is required to substantiate this claim.