Fact check: what you need to know about coronavirus in order not to panic

Information about the spread of coronavirus across the planet has taken the top spots in news reports, authorities in different countries are introducing quarantine, and in some places all this is already forcing people to behave in a less rational manner - for example, buying toilet paper. We remind you that you need to know about the coronavirus so as not to become more afraid of it than you should be, writes Air force.

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Of course, it is impossible to brush aside a new dangerous infection - and the authorities of different countries are obviously absolutely right when they introduce preventive and often tough measures.

But there is no need to panic. It is better to take an occasion and think about personal hygiene.

We all will die? Not

Doctors report that the mortality rate from Covid-19 is an order of magnitude higher than from the regular flu. But it is worth paying attention to absolute numbers and other details.

Johns Hopkins American Research University compiled an interactive and fairly quickly updated map of the distribution of coronavirus.

These data, collected by the Americans, remind, in particular, of what is relatively rarely written in the news: more than half of those infected (more than 63 thousand people) have already recovered.

Approximately 80% of registered patients have a mild illness.

As of the beginning of the day on Tuesday, more than 113 thousand cases were registered in the world (including 81 thousand in China), and just over 4000 deaths (including more than 3000 in China). The mortality rate is thus approximately 3,5%.

Quite a lot has already been written about the fact that the vast majority of deaths are very elderly people with concomitant diseases, and for young people the risk of dying from coronavirus is close to zero.

In addition, when assessing the mortality rate, one more circumstance must be taken into account. Doctors say that in some infected people the disease goes so easily that they themselves may not notice it, taking it for an ordinary mild cold. When and if it is possible to identify and count these patients, then the mortality rate can drop significantly.

The chief sanitary doctor of England, Professor Chris Whitty, for example, suggests that as a result, mortality will be in the region of 1%.

On the subject: How the risk of getting coronavirus and dying from it depends on gender and age

And what do you do?

According to the observations of doctors at the moment, the new virus can be picked up through airborne droplets during close contact - if a person stands less than two meters from you and sneezes (or speaks, lightly spraying saliva) in your direction.

In addition, coronavirus can be picked up from a hard surface (a door handle or an escalator handrail in the subway) - on such surfaces it survives for two days or even longer.

Therefore, doctors recommend often and thoroughly, at least 20 seconds, to wash their hands, use an antiseptic and not touch their face with their hands. The latter is actually almost impossible: most people touch their faces involuntarily, so it remains to wash their hands more often.

Back in January, the myth that alcohol helps with the new virus has become especially popular in China and Eastern Europe. He was debunked at the same time; The BBC Russian Service wrote about this: alcohol only depresses the immune system and it is better to use it to disinfect hands and surfaces. Only the concentration of alcohol in the solution should be from 60%, and drinks of this strength are quite rare.

How to understand if I got sick?

In short, the only way is a laboratory test.

In most cases, the disease begins with a dry cough and fever, a runny nose appears only in about 5%.

One way or another, for those who suspected Covid-19, doctors and authorities of many countries either recommend or directly prescribe not to go to the doctors (so as not to infect anyone), but to call them.

On the subject: Coronavirus and personal hygiene: 7 habits that are worth adopting from American children

When will the vaccine be made?

Scientists are doing their best, but the procedure for creating and testing new drugs is such that, at best, the vaccine is expected in a year. By this time, the current outbreak, experts suggest, is likely to pass.

But a vaccine is a means of prevention, and while it is not there, doctors are finding out in practice how existing antiviral drugs act on patients. Over the coming weeks, when a sufficient amount of data has accumulated, doctors hope to understand how best to treat at least those with Covid-19 in the most severe forms.

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