Everything You Need to Know About Coronavirus

Canary Islands

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With two more people confirmed with the virus in The Tenerife Hotel, here is an explanation of the virus that we know so far.

What are coronaviruses?

Coronaviruses are a broad family of viruses that normally affect only animals. Some have the ability to transmit from animals to people. They produce clinical conditions ranging from the common cold to more serious diseases, such as the coronavirus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) and the coronavirus that causes the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV).

What is the new COVID-19 coronavirus?

It is a new type of coronavirus that can affect people and has been detected for the first time in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, in China. There are still many issues that are unknown in relation to COVID-19.

Do animals transmit the new COVID-19 coronavirus to humans?

The source of infection is under investigation. There is a possibility that the initial source may be an animal, since the first cases were detected in people who worked in a market where there were live animals. Some coronaviruses are zoonotic viruses, which means they can be transmitted from animals to humans.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

The most common symptoms include fever, cough, and feeling short of breath. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, significant difficulty breathing, kidney failure and even death. The most serious cases generally occur in elderly people or who suffer from some other disease such as heart, lung or immunity problems.

How can the infection be acquired?

Although it is not known precisely, by analogy with other infections caused by similar viruses, it seems that the transmission would be through contact with infected animals or by close contact with the respiratory secretions that are generated by coughing or sneezing from a sick person. These secretions would infect another person if they come in contact with their nose, eyes or mouth.

Is the infection very contagious?

The infection is transmissible from person to person although it seems to be little contagious. In order for the infection to occur, a direct contact of the respiratory secretions of an infected animal or of an infected person with the mucous membranes of another person (nose, mouth, eyes) would be necessary. Airborne transmission over distances greater than one or two meters seems unlikely.

Is there a treatment for COVID-19?

There is no specific treatment for the new coronavirus but some antivirals that have shown some efficacy in recent studies are being used. Yes, there are many treatments to control your symptoms, so health care improves the prognosis.

Have there been any cases in Spain?

On January 31, the first confirmed case of coronavirus COVID-19 was detected in Spain corresponding to a German citizen who was under observation by the health authorities after learning that he had had close contact with a patient diagnosed with infection by coronavirus in Germany. On February 9, a second case was confirmed in a person residing in Mallorca who had previously had contact with another case detected in the United Kingdom. It cannot be ruled out that new imported cases appear.

What can I do to protect myself?

Generic measures of individual protection against respiratory diseases include frequent hand hygiene (washing with soap and water or alcoholic solutions), especially after direct contact with sick people or their surroundings; avoid close contact with people who show signs of respiratory condition, such as coughing or sneezing; maintain a distance of approximately one meter with people with

symptoms of acute respiratory infection; cover your mouth and nose with tissues or with a cloth when you cough or sneeze and wash your hands. These measures also protect against frequent diseases such as influenza.

Do not take special precautions with animals in Spain, or with food, to avoid this infection.

Is there any special measure on goods received from China?

The European Commission has not taken any additional measures in relation to official controls carried out on the different goods for human use or consumption from China. Therefore, for the moment the same recommendations will continue to be applied as before, there is no specific restriction or recommendation regarding the movement of goods.


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