Coronavirus Guide
A coronavirus infection can trigger respiratory symptoms that are similar to those of a cold or the flu. The virus that’s causing the current outbreak is known as SARS-CoV-2. It’s a cousin of the one that caused an outbreak in 2003 that was referred to as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The new virus is spreading faster and more easily than the one which caused SARS. It’s also spreading faster than the SARS CoV-1 virus during its outbreak.
The disease spreads through tiny particles or droplets aerosols which are released when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes or speaks. The virus can remain in the air for hours, and you can breathe into them or touch them on surfaces. People can get infected through touching a contaminated surface or person and then breathing into the virus or putting their hands in their mouth, eyes, or nose. Some people may not exhibit any symptoms or even realize they have the virus, but others could become sick.
Nearly everyone experiences a coronavirus infection at least once in their lifetime and most often as a child. The majority of cases are mild and disappear on their own, however some can be severe or even fatal. Scientists are trying to find a cure.