Coronavirus Transmission, Prevention and Vaccine Latest Update

With over 42, 387 deaths out of 861,295 cases worldwide, COVID-19 is turning out to be deadly. To fight this virus, most of the countries have announced nationwide lockdown.

Governments are advising their citizens to stay at home and avoid any kind of social gathering, maintain social distancing, and all.

But do you know coronavirus is not new? In fact, the outbreak of coronavirus links us back to 2003 when SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) was identified.

What is Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a group of related viruses SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), and COVID-19. As you can see with their complete name, they cause respiratory tract infections.

Unlike the common cold, these coronaviruses can be quite fatal especially when they are new. That’s one primary reason why the virus is most commonly known as Novel (means new) Coronavirus or 2019-nCov. Our body doesn’t know how to fight off against a new virus.

COVID-19 Symptoms

Well, as per WHO (World Health Organization), the most common symptoms of coronavirus include –

• Shortness of breath.
• Breathing Difficulties.
• Cough.
• Fever.

Coronavirus symptoms can appear between 2-14 days after exposure. A serious coronavirus can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome and even death.

So, how can you protect yourself? Well, then let’s get to know some prevention you can take to save yourself and your loved ones in the time of crisis.

How Coronavirus Transmits?

Transmission is what makes a virus more dangerous. Just like all the coronaviruses, COVID-19 spreads through human-to-human transmission.

Whenever an infected person sneezes or coughs, and if you’re in close proximity with them, then there is a 95% chance that you might also get the virus via the respiratory droplets. Not only this, if a coronavirus infected person comes in contact with any object that you touch later, but you can also transmit the virus into you.

Let me give you an example –

Presume, you’re infected with COVID-19 and are having a mild cold and cough. You’re reading a book and because of sneezing, respiratory droplets spread all over the book. Later the same book can also work as a carrier to spread the virus.

Coronavirus Prevention

Actions you need to take to prevent coronavirus.

Wash your hands frequently

First and foremost, wash your hands regularly. For this, you can use an alcohol-based sanitizer.

Why? Using alcohol-based sanitizer or Washing your hands with soap and water kills the viruses on your hands.

If you’ve access to can soap and water then I’ll recommend you use it as you can’t wash your hands completely. BTW, don’t forget at 20-second rule to wash your hands.

Maintain Social Distancing

Keep maintaining at least 1 Metre of the distance between yourself and the other person who is coughing or sneezing near you.

Why? As I mentioned in the beginning, if someone coughs or sneezes near you, then that respiratory droplets can infect you with the virus. Not only this, if you’re too close to the ill person, but you can also breathe in the droplets to your body.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Don’t touch your eyes, nose, and mouth every time.

Why? If you touched a virus-infected object with your hands than your hand can become a primary source of getting the coronavirus. Furthermore, Corona can enter your body only through eyes nose or mouth. So, stay careful for yourself and your loved ones.

Practice respiratory hygiene

Having proper respiratory hygiene can help protect you from the virus. Proper respiratory hygiene includes covering your mouth and nose whenever you cough or sneeze. For this, you can use you a handkerchief or a disposable tissue.

Why? Droplets spread the virus. If you follow neat and clean respiratory hygiene, you can help yourself and others around you from having the flu.

If you have a cough, fever, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early

Not feeling well? Stay home, contact your family doctor or doctor near you. If you’ve all the coronavirus symptoms, contact the higher authority and follow their directions completely.

Why? National and local authorities get regularly updated with the up latest information on the present situation in your area. If contacted at the right time, you can help in preventing the further spread of the virus.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Where is the Vaccine for COVID-19? Well, that’s the question every Indian might have in their mind. Well, in reality, Vaccine is inside your body.

At present, there are numerous viruses on Earth. Viruses are everywhere. You’re exposed to them in every possible way.

The air you breathe, most things you touch, or even water you drink everything is surrounded by viruses. Viruses can play a huge role in causing you a number of diseases. Be it common cold, flu, chickenpox, SARS or even Ebola.

During a viral infection, the virus invades the cells in your body and try to reproduce themselves to spread the virus.

So, how would you stop them? Well, you won’t have to…

Antibodies in your bodies help you in fighting the virus as it generates around ~3×10⁷ unique antibodies.

All in all, each human body has more than 10 billion anti-bodies of different kinds.

How come a human body created this many antibodies? Well, that’s possible with the help of white blood cells in your body. Antibodies identify viruses and other antibodies using basic shapes.

For each virus, there’s a different shape of Antibodies. So, if you’re infected with a virus, your body tries to matches it with antibodies of its shape. Once the right antibodies are found for the virus, they will stick themselves on the virus and alert the cells to destroy it.

As a result of this, your body will start producing around 2,000 antibodies every second. And that’s where the immune system comes into play.

If you’ve got a healthy immune system than the process of identifying the virus, creating antibodies for it will be much faster.

That’s one of the primary reasons why older people and kids are in more danger than ever because of coronavirus.

They have a weaker immune system as compared to the young generation. Their bodies take up to 10-15 days in creating antibodies for the virus.

That’s too late. By then, Coronavirus starts attacking the other internal organs of their body. Hence, the only solution for this is a Vaccine for COVID-19.

But why it’s taking too much time.

Take out Antibodies from a healthy human body and use it as a vaccine. No… No ..

It’s not that easy.

Generally, it takes around 1-2 years to create a vaccine. However, looking at the havoc created by Pandemic COVID-19, WHO, has instructed health institutions to create a vaccine by October.

Well, that’s not possible as a vaccine goes under several stages before its worldwide distribution. In COVID-19’s case, researchers have skipped the animal testing phase of vaccine creation.

At present, the vaccine is under human trials. During the creation process, the modified coronavirus will be injected in the healthy human bodies.

Within a few days, their body will start creating antibodies. Later researchers will extract those antibodies to create an antidote.

Now, both the modified virus and antidote will be tested on registered humans under several conditions. How the antidote will react when given to a patient having diabetes or any other diseases.

Once the vaccine checks all the pre-defined criteria, it’s distributed to the entire world.

This vaccine will work as an update for the human body. After injecting the vaccine, an elderly who is having a tough time creating antibodies will get cured of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Helpline State-Wise

Andhra Pradesh: 08662410978

Arunachal Pradesh: 9436055743

Assam: 6913347770

Bihar: 104

Chhattisgarh: 077122-35091

Goa: 104

Gujarat: 104

Haryana: 8558893911

Himachal Pradesh: 104

Jharkhand: 104

Karnataka: 104

Kerala: 0471-2552056

Madhya Pradesh: 0755-2527177

Maharashtra: 020-26127394

Manipur: 3852411668

Meghalaya: 108

Mizoram: 102

Nagaland: 7005539653

Odisha: 9439994859

Punjab: 104

Rajasthan: 0141-2225624

Sikkim: 104

Tamil Nadu: 044-29510500

Tripura: 0381-2315879

Uttarakhand: 104

Uttar Pradesh: 18001805145

West Bengal: 3323412600

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: 03192-232102

Chandigarh: 9779558282

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu: 104

Delhi: 011-22307154

Kashmir: 01942440283

Jammu: 01912520982

Ladakh: 01982256462

Lakshadweep: 104

Puducherry: 104

If you’re facing any kind of problem, need help or have any questions, you can use these numbers for your respective locations. In addition to this, you can use ALL-India Helpline Number – 1075 for any nationwide help or query.

Frequently Asked Questions | Novel Coronavirus 2019

Q – I’m using mask while going out, will I be safe from Coronavirus?

A – If the infected person is not wearing any mask or don’t have proper respiratory hygiene, their sneeze or cough can infect you with the virus. That’s where a mask can come to your rescue. Apart from this, keeping washing your hands regularly and if possible, stay indoors.

Q – Which masks should I buy for myself and my family – Surgical or N95?

A – Well, if you’re staying at home than there’s no need for you to buy N95 masks. You can properly protect yourself using a basic surgical mask. However, if you’re a health worker and currently working with a group of people, an N95 mask is a must for you.

Q – I received a message on WhatsApp stating the ongoing lockdown will go on till 30^th June 2020. Is this true?

A – No, not at all. As of now, the Indian Government has specified that the lockdown will go on till the midnight of 14^th march. So, I would advise you to avoid believe such fake news spread all over the digital media.

Q – At the time of Crisis, the Internet is flooded with fake news. How can I verify a piece of news related to Coronavirus?

A – To battle fake news at the time of pandemic COVID-19, the Indian Government has announced an official WhatsApp number which you can use to get all the latest information related to the Coronavirus. Here’s the WhatsApp number – 9013151515. In addition to this, you can even download a new app launched by the Indian Government to track CoronaVirus – Aarogya Setu.

Q – Can I get coronavirus through my pet?

A – Well, the answer is both yes and no. Pets like dogs and cats cannot have symptoms like a cough or sneezing. However, that being said, they can still transmit coronavirus as a carrier. If a corona infected person touches your pet with his infected hands and when you touch your dog, its possible, you might get COVID-19 too.

Final Words

Desperate time calls for desperate measures. This is the time when we all need to step up and defeat Coronavirus together by staying in our respective homes.

Everything the government is doing is for your good health. Follow every instruction passed on by the government. Give your support to those needs it the most, be it the health workers, daily wagers or even police officers.

You can do this by staying home or by making sure anyone near you is not sleeping without food. Be it animals or humans. Donate essentials at nearby social services organization or contribute money to the PM CARES fund.

That’s it for now. Stay Home, Stay Safe.