Decrypting Covid19:  All We Know About the Novel Coronavirus so far

With more than 5 lacs infected cases and over 20 thousand people succumbed to death, COVID-19 famously known as Novel Coronavirus shows no signs of stopping. There are a million thoughts and views about the origin of the virus with multiple conspiracies and rumors surrounding it, but let us first understand and clear some myths related to the birth of the deadly disease and how it started to spread.

COVID-19 is thought to have originated in a seafood market in Wuhan. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause disease in both animals and humans. The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus strain known as SARS-CoV is an example of a coronavirus. SARS spread rapidly in 2002–2003. Recently, a new addition to this family has been found out which is responsible for the global outbreak of a potentially fatal disease, COVID 19.

The COVID-19 virus affects different people in different ways. The incubation period of the virus is thought to be between 1 and 14 days. It is contagious before symptoms appear, which is why so many people get infected. It has been observed that people over 60 years have a higher risk of getting infected with the disease as compared to the other age groups.
1) Fever
2) Coughing
3) Difficulty in breathing
4) Fatigue or Tiredness
5) Sore throat

As the initial cases of the disease were associated with direct exposure to the seafood sellers in China, the first presumption of the spread of the virus was thought to be a case of "animal-to-human transmission". However, subsequent patients were not linked to the above mechanism. Hence, the experts concluded that the virus could also spread from human to human. Being a respiratory virus, it's transmitted through respiratory droplets. It is also proven that it can spread from contact with infected surfaces or objects.

As we know there is no vaccine currently that can help you prevent coronavirus disease. The only way one can completely be safe from getting infected is by social distancing.
In order to control the spread of the disease, one must follow:

1) Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
2) Maintain a minimum of 1-meter distance with everyone you come across
3) Do not handshake
4) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
5) Wear a facemask if you are sick

All the above-shared information will go in vain if you don’t follow the necessary precautions. We strongly believe that our life is in our own hand; hence social distancing and few other steps will help you add more to life. Our revolutionary healthcare solutions are manufactured to alleviate human suffering and quality of life.  While our state-of-the-art, cutting edge medical devices add more to your life, we at Meril urge you to stay home be safe and together we believe we can fight this.