What is COVID-19?

The COVID-19 disease is a serious global health threat caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It was first identified in December of 2019 in Wuhan, China. According to the CDC as of September 2020, its exact origin is still unknown. People who have COVID-19 may have few to no symptoms, or symptoms may be mild to severe.

The Spread of COVID-19

It is believed that the two most common ways that COVID-19 spreads are:

  1. Respiratory droplets: COVID-19 spreads from person to person, most commonly through respiratory droplets generated by behaviors such as coughing, sneezing, or talking, during close interactions (i.e., within 2 metres). The best ways to protect yourself against respiratory droplets is by distancing yourself from others (at least 2 meters), and wearing a face covering (such as a surgical mask).

  2. Contaminated objects or surfaces: COVID-19 can also be spread through touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands. This can include washrooms, door handles, service counters, electronic equipment, communal items such as religious artifacts, card payment machines, etc.

The best ways to protect yourself from contaminated surfaces is to disinfect them properly and often. In an office setting, your cleaning service has a big responsibility in helping you to keep safe. They must use the right disinfectant solutions, and properly disinfect the high-touch areas such as doorknobs, light switches, phone handsets, stair railings, etc.

Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19?

Symptoms of COVID-19 range from mild to more severe. Some symptoms are similar to the flu and other common respiratory infections:

  • fever

  • new onset of cough

  • chills

  • unexplained fatigue

  • headache

  • sore throat

  • runny nose

  • stuffy or congested nose

  • lost sense of taste or smell

  • difficulty breathing

  • difficulty swallowing

  • pink eye

  • digestive issues (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain), or

  • for young children and infants: sluggishness or lack of appetite

Older adults may also experience symptoms like:

  • Chills

  • Delirium

  • Falls

  • Acute Functional Decline

  • Increased Heart Rate

  • Decreased Blood Pressure

In more severe cases, complications from COVID-19 can include pneumonia, kidney failure, or in some cases, death.

The risk of developing severe disease from COVID-19 may be higher if you have a weakened immune system. This may be the case for:

  • older people

  • anyone with chronic disease such as diabetes, cancer, heart, renal or chronic lung disease

Copyright 2017 by Countrywide Summit