Information about the Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, breathing difficulties and/or dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell.

Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who get COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.

COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, breathing difficulties and/or dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell.

Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.

People can catch COVID-19 from other persons who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe-in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter away from a person who is sick.

Studies suggest that the virus causing COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air.

The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.

The risk of catching COVID-19 from the feces of an infected person appears to be low. While initial investigations suggest the virus may be present in feces in some cases, spread through this route is not a main feature of the outbreak. Because this is a risk, however, it is another reason to clean hands regularly, after using the bathroom and before eating.

Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following or see chart in Q13:

• Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or, if you don’t have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

You can also see these videos from UNICEF for clarifications on effective ways to wash your hands:

https://www.refugees-lebanon.org/en/news/275/infor...

• Maintain at least 1 meter distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
  Why? When someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
  Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

• Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately in the garbage bin.
  Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

The risk of infection is higher in areas where a number people have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The outbreak started in China, but since February 2020, there have been an increase of cases reported from many other countries all over the world. If you have the symptoms described above and have recently (within 14 days) travelled to area country where there are many COVID -19 cases reported, or if you have been in contact with someone who has recently travelled to such an area or is confirmed having COVID -19, you might have COVID -19 and should call 76-592699 for information on what to do.

The countries currently reported with high cases of COVID-19 are: France, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Italy, Iran, China (Hong Kong, Macao, Chinese Taiwan) and South Korea.

No. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, they only work on bacterial infections, while COVID-19 is caused by a virus. Antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment of COVID-19. They should only be used as directed by a physician to treat a bacterial infection.

Not yet. To date, there is no vaccine and no specific antiviral medicine to prevent or treat COVID-2019. However, those affected should receive care to relieve symptoms. People with serious illness should be hospitalized. Most patients recover thanks to supportive care.

The WHO recommends the use of masks only for people who have symptoms of COVID-19 and for those caring for individuals who have symptoms.

The most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to frequently wash your hands, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue (and immediately throw the used tissue in a dustbin) and maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from people who are coughing or sneezing.

For more information on protective measures against COVID-19, please consult:

MoPH: https://www.moph.gov.lb/

WHO: https://www.who.int/ar/home

UNHCR: www.refugees-lebanon.org

You can also see these videos from UNICEF for clarifications on effective ways to wash your hands:

https://www.refugees-lebanon.org/en/news/275/infor...