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What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a virus called the SARS-CoV-2. This is a coronavirus which is common and usually causes infection in our nose, throat or sinuses.SARS-CoV-2 is one of seven types of coronavirus, that cause severe diseases like Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The other coronaviruses cause most of the colds that affect us during the year but aren’t a serious threat for otherwise healthy people.

The Start of COVID-19

The COVID-19 has been initially reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) in December 2019 but was declared an outbreak and a global health emergency on January 2020. This outbreak was first reported in Wuhan, China. By this time, WHO issued a comprehensive package of the technical guidance online on how to properly detect, test and manage the cases based on what was known and observed that time.

On January 13, 2020, the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Thailand. The person who acquired COVID-19 was a traveler from Wuhan, China and was hospitalized on January 8 of the same year. It was the first ever recorded case outside China. It was also during this time when WHO published the first protocol for RT-PCR assay by a WHO partner laboratory to diagnose the coronavirus. On January 15, the Japanese Ministry of Health has confirmed another positive case of COVID-19 who travelled to Wuhan. On January 21, the first ever case in the WHO Region of the Americas was first recorded. The first confirmed cases in the WHO European region (EURO) was reported by France on January 24. On January 29, The United Arab Emirates reported the first cases in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. On January 30, there were already 98 confirmed cases and no deaths in the 18 countries outside China. The first dispatch of RT-PCR lab diagnostic kits were shipped to WHO Regional Offices on February 2. The case in Egypt was the first on the African continent that was reported on February 25. Due to the alarming levels of spread of COVID-19, WHO made an assessment and categorized COVID-19 as pandemic.

The first suspected case in the Philippines was on January 22 who happened to be a couple. Six hundred thirty three others suspected cases were reported on March 1. The patients were healthy Chinese nationals who were on a vacation in the Philippines. The patients were admitted in San Lazaro Hospital and were confirmed positive by the PCR test. The man, who was identified as the 2nd confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Philippines, deteriorated and had a cardiac arrest, resulting to his death. This was the 1st COVID-19 death outside China.

Signs and Symptoms

As signs and symptoms may vary depending on every person, here are some of the common signs and symptoms to look out for. This includes:

Most common symptoms:

•fever

•cough

•tiredness

•loss of taste or smell

Less common symptoms:

•sore throat

•headache

•aches and pains

•diarrhea (in some cases)

•a rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes

•red or irritated eyes

Serious symptoms:

•difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

•loss of speech or mobility, or confusion

•chest pain

If you have one of the symptoms mentioned above, seek immediate medical attention and have yourself tested for COVID-19.

Prevention and Management

In order to prevent infection and surge in the transmission of the disease, everyone of us must know our own responsibility. Here are some prevention and precautionary measures that one should follow:

•Get vaccinated if the vaccine is available. COVID-19 vaccines are effective. Vaccines mimic the virus or bacteria that causes disease and triggers the body’s creation of antibodies. These antibodies will provide protection once a person is infected with the actual disease-causing virus or bacteria.

•Maintain social distancing, at least 1 meter away from each other, especially in crowded places even if others appear healthy.

•Wash hands regularly with soap and water. When outside or away from home and there is no available water supply, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rubs.

•Wear a properly fitted mask at all times especially in poorly ventilated and crowded areas.

•Stay at home and refrain from going out if possible.

•If you feel sick, stay at home, self-isolate and submit yourself for a test.