The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.

A coronavirus outbreak began in China but is rapidly spreading around the globe, and

on March 11th, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION declared COVID-19 as a Pandemic.

Every case of COVID-19, leads to roughly two point three new cases, meaning the outbreak

is still spreading The causative agent for this outbreak is named

as SARS-CoV-2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome- Coronavirus 2

According to WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, as of March 17th, 2020, there has been one lakh

eighty-two thousand six hundred and twenty-nine cases of COVID-19, and seven thousand one

hundred and sixty one deaths.

At such time, we must see that about twenty-six percent of the patients have recovered, and

most of the patients will recover soon.

Patients are discharged after clinical recovery with no symptoms and two negative PCR tests

taken twenty four hours apart.

Upon discharge, they are asked to minimize family and social contact and to wear a mask.

In China, the overall CFR was higher in the early stages of the outbreak, which is seventeen

point three percent, which reduced over time to point seven percent by February 1st.

But with time, better equipment, testing, precautionary measures, and an overall improvement

in the standard of care, the fatality rate reduced significantly.

This means that with proper control the condition can be stabalized

Also, we must note that the mortality rate for COVID-19 differs by groups; that is, if

we consider different age groups, then the fatality rate is relatively lower for individuals

below 60 years; however, the fatality rate climbs up for the elderly.

So the highest risk group is individuals above 60 years.

Also, it has been noted that individuals with hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases,

chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer show a high fatality rate compared to healthy individuals.

Usually, the elderly group suffers from one or more of these conditions.

The goal right now is to “flatten the curve” Yes, it would potentially prolong the epidemic.

But in doing so, public health agencies and the health care infrastructure gain precious

time to respond to the crisis.

Most importantly, “flattening the curve” provides an opportunity to reduce deaths from

COVID-19 significantly.

Social distancing measures like self-isolation, sanitization, closure of schools or workplaces,

and reduction in person to person contact will help in flattening the curve.

Meanwhile, it is crucial to have a highly sensitive and accurate Diagnostic tool, that

will help us to catch every single case of COVID-19.

Ten kits based on RT-PCR, isothermal amplification, virus sequencing, and colloidal gold activity

are being widely used for detection.

Serological diagnostics are rapidly being developed but are not yet widely used

Proper detection would mean that fewer COVID-19 patients are sent back home to suffer from

the disease, and eventually spread it to others.

Currently, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION published a draft of forty one candidate vaccines in

pre-clinical trials.

Also today, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle is conducting

a human trial funded by the National Institutes of Health.

It includes forty five young, healthy volunteers who will receive different doses of the vaccine

that was co-developed by the NIH and Moderna.

A covid 19 patient after recovery can have blood drawn and screened for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing

antibodies.

This serum can be used as a vaccine for high-risk group, or as a treatment measure.

With many patients recovering from the disease, this treatment method may be successful.

Typical signs and symptoms include fever, dry cough, fatigue, sputum production, shortness

of breath, sore throat, headache, myalgia or arthralgia, chills, nausea or vomiting,

nasal congestion, diarrhea, hemoptysis, and conjunctival congestion.

Please get diagnosed if you suffer from these symptoms and Stay safe