It is very important for us to be informed about how COVID-19 (sometimes referred to as coronavirus or novel coronavirus) works in order to prevent it from spreading. The wrong information and misleading data can be harmful and even deadly — and there is a lot of it out there — so we must educate ourselves and each other in order to protect ourselves and each other.
So how can we recognize what information is fact and what isn’t? The most effective way to find reliable data is to look for official sources. We collected some of the most important facts about this disease and how it spreads, as well as guidance about how to prevent you and your family from getting infected.
Don’t get caught slippin’. Get the facts.
Based on what we know now, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 are:
Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications
Source, Coronavirus: Why has the virus hit African Americans so hard? By Aleem Maqbool BBC News, Washington
FACT: COVID-19 can be spread just by breathing and talking
The virus that causes COVID-19, can live in the air and on surfaces between several hours and several days. The study found that the virus is viable for up to 72 hours on plastics, 48 hours on stainless steel, 24 hours on cardboard, and 4 hours on copper. It is also detectable in the air for three hours.
The virus can also be spread when an uninfected person touches a surface that has the virus on it, and then touching their face. The virus can then be spread through your nose, mouth or even eyes.
That said, the new coronavirus is a respiratory virus known to spread by upper respiratory secretions, including airborne droplets after coughing or sneezing. The virus that causes COVID-19 has also been detected in the stool of certain people. So we currently cannot rule out the possibility of the infection being transmitted through food by an infected person who has not thoroughly washed their hands. In the case of hot food, the virus would likely be killed by cooking. This may not be the case with uncooked foods like salads or sandwiches.
The primary and most important mode of transmission for COVID-19 is through close contact from person-to-person; thus, it is important to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other people.
The cough from someone healthy expels droplets farther than someone who is sick. However, it stands to reason if an asymptomatic carrier of the coronavirus coughs, those germs will be expelled much farther than someone sick with the virus. This is why wearing a mask, even if you don’t feel sick, is important. Cloth face coverings provide a layer of protection and make it more difficult for droplets to travel from you to others and from others to you. A mask, even if it’s not an N95, prevents droplets from getting into the air and reduces the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Here are a few face mask precautions:
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This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19. If you suspect you may have Coronavirus, call your health care professional right away.
Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
Louisiana Department of Health warns about Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs.
It is not always easy to tell these two diseases apart without a test. Your doctor may recommend a test for the flu if you have symptoms. As of April, flu transmission has tapered off in most areas of the United States
It’s important that our communities are informed and equipped with the facts in order for us to STOP the spread of this Virus. Share this information with your family and friends through all of your networks! It could mean the difference between LIFE and DEATH!