ABARRA, JANINE L.

Coronavirus Disease: Origin, Prevention and Safety Tips

The 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID19) was first reported in Wuhan, China in 2019,
and has since spread worldwide, making it the fifth most recorded pandemic since the 1918
influenza pandemic. The first official case of COVID-19 was recorded on December 31, 2019.
At that time, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of a case of pneumonia in
Wuhan, China, of an unknown cause. On January 7, Chinese authorities identified a new
coronavirus, temporarily known as 2019nCoV, as the cause of these cases. A few weeks later, on
January 30, 2020, WHO declared that the rapidly expanding outbreak of COVID-19 was a public
health emergency of international concern. On February 11th of the following month, the official
name of the new coronavirus was COVID-19.
Coronavirus disease (COVID19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARSCoV2 virus.
Most people infected with the virus develop mild to moderate respiratory illnesses and recover
without the need for special treatment. However, some people become seriously ill and need to
see a doctor. Elderly people and people with underlying disorders such as cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, chronic respiratory illness, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
Anyone can become infected with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die at any age. The
virus can spread from the mouth and nose to small particles of liquid when an infected person
coughs, sneezes, talks, sings, or breathes. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets
to smaller aerosols.
There are important steps that can help protect you, your family, and others from the
spread of disease caused by COVID-19. The best way to prevent and slow transmission is to
know how diseases and viruses spread. Protect yourself and others from infection by maintaining
a distance of at least 1 meter from others, coughing with a bent elbow, wearing an appropriately
sized mask, washing your hands frequently, and using alcohol rub. When it’s your turn, get
vaccinated and follow local guidelines. It’s our shared responsibility to fight this disease. Learn
what COVID-19 is and follow prevention and safety tips to protect yourself and others.