12/22/22, 10:15 AM Background to Coronavirus (COVID-19) — ICM Anaesthesia COVID-19

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Supply Disruption Alert: Propofol for infusion and injection

Background to
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
In late December 2019 a new (novel) coronavirus was
identified in China causing severe respiratory disease
including pneumonia. It was originally named Novel
Coronavirus and The World Health Organization (WHO)
advised the following language associated with the virus.
The virus causing the infection has been named - severe
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The disease caused as a result of infection is named -

coronavirus disease (COVID-19). COVID-19 has been
categorised as an airborne High Consequence Infections
Disease.

SARS-CoV-2 is spreading between people globally and can

be seen on the WHO situation reports dashboard which is
updated daily.

There are now vaccinations available. As a viral infection,

antibiotics are not an effective treatment.

Symptoms include:

• fever, fatigue, a loss or change to sense of smell or

taste and dry cough is likely in the early stage of
illness, however some patients may not progress to
more severe illness.
• dyspnoea is said to be common in hospitalised
patients, while vital signs are reported to be generally
stable at the time of admission. Older patients with an
underlying health condition are more likely to progress
to severe infection
• a variety of abnormalities may be expected on chest X
Rays, but bilateral lung infiltrates appear to be

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12/22/22, 10:15 AM Background to Coronavirus (COVID-19) — ICM Anaesthesia COVID-19

common, similar to what is seen with other types of

viral pneumonia.

ICM Anaesthesia COVID-19

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