You cannot turn on the tv, scroll through social media or walk in the street without been confronted with the reality of the world we are living in today – a world in which Coronavirus has become the leading headline and each day continues to claim more lives all over the globe. What is Coronavirus and what can you do to protect yourself and your loved ones?
What Is COVID-19?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory infections. These can range from the common cold to more serious diseases.
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new form of coronavirus. It was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan City in China.
How It Spreads
The virus can spread from person to person through:
- close contact with an infectious person (including in the 24 hours before they had symptoms)
- contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze
- touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables) that have droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face
COVID-19 is a new disease, so there is no existing immunity in our community. This means that COVID-19 could spread widely and quickly.
We can all help stop the spread of virus by practicing good hygiene and staying home. It is also recommended to
- cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue
- put used tissues straight into the bin
- wash your hands often with soap and water, including before and after eating and after going to the toilet
- use alcohol-based hand sanitisers
- avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces such as benchtops, desks and doorknobs
- clean and disinfect frequently used objects such as mobile phones, keys, wallets and work passes
- increase the amount of fresh air available by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning
Symptoms of Coronavirus
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever (temperatures of 38 degrees C) and a cough. With the colder weather fast approaching it is easy to confuse flu and cold symptoms with Coronavirus. The following published by the Department of Health can help you identify if you need to seek further medical attention
Do I Need To Get Tested For COVID-19?
Australia has been target testing rather than wide spread testing and there is a general criteria other than having fever and a cough. This includes:
- have returned from overseas in the last 14 days
- been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
- travelled on a cruise ship in the 14 days before developing symptoms
- are a healthcare, aged care or residential care worker
- live in an area where there is a higher risk of community transmission such as Sydney, Melbourne and south-east Queensland
Where To Get Help
You don’t need to leave home to seek medical attention unless you have severe symptoms such as breathing difficulties. In this case you should call triple-0 for urgent medical help.
Otherwise, you can call the National Coronavirus Helpline for further information on 1800 020 080. It’s operating 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
At Elm rd we offer a bulk billed Telehealth consultation service if you are concerned and will like to discuss further