Introduction
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the virus strain Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Worldwide spread of the disease began for the first time in 2019 and has developed into the ongoing 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.
Epidemiology of the virus
Health authorities in Wuhan, Hubei, China, reported a cluster of viral pneumonia cases of unknown cause on 31 December 2019, and an investigation was launched in early January 2020. The virus that caused the outbreak is known as SARS‑CoV‑2, a newly discovered virus closely related to bat coronaviruses, pangolin coronaviruses, and SARS-CoV.
The earliest known person with symptoms was later discovered to have fallen ill on 1 December 2019, and that person did not have visible connections with the later wet market cluster. Of the early cluster of cases reported in December 2019, two-thirds were found to have a link with the market. On 13 March 2020, an unverified report from the South China Morning Post suggested a case traced back to 17 November 2019, in a 55-year-old from Hubei, may have been the first.
Basic protective measures against the new coronavirus
Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority.
- Stay Home as much as possible
if you have symptoms or sick don’t go to work or school, seek medical care immediately. - Keep a safe distance from people around you
try to keep at least 1.5metres away and wear a mask. - Wash your hands with soap regularly
for at least 20 seconds, using soap & water or alcohol-based sanitizer gel. - Cover your nose & mouth when you cough or sneeze
with your bent elbow or a tissue, then throw it away. - Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth
with unwashed hands as well as disinfect surfaces, handles, knobs and other places touched often. - Follow the directions of health authorities
call the respective hotline to find out more information or report a case or medical emergency
To learn more on how to better protect your self, visit the World Health Organization website.