Coronavirus trivia: 93 facts about this year’s outbreak

In 2020, a public health emergency emerged. This emergency is due to the coronavirus.

So let’s find out some trivia and facts about this virus and the health concerns it has raised.

1. The 2019- 20 coronavirus outbreak is an ongoing public health emergency of international concern involving coronavirus disease 2019
2. It is caused by SARS-CoV-2
3. It was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
4. As of 3 March 2020, more than 92,200 cases have been confirmed
5. Of which, 8,000 (8.8%) were classified as serious
6. More than 77 countries and territories have been affected
7. With major outbreaks in Central China, South Korea, Italy and Iran
8. More than 3,100 people have died
9. 2,900 in Mainland China
10. And almost 200 in other countries
11. More than 48,200 people have recovered
12. The virus primarily spreads between people in a similar way to influenza
13. It spreads via respiratory droplets produced during coughing or sneezing
14. The time between exposure and symptom onset is typically five days
15. But this may range from two to fourteen days
16. Symptoms may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath
17. Complications may include pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome
18. There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment
19. Though there is an ongoing research for a medicine to be found
20. These efforts are aimed at managing symptoms and supportive therapy
21. Recommended preventive measures include hand washing, maintaining distance from people who are sick, and monitoring and self-isolation for fourteen days if an individual suspects they are infected
22. Public health responses in China and around the world have included travel restrictions, quarantines, and curfews
23. These have included the lockdown of Hubei and various curfew measures in China, the quarantine of British cruise ship Diamond Princess in Japanese waters, as well as lockdowns in Italy
24. Some airports and train stations have instituted screening methods such as temperature checks and health declaration forms
25. Several countries have issued advisories warning against travel to regions with ongoing community transmission, such as Central China, Italy and Iran
26. Wider concerns about consequences of the outbreak include political and economic instability
27. They have also included xenophobia and racism against people of Chinese and East Asian descent
28. Also, the spread of misinformation about the virus, primarily online
29. As of 3 March 2020, more than 92,200 cases have been confirmed worldwide
30. More than 86% of them have been in mainland China
31. In late December 2019, a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown cause was reported by health authorities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China
32. The initial cases mostly had links to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market and consequently
33. The virus is thought to have a zoonotic origin
34. The virus that caused the outbreak is known as SARS-CoV-2
35. It is a new virus which is closely related to bat coronaviruses, pangolin coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-1
36. The earliest reported symptoms occurred on 1 December 2019
37. It was a person who had not had any exposure to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market or to the remaining 40 of the first cluster detected with the new virus
38. Of this first cluster, two-thirds were found to have a link with the market, which also sold live animals
39. The WHO declared the outbreak to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January
40. The time from development of symptoms of COVID-19 and death has been shown to range between 6 and 41 days, with a median of 14 days
41. As of 3 March 2020, more than 3,100 deaths have been attributed to COVID-19
42. According to China’s NHC, most of those who died were older patients
43. About 80% of deaths recorded were from those over the age of 60
44. 75% had pre-existing health conditions including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes
45. The first confirmed death was 9 January 2020 in Wuhan
46. The first death outside China occurred in the Philippines
47. The first death outside Asia was in Paris
48. As of 28 February 2020, outside of mainland China, more than a dozen deaths have been recorded in each of Iran, South Korea, and Italy
49. Deaths have also been reported in North America and Australia
50. Those infected may either be asymptomatic or develop symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, or muscle pain
51. A WHO review of 55,924 laboratory-confirmed cases in China indicated the following typical signs and symptoms: fever (87.9% of cases), dry cough (67.7%), fatigue (38.1%), sputum production (33.4%), shortness of breath (18.6%), sore throat (13.9%), headache (13.6%), muscle pain or joint pain (14.8%), chills (11.4%), nausea or vomiting (5.0%), nasal congestion (4.8%), diarrhea (3.7%), hemoptysis (0.9%) and conjunctival congestion (0.8%)
52. The primary mode of transmission is through human-to-human transmission via respiratory droplets that people exhale
53. Such as coughing or sneezing
54. Furthermore, these droplets can fall on surfaces
55. Including tables, telephones and desks
56. People are able to catch the COVID-19 virus if they touch a surface that has been contaminated by the virus, and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth
57. The WHO is assessing whether asymptomatic transmission and fecal transmission are important transmission modes
58. Droplets transmitting coronaviruses only stay suspended in the air for a short time
59. Disinfection of surfaces is possible with substances such as 62-71% ethanol applied for one minute
60. The WHO has published several testing protocols for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
61. Testing uses real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR)
62. The test can be done on respiratory or blood samples
63. Results are generally available within a few hours to days
64. A person is considered to be at risk of having COVID-19 if they have travelled to an area with ongoing community transmission within the previous fourteen days or has had close contact with an infected individual
65. Common key indicators include fever, coughing and shortness of breath
66. Other possible indicators include fatigue, myalgia, anorexia, sputum production and sore throat
67. An alternative method of diagnosis is based on clinical presentation such as looking for visual signature patterns of COVID-19 in CT scans of the lungs
68. Signs of pneumonia may precede confirmation of COVID-19 infection through RT-PCR
69. Individuals have been asked by health authorities to maintain good hygiene to prevent further transmission of the virus
70. Such as by washing hands when appropriate, avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, coughing/sneezing into a tissue and putting the tissue directly into a dustbin and wearing a surgical mask if you think you will be coughing or sneezing in public
71. Those who may already be infected are advised to stay at home except to get medical care, call ahead before visiting a healthcare provider, wear a face mask (especially in public), cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, regularly wash hands with soap and water, and avoid sharing personal household items
72. Hand washing is recommended to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus
73. The CDC recommends that individuals wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
74. Especially after going to the toilet or when hands are visibly dirty, before eating and after blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing
75. It further recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are not readily available
76. The WHO also advise individuals to avoid touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
77. Health bodies recommended that individuals cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing or with a sleeve if a tissue is not available
78. The use of surgical masks by those who may be infected has also been recommended
79. As they can limit the volume and travel distance of expiatory droplets dispersed when talking, sneezing, and coughing
80. The WHO issued best practices for the use of masks in home and health care environments
81. Including that they be securely tied to minimize gaps between the face and mask itself, that masks should be replaced when they become damp or humid, that the user should not touch the front of the mask when removing it, washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer after removal or if a used mask is touched, and that single-use masks be disposed immediately after they are removed, and not reused
82. There is no evidence to show that the wearing of surgical masks by uninfected persons at low risk is effective
83. Only China has specifically recommended the use of masks by healthy members of the public
84. While face masks have been widely used by healthy people in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore
85. There are no vaccines currently available but several organisations around the world are developing vaccines
86. In China, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) and Shanghai East Hospital are developing vaccines
87. In Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong is developing vaccines
88. The Norwegian Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is funding three vaccine projects and hopes to have a vaccine in trials by June 2020, and approved and ready in a year
89. The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is hoping for human trials of a vaccine by April 2020
90. There are no specific antiviral medication, though development efforts are underway
91. Attempts to relieve the symptoms may include taking regular (over-the-counter) cold medications, drinking fluids, and resting
92. Depending on the severity, oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, and breathing support may be required
93. Some countries require people to report flu-like symptoms to their doctor, especially if they have visited mainland China