Health

FAQs – All your Coronavirus (COVID-19) questions and answers

Question: Can humans become infected with COVID-19 of animal source?

Answer: Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans in China in 2002 and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Several known COVID-19 are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans. As surveillance improves around the world, more COVID-19 are likely to be identified.

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Question: What are the symptoms of someone infected with Coronavirus ?

Answer: It depends on the virus, but common signs include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

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Question: Can COVID-19 be transmitted from person to person?

Answer: Yes, some COVID-19 can be transmitted from person to person, usually after close contact with an infected patient, for example, in a household workplace, or health care centre.

Question: Is there a vaccine for a novel Coronavirus ?

Answer: When a disease is new, there is no vaccine until one is developed. It can take a number of years for a new vaccine to be developed.

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Question: Is there a treatment for a COVID-19?

Answer: There is no specific treatment for disease caused by a COVID-19. However, many of the symptoms can be treated and therefore treatment based on the patient’s clinical condition. Moreover, supportive care for infected persons can be highly effective.

Question: What can I do to protect myself?

Answer: Standard recommendations to reduce exposure to and transmission of a range of illnesses include maintaining basic hand and respiratory hygiene, and safe food practices and avoiding close contact, when possible, with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

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Question: Are health workers at risk from a Coronavirus ?

Answer: Yes, they can be, as health care workers come into contact with patients more often than the general public WHO recommends that health care workers consistently apply appropriate infection prevention and control measures.

Question: What is the country doing to prevent the virus from entering the country?

Intense surveillance for suspected severe acute respiratory infections to be picked and tested for confirmation.

Public Health preparedness plans have been prepared and ready to be activated in the event of a pandemic in line with the International Health Regulations (2005).

Risk communication activities have been planned and aspects of it has started such as granting radio and TV interviews and port education on the virus.

Source: Ghana Health Service