The difference between coronavirus and the flu
How To Avoid Catching or Spreading Coronavirus
In these times of uncertainty and to stay safe from contracting coronavirus, we’ve compiled a short blog to help you navigate through these difficult days.
Do
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- always wash your hands when you get home or into work
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
- try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
Don’t
- do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
How to self-isolate if you’re asked to
Self-isolating is where you are asked to stay indoors away from other people if there’s a chance you might have coronavirus.
This means you should:
- stay at home
- not go to work, school or public places
- not use public transport or taxis
- ask friends, family members or delivery services to do errands for you
- try to avoid visitors to your home – it's OK for friends, family or delivery drivers to drop off food
You may need to do this for up to 14 days to help reduce the possible spread of infection.
Some symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, overlap with those of the common cold, allergies, and the flu. That can make it tricky to diagnose without a test.
The coronavirus primarily affects the lungs and commonly causes a fever, a dry cough, and shortness of breath.
Here are the symptoms associated with COVID-19 and how they compare with symptoms of the common cold, the flu, and allergies:
If your nose is running, you probably don't have COVID-19
COVID-19 can be most easily distinguished from colds, allergies, and the flu based on a trifecta of symptoms: fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. That last symptom is not associated with colds or the flu, though it is common for allergies.
What are the symptoms this coronavirus causes?
The virus can cause pneumonia. Those who have fallen ill are reported to suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties. In severe cases there can be organ failure. As this is viral pneumonia, antibiotics are of no use. The antiviral drugs we have against flu will not work. Recovery depends on the strength of the immune system. Many of those who have died were already in poor health.
According to the World Health Organization, common signs include fever, coughing, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and death.
Symptoms range from mild to severe and may occur anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
If you feel sick now, it’s possible you might have the common cold or flu (both have similar symptoms to COVID-19). The only way to tell if you have the disease is to test for it — although there’s more reason to think you do if you’re in the higher risk group.
Those at high risk include people over 60 who also have serious long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or lung disease, Nancy Messonnier, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during a press briefing. People who smoke or vape may also have worse outcomes, according to New York City officials.
Coronavirus cases usually have some context.
If you think you have the coronavirus. doctors may well ask you questions like this:
- Have you travelled recently, and if so, where?
- Have you had anybody in your home or had a workmate or schoolmate who’s traveled? Where did they go?
- Have you had anybody in your home from areas where the outbreak is most concentrated?
- Have you been on a cruise ship?
- Do you live near an area where there’s an outbreak?
It is a worrying time for a lot of people, however, if you follow the government guidelines and use the advice in this blog, you will be taking the necessary steps to stay healthy.
Please share this blog with those that you know might benefit from the advice.
Thanks,
The Coda Team