How to protect yourself against the new coronavirus (COVID-19)? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses with some causing less-severe disease, such as the common cold, and others more severe disease such as MERS and SARS. The virus was confirmed that it can transmit easily from person to person. Symptoms of the virus include fever and cough, and some people should have difficulty breathing. The symptoms appear to set in at some point between two days and two weeks after the person has been exposed to the virus.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) washing hands frequently and social distancing are the most effective protection against coronavirus.
Since the outbreak emerged in the Chinese province of Hubei in December 2019. Death toll from the COVID-19 has increased on Saturday to reach 2,933 cases and infected more than 85,409 people around the globe. Some 39,692 cases have recovered.
The vast majority of deaths were reported in the Chinese province of Hubei reaching 2,727 deaths out of 79,251 confirmed cases in China.
Coronavirus myths
Since the outbreak started a lot of myths have been circulating. Daily News Egypt breaks down those myths according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus? No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria.
Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus? No. Hand dryers are not effective in killing the 2019-nCoV. To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.
How effective are thermal scanners in detecting people infected with the new coronavirus?
Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people who have developed a fever (i.e. have a higher than normal body temperature) because of infection with the new coronavirus.
However, they cannot detect people who are infected but are not yet sick with fever. This is because it takes between 2 and 10 days before people who are infected become sick and develop a fever.
Can eating garlic help prevent infection with the new coronavirus?
Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties. However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus.
