13 Current Questions of Coronavirus - Answered by Experts
There is still a lot of confusion around Covid-19. Here are some helpful answers from the experts.
Among the many difficulties presented by thecoronavirus pandemic is the uncertainty and confusion that came with it. For the most part, people around the world responded remarkably responsible, stay at home and practicing safe social distance designed to effectively curb contagion. But for many, staying at home means consuming a seriously high news volume - and the lack of clear information about certain basic coronavirus issues can be, sometimes frustrating and frightening.
So we looked at the experts of this pandemicAnthony Fauci, MD, theHead of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseasesand disease control and prevention centers (CDC) - for the most recent responses to part of theBasic coronavirus faq You need an answer. Unfortunately, there are still things that we do not know definitively, but these facts will give you some clarity during this very frightening period.
1 Is coronavirus airborne?
There have been a lot of recent debates as toThat coronavirus is urban or not. And although medical experts are still trying to go to the merits of that, heavy told that this is not the main way of the virus. The main channel Covid-19 is transmitted is through droplets, that is to say. The saliva or nasal mucus that could land on you if you stand close to an infected person who coughed or sneezed.
"Covid-19 can spread by droplets and even by what we call the aerosol, which means that the drop does not go immediately [in the air]. He hangs a little. So you can enter a room that thinks everything agrees, then you inspire it, "said FauciTrevor Noahon the 26th March episode ofNoah at homeEveryday life. "This is probably not the main way. The main way is probably droplets."
2 How long does it last on difficult surfaces?
Scientists from National Institutes of Health (NIH), CDC, UCLA and Princeton University led a recent study that determined thatCovid-19 lasts every three hours to three days on a multitude of surfaces, depending on the material. They discovered that coronavirus can live on plastic and stainless steel up to three days, on cardboard and paper until a day and copper for four hours.
3 Is it prudent to receive packages?
Many people have worried about whether, it is prudent to touch their mailboxes or cardboard. And while the above-mentioned study notes that Covid-19 can stay on paper and cardboard for 24 hours, the fauci again says not to worry about this type of contraction.
"I do not think we have to be completely obsessed with the parcels that enter, because these types of surfaces ... the virus could live very little time," said that Fauci a Noah. "But people say," Should I get a package of a grocery store that says "made in China"? "I will not worry about that. This is not the question."
4 Should everyday people wear masks?
When the coronavirus pandemic has begun, medical experts have warned the public of storage masks to avoid creating a shortage among public health workers. It is unlikely thatcarry a mask in public Keep one of the contagion, but it probably retains the virus to spread if you are positive for Covid-19.
Whether civilians should or will not begin to wear masks is a topic currently discussed among the CDC experts. "The CDC group examines very carefully," said FauciCnnJim SciuttoMarch 31st.
"The thing that inhibited that a little is to make sure we do not prevent the offer of health workers' masks that need it," said Fuci. "But once we have had a situation where we have enough masks, I think there will be a very serious consideration about moreExpand this recommendation to use masks. We are not there yet, but I think we are close to come to some determination. "
5 If I have symptoms of Covid-19, should I go to the emergency room?
In short, not before talking to a doctor. "If anyone is right nowPseudo-influenza symptomsA fever, pain and a little cough - the first thing you do is to stay at home "Fauci said in a live interview Instagram With NBA StarSteph Curry. "Do not go to the emergency room because you could infect others. Take the phone with a doctor, nurse or health care provider. Get instructions from them what to do. ... but The critical problem is not flooding emergency rooms. "
6 How can I be tested for Covid-19?
If you are truly preoccupied by your health, as He Fauci says, theCDC suggestsYou first contact your primary care doctor for test options. If this is not an option, contact local health authorities or online status or telephone. The truth is, notEveryone with symptoms of COVID-19 must be tested to the right of the bat. Depending on where you live, theCoronavirus test Can be easily available or in the event of a shortage, it can be held for health workers and civil servants.
7 Are young people at risk of becoming coronavirus?
Yes, the elderly and compromised immunized communities areat greater risk. But the coronavirus also takes victims of almost all ages, so be young is not less vulnerable to Covid-19. "We are starting to see young individuals in the thirties and their 40s who have no underlying condition that predisposed them to complications that become very serious seriously ill, requiring intensive care," said Fauci CNN.
"Greatly, it's still seniors and people with underlying conditions," he added. "But it's one of the ways we do to younger people. Do not think you are exempt from a serious illness not only, but because you can spread infection."
Fuci spoke more coronavirus and young people in his interview with Noah. "Even if you are young, you're not absolutely invulnerable," he said. He added that even if young people can not become seriously ill because of COVID-19, "you can infect another person, who then infect a vulnerable person, who would die. ... You come home, you Infects grandmother, grandfather and your sick uncle. So you have a responsibility not only to protect you, but you have almost a societal and moral responsibility to protect others. "
8 Are malaria drugs such as hydroxychloroquine, a cure against coronavirus?
There have been several reports that malaria drugs, such asHydroxychloroquine would be the panacea to heal the world of Covid-19. These drugs have had anecdotal advantages in some people, but as strong in its interview with CNN, it is not proven clinical studies.
"There is no definitive evidence that it works," said Fuci. "If you want to go back to science and look at the data, you need a controlled test to definitely define something work. And we did not have that with these medications."
In his interview with Noah, Fauci added: "There are a number of clinical trials that are trying - through randomized control tests, get a definitive answer to what works and what [not] ... There are drugs already approved for other things, such as malaria hydroxychloroquine and for some autoimmune diseases, there have been anecdotal stories. By "anecdatalal", I mean that people think they work, but they did not really prove they work. It's really internet work. So people have been very enthusiastic for general, these drugs seem to be safe and they are, but they have toxicities. "
In simple terms, Fauci said: "There is no proven direct, safe and effective therapy for coronavirus disease." And although there is hope that something like hydroxychloroquine could finally work, it's not proven yet and it's not something we can expect will change at any time.
9 What does this mean "flattening the curve"?
"Flattelling of the curve" is a term that you may have heard about many times. The "curve" refers to theProjected number of people who will contract COVID-19Over a period of time, LiveScience Notes. If the curve is steep, it means that the virus spreads exponentially - infecting exponentially to all those who can be infected and then abandon quickly. But the more the curve increases, the faster the health system, the health system is overloaded and can not meet the needs of patients. But with a plus flat curve, the same number of people can finally be infected with COVID-19, but over a longer period of time, allowing the health system to effectively process patients.
And once we are on the other side of this curve, it is when life can go back to normal. "You have to see the trajectory of the curve start down," said Curry Fauci. "We have seen that in China, they climbed from top to bottom [and now] they start back to normal life. They must be careful that they do not reintroduce the virus, but they are on the other end of the curve. "
10 How long will be the last quarantine?
Of course, no one can predict the future. What we know, however, is thatThe main guidelines to stay at homeFor 15 days, in the hope that the growth of the epidemic would be under control. But it was not enough time. PresidentDonald Trump Announced last weekend that he extended the directives of self-distancing and home at home until the end of April. But even in the case scenario, it seems to be a long wait that everything would come back to normal before April 30th.
The "curves" in hot spots like the city of New York, the state of Washington and New Orleans still have not culminated, and the experts strongly suggest that new hotspots will soon cover through the nation. Hope, of course, is that social distancing policies in areas that are not yet hot make outbreak in the communities of these latter attacks at a much simpler and healthier rate. But no one knows certainly.
11 Would a second wave of coronaviruses be bad as the first as the first?
There is a growing concern of a "second wave" of Covid-19 which can be worse than this current first wave. Fauci told CNN that "there is a reasonably good chance that we [see a second wave] given the omnipresence of this infection and transmissibility". But, the good news is, he does not think that a second wave would also be bad because "we have other things in our favor. We have better equipment, we will be able to better treat."
12 Once infected, are you immune to be again Covid-19 again?
There is no certainty, but if you get sick once of coronavirus, it is unlikely that you recover it. "We do not know that for 100% some ... but I feel really confident that if this virus acts like all the viruses we know, once you are infected, get better, delete the virus, then you Will have an immunity that will protect you from reinfection, "said Fauci." So it's never 100%, but I would be ready to bet that people who recover are really protected against reinfection. "
13 How long does it take to develop a vaccine?
As the fact that Fuci told Curry, the complete process for the development of vaccines takes about one year or a year and a half. Depending on Fauci, the first phase of vaccine tests takes three to four months and the second takes eight months, totaling one year to a year and a half. "The first thing to do is to make sure that it is for sure. When you find out that it is safe and induces the type of answer you want, then you do it in many people," said Fauci . "The first trial is, like, 45 people. Then you go in hundreds, if not thousands of people. That's what takes the eight more months ... If we really grow, we hope we will know when we go to the next winter, that we have something that works. "