NCC Officers' Training Academy
GWALIOR (Est 1965)
COVID-19
Overview
COVID-19 is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. It usually spreads between people in close contact.
Key facts
- COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus. The most common symptoms are fever, chills, and sore throat, but there are a range of others.
- Most people make a full recovery without needing hospital treatment. People with severe symptoms should seek medical care as soon as possible.
- Over 760 million cases and 6.9 million deaths have been recorded worldwide since December 2019, but the actual number is thought to be higher.
- Over 13 billion vaccine doses have been administered as of June 2023.
Cause of COVID-19
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can affect people and animals. They can cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.
- SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus, meaning it is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.
- COVID-19 is caused by infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Symptoms of COVID-19
People may experience different symptoms from COVID-19. Symptoms usually begin 5–6 days after exposure and last 1–14 days.
The most common symptoms are:
- fever
- chills
- sore throat.
Less common symptoms are:
- muscle aches and heavy arms or legs
- severe fatigue or tiredness
- runny or blocked nose, or sneezing
- headache
- sore eyes
- dizziness
- new and persistent cough
- tight chest or chest pain
- shortness of breath
- hoarse voice
- numbness or tingling
- appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhoea
- loss or change of sense of taste or smell
- difficulty sleeping.
People with the following symptoms should seek immediate medical attention:
- difficulty breathing, especially at rest, or unable to speak in sentences
- confusion
- drowsiness or loss of consciousness
- persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- skin being cold or clammy, or turning pale or a bluish colour
- loss of speech or movement.
People who have pre-existing health problems are at higher risk when they have COVID-19; they should seek medical help early if worried about their condition. These include people taking immunosuppressive medication; those with chronic heart, lung, liver or rheumatological problems; those with HIV, diabetes, cancer. obesity or dementia.
People with severe disease and those needing hospital treatment should receive treatment as soon as possible. The consequences of severe COVID-19 include death, respiratory failure, sepsis, thromboembolism (blood clots), and multiorgan failure, including injury of the heart, liver or kidneys.
In rare situations, children can develop a severe inflammatory syndrome a few weeks after infection.
Some people who have had COVID-19, whether they have needed hospitalization or not, continue to experience symptoms. These long-term effects are called long COVID (or post COVID-19 condition). The most common symptoms associated with long COVID include fatigue, breathlessness and cognitive dysfunction (for example, confusion, forgetfulness, or a lack of mental focus or clarity). Long COVID can affect a person’s ability to perform daily activities such as work or household chores.
Diagnosis of COVID-19
Diagnosis of COVID-19 typically involves:
- Clinical evaluation: Assessing symptoms and medical history.
- Laboratory testing:
- RT-PCR test: Detects the presence of viral RNA.
- Rapid antigen tests: Detect viral proteins.
- Antibody tests: Detect the presence of antibodies produced in response to the virus.
Treatment of COVID-19
Treatment for COVID-19 depends on the severity of the illness.
- Mild cases: Often managed at home with supportive care, such as rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Moderate to severe cases: May require hospitalization, oxygen therapy, and antiviral medications.
- Critical cases: May require intensive care, including mechanical ventilation.
Prevention and control
People should get vaccinated as soon as it’s their turn. They should follow local guidance on vaccination and ways to protect themselves against COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccines provide strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- avoid crowds and keep a safe distance from others, even if they don’t appear to be sick;
- wear a properly fitted mask if you feel sick, have been close to people who are sick, if you are at high-risk, or in crowded or poorly ventilated areas;
- clean your hands frequently with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
- cover your mouth and nose with a bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze;
- dispose of used tissues right away and clean your hands; and
- if you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, self-isolate until you recover.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is based on priority groups such as people aged 60 years and over, and those with underlying medical problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic health problems, immunosuppression (including HIV), obesity, cancer, pregnant persons, and unvaccinated people. In March 2023, WHO updated its recommendations on primary series vaccination (two doses of any vaccine) as well as the need for booster doses. These recommendations are time-limited and can change at any time depending on how the SARS-CoV-2 virus is circulating in your area or country. It is important to stay up to date with local guidelines and recommendations provided by your local health authority.
Since its introduction, COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives across the world by providing protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Even though vaccines protect against severe disease and death, it is still possible to spread SARS-CoV-2 to others after being vaccinated
WHO’s Stance on COVID-19
The World Health Organization is the global coordinating agency for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Organization works with Member States and partners on all aspects of the pandemic response, including facilitating research, developing guidance, coordinating vaccine development and distribution, and monitoring daily case numbers and trends around the world.
Since April 2020, the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, launched by WHO and partners, has supported the fastest, most coordinated, and successful global effort in history to develop tools to fight a disease. COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the ACT-Accelerator is a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.
WHO provides global coordination and member state support on vaccine safety monitoring. It developed the target product profiles for COVID-19 vaccines and provides R&D technical coordination.
WHO also leads work to improve global capacity and access to oxygen production, distribution and supply to patients.
Although WHO announced the end of the emergency phase of COVID-19 in May 2023, the Organization continues to coordinate the global response
