INFORMATION ABOUT CORONAVIRUS

What is the coronavirus?

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause symptoms ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). A new coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain of coronavirus that has not yet been identified in humans.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic, that is, they are transmitted from animals to humans. Detailed investigations have revealed that SARS-CoV is transmitted from civet to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary to humans. Several known coronaviruses that have not yet infected humans are circulating in some animals.

Common signs of infection are respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and dyspnea. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Standard recommendations for preventing the spread of infection include washing your hands regularly, covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and thoroughly cooking the meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone with symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

How did the coronavirus get started?

Many people around the world are watching the developments of a new virus that has appeared in central China and has reached several other countries, where it has infected thousands and has killed more than 213 people so far. Health officials, doctors, and researchers are seeking to contain the outbreak, according to a report by Time magazine.
And the health authorities in China announced that 9,692 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus nationwide by the end of Thursday, in addition to the death of 213 people, according to German Press Agency.
In just under a month, the Coronavirus triggered a series of events, from checking temperatures to airport travelers to closing affected cities. Below is a timetable showing how the virus has spread from one city to a health crisis that is being addressed on a global scale.

December 2019: Transfer from animal to human
Many people in Wuhan, the Chinese capital, and the largest city in Hubei Province, have reported symptoms caused by a virus that was later associated with the Huanan Seafood Market, which mainly sells fish and shellfish, but also sells other animals such as beavers and snakes. It is still not clear which animal specifically appeared in the Coronavirus.

January 7, 2020: Virus identified
The Chinese health authorities announced that they were able to isolate and identify the type of virus which is called «2019 in - Cove» and belongs to the family of coronaviruses, Which includes SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (a respiratory syndrome in the Middle East), and spread through droplets Airborne.

January 9, 2020: First death
Officials announced the first corona-related deaths in Wuhan on January 9, and so far about 213 people in China have been confirmed to have died from this virus. Although corona-related mortality is relatively low compared to SARS, it remains alarming.
Meanwhile, as people travel all over China, the virus spreads outside Hubei Province.

January 13 - 15, 2020: International injuries
Health officials in Thailand and Japan announced that they had confirmed their injuries, and were the first cases recorded outside China. The two countries have begun to examine anyone arriving from Wuhan.

January 7, 2020: Passenger inspection
The United States has started health airport checks for all travelers from Wuhan. Later, they began checking all travelers from China. 4 days later, on January 21, officials confirmed that a man in Washington State who had recently returned from Wuhan had contracted the new Coronavirus.

January 23, 2020: Isolate the city
Chinese officials have suspended travel from Wuhan, a city of more than 10 million people. It was followed by a travel ban in other cities in Hubei Province, affecting a total of about 50 million people.

January 24, 2020: Hospital overcrowding
In response to the growing number of patients in Wuhan, who are straining hospital staff and due to running out of medical supplies, the Chinese government has started construction of a new hospital with 1,000 beds and will start operating in the first week of February.
At the same time, public health experts are scrambling to find basic and necessary facts about this unprecedented virus, such as whether a person has been infected and has not shown symptoms capable of transmitting the disease to others.

January 30: What's next?
Given the fact that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes the transmission of the virus from one person to another in the country and the persistent rise of confirmed cases, scientists around the world are racing to develop anti-virus treatments and vaccines.

How to prepare for the coronavirus?

1. Wash your hands
This is the guideline that experts systematically quote first. You should regularly wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds. And this is particularly true before touching her face, explains Caroline Quach, professor of microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montreal.
If you don't have access to running water, you can use an alcoholic solution like Purell. However, if you have dirty hands, it will not be enough, says Ms. Quach. This is particularly the case when one has just wiped a child's nose. At this point, you should use a cleansing wipe to remove the mucus for effective disinfection.
2. Keep your distance
Another way to protect yourself from contaminated droplets and stay away from people coughing in public spaces. Ms. Quach recommends a distance of 1 to 2 meters.
"As soon as someone coughs near me, I change places," says Tatiana Scorza, a professor in the department of biological sciences at UQAM. It is also best to avoid touching ramps and poles on public transportation. "I never put my hand on it," says Ms. Scorza.

3. Get the flu shot
If you have not already done so, it may be a good idea to get the seasonal flu shot. This does not protect against coronavirus but can facilitate the work of hospitals. Reducing the number of cases you can control helps free up health officials for more complex cases, says Scorza.
It is, however, a little late for this vaccination, since many of the clinics dedicated to it close in January, recalls Ms. Quach. "But for those who manage to find one, it's a good idea. 

4. Buy Quebec
If you have the choice between food produced or processed in Quebec or that which comes from elsewhere, it is better to buy the Quebec product, says Stéphane Lacasse of the Association of Food Retailers (ADAQ). For example, a greenhouse tomato that has grown here will have traveled less than a tomato imported from abroad. There is less chance that the product has circulated in a contaminated place, he explains.
In addition, it is recommended to wash fruits and vegetables before eating them, said microbiologist Marc Hamilton on QUB-radio on Wednesday.

5. Stay at home if you have symptoms
Unless you have to go to the hospital, it is best to stay home if you have symptoms. "Some people think that it is a kind of heroic act to go to work when you are sick," but that is not true, insists on Tatiana Scorza.
6. Make reservations
The federal Minister of Health recommends that Canadians make sure they have "enough supplies ... to survive for about a week without going out." Relevant advice despite the low risk in the country says, Ms. Scorza. Because a person who feels feverish or congested will not have to go to the grocery store or the pharmacy if they are already equipped at home. So it's a good idea to have a supply of painkillers and prescription drugs for people with chronic illnesses for the next two to three months, says Quach. "The other issue is that of supply," she adds, as many of the medicines are produced in affected countries where distribution may be cut off.
Regarding food, Stéphane Lacasse of ADAQ recalls that there is currently no supply problem in Quebec, despite the context of railroad blockades. He says he hopes the minister's call does not create a "snowball effect" that incites people to rob supermarkets, which would create an artificial shortage of food.

7. Respect the label
If you have to cough in a public place, it is best to do it in the crook of your elbow rather than in your hands or in a vacuum. "The bend in the elbow doesn't do much, you don't open doors with it," says Quach. Worn handkerchiefs should not hang on the floor or in our pockets, but should be thrown away quickly. And this operation should be followed by hand washing. A person with symptoms should also cover their mouth and nose with a surgical mask and change it regularly to minimize contamination around them.

8. Helping each other in the neighborhood
"If schools close like in Italy, what do we do with the children?" Asked Mrs. Quach. She suggests planning a solution in advance, consulting with neighbors, even if this scenario is only hypothetical. By organizing this way, communities will be able to prevent all parents from stopping work in the event of such closures.

9. Don't panic!
With around 20 reported cases, the risk associated with coronavirus is still considered "low" by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
In comparison, the influenza virus, the leading cause of seasonal flu, causes some 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500 deaths each year in the country.
"Everything that coughs in Quebec right now is not coronavirus" and is probably due to the flu, summarizes Gaston De Serres, a medical epidemiologist at the National Institute of Public Health.
To protect against coronavirus, it is, therefore, enough to take the same precautions as for the traditional flu and for all respiratory diseases, he concludes.

How many people have died from coronavirus?

 
3,000 DEA

The global assessment of the new coronavirus epidemic surpassed the mark of 3,000 deaths on Monday, after the announcement by the Chinese authorities of 42 new deaths.
The 42 new deaths were all reported in Hubei province in central China, where the epidemic started in December, Chinese health officials said.
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