How high is the risk of coronavirus spread??

How high is the risk of coronavirus spread??

Hopes of keeping the lung disease out of germany have faded after new evidence of infection with the sars-cov-2 coronavirus emerged. What is being done to limit the spread and what is known about the virus and the disease??

How high is the risk of further spread in germany?

According to the robert koch institute (RKI), a further importation of traps into germany must be expected. Further transmission of sars-cov-2, chains of infection and outbreaks in the country are also possible. Local infections could initially remain undetected, said the vice president of the robert koch institute (RKI), lars schaade, on RBB on wednesday. It is "quite possible that we will not be able to detect all of these outbreaks immediately.". It must be expected that this will lead to further spread. Experts currently rate the risk to the health of the population in germany as low to moderate.

What would a major outbreak in germany mean for the healthcare system??

A wave of infection in this country could mean, among other things, full waiting areas and doctors’ surgeries, occupied intensive care beds and completely overburdened health authorities, the berlin virologist christian drosten had recently explained. Experts see it as a problem that the annual wave of influenza is currently rolling through germany – and is already placing a heavy strain on the healthcare system. For this reason, the goal is to delay the spread of the coronavirus as much as possible, as the robert koch institute (RKI) recently explained. "We have to try with appropriate auand to slow down the spread to mitigate an intense stress pulse on the health care system," drosten said. "The number of infections should be extended over as long a period of time as possible."

How contagious is the new coronavirus?

It is still not possible to state with certainty how many other people an infected person infects on average. The virus spreads through droplet infection, for example when coughing and talking. Initial results indicate that the virus can also be spread through the digestive system and, for at least a few days, through surfaces. A previously underestimated risk is that "quite relevant amounts" of sars-cov-2 can be detected in stool samples from patients in the initial phase of a covid-19 disease, explained clemens wendtner, head of infectious and tropical medicine at the munich hospital in schwabing, germany.

How dangerous is the virus?

This is still a difficult question. There is currently not enough data to make a conclusive assessment of the severity of the new respiratory disease, says the RKI. According to a recent analysis by china’s health department, 2.3 percent of those infected with sars-cov-2 die in the country. The most affected are elderly people and those with serious pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In people over 80 years of age, the death rate calculated from the data available there is just under 15 percent, i.E. An average of around 15 out of every 100 infected people die in this age group in china. In the group of people aged 10 to 39 years, 0.2 percent of infected people die, i.E., about 2 out of every 1,000 people affected.

Experts believe that the mortality rate is actually lower than calculated in china, partly because many mild infections are not recorded in chinese statistics. However, there are no reliable analyses of mortality from other countries to date.

What symptoms does the new coronavirus cause??

Most people have only mild cold symptoms with colds and sore throats or no symptoms at all. In addition, there may be fever, cough and respiratory problems, as they also occur with influenza. Headaches and diarrhea are also possible.

According to the chinese health authorities, more than 80 percent of those infected have a mild course of infection, while just under 14 percent become severely ill. Life-threatening effects such as respiratory arrest, septic shock or multiple organ failure occur in just under five percent of cases.

The incubation period – the time between infection and the onset of symptoms – is currently between 2 and 14 days. This is the reason that suspected cases are isolated for two weeks.

How can the new respiratory disease be treated??

There is no specific treatment for the disease covid-19. Severely ill patients are treated symptomatically: with antipyretics, treatment of any additional bacterial infections and sometimes mechanical ventilation. Antiviral drugs are also being tested in isolated cases.

Is there a protective vaccination?

No. Many laboratories around the world are currently researching vaccines like those for influenza. But the development of a vaccine takes a long time. WHO scientist soumya swaminathan believes initial vaccine testing in humans could begin in three to four months. But a certified vaccine for widespread use is not expected to be available for another 18 months.

The US biotech company moderna reported on monday that it had developed a vaccine candidate and delivered it to the US national institute of allergy and infectious diseases (NIAID). Its director, anthony fauci, announced initial clinical trials in late april, according to CNN. He also expected that it would take one to one and a half years before a vaccine would be available.

How else can I protect myself from infection??

To protect against this and other viruses, experts recommend the usual hygiene measures: regular hand washing, use of disinfectants and keeping a safe distance from sick people. Experts estimate that the use of normal breathing masks – as currently seen on the streets of china and other countries – is rather low. It can help to limit hugging and handshaking and to avoid touching surfaces that are touched by many people, such as door handles, grab bars and elevator buttons.

Can I get infected if I receive a package from china or other risk areas??

In principle, it is unclear how long the virus survives on surfaces, says the world health organization (WHO). Studies suggest that it may take a few hours or days, depending on conditions such as surface, temperature, or humidity. The probability that an infected were contaminated with the virus, the authorities classify as low. The risk of a recipient contracting an infection from a package that is exposed to different conditions and temperatures during transport is also low, she says.

Imported foodstuffs and goods such as toys, computers and clothing are also unlikely to be sources of infection, says the federal institute for risk assessment. Experts stress the importance of following general hygiene rules, such as washing hands regularly.

What do I do if I fear I have contracted the disease??

According to the RKI, anyone who has had contact with an infected person should first report to his or her health office, regardless of whether or not symptoms have occurred. Travelers from risk areas who have symptoms should consult a doctor after calling ahead and mentioning the trip.

What is the state allowed to do in case of emergency?

The essentials are regulated by the infection protection act (ifsg), which is valid throughout germany. A spokesman for the bavarian ministry of health summarizes: "if necessary, important fundamental rights such as freedom of the person, freedom of assembly or inviolability of the home, as well as the right to physical integrity, can also be restricted."According to bavarian constitutional law expert stephan rixen, authorities are allowed to demand blood samples and swabs of skin and mucous membranes. Even "suspected of illness" and "suspected of contagion" – as the law puts it – can be banned from the profession. For the protection of others, people could also be "segregated in a suitable hospital or otherwise appropriate manner," the law states.

RELATED POSTS

Brussel wants to end chaos at corona travel restrictions


The national go-it-alones with corona-related travel restrictions should soon come to an end according to the will of the EU commission. The brussels…

Corona bonus also coming for nurses in clinics


Because of special burdens in the corona crisis, nurses in hospitals are now to receive a bonus of up to 1,000 euros – just like those already employed…

Kiss, kiss, smack: a kiss-ology


A kiss from your grandmother, your first kiss as a teenager, a courtly kiss on the hand: there are many kisses in the course of a lifetime – some you are…

Hateful face of the “face book” in the case of weisendorf


Shortly after the act, two camps had already formed, which had one thing in common above all: unqualified judgments about what had happened. This…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *