What is COVID-19 anyway?

1. What is Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of respiratory viruses that cause diseases ranging from the common cold to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The current Coronavirus was identified as the cause of a severe acute respiratory illness (now referred to as COVID-19) that broke out in Wuhan City in China in December 2019.  There are currently 45 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Uganda.

2. How it is spread

Transmission is through contact with nose or mouth droplets from infected people or contaminated objects and surfaces around an infected person.

3. What are the symptoms?

The commonest symptoms include a dry cough, fever, muscle aches and fatigue. Difficulty in breathing occurs in severe disease. 

4. Any vaccine or treatment for it?

Currently there is no vaccine or specific treatment for COVID-19. For all infected persons, they should receive care to relieve the symptoms while those seriously ill need to be quarantined/hospitalized.

5. How does one protect themselves from getting infected?

 By taking the precautionary measures provided by the WHO and Uganda MoH including;

• Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 
• Maintain good respiratory hygiene by covering your mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing with a disposable tissue or into your flexed elbow.
• Maintain a safe social distance of at least 1 meter between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Avoid handshaking, hugging and kissing with people who have flu like symptoms. Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough.
• Persons with a cough or sneezing should stay home or keep a social distance and avoid mixing with others in a crowd.
• Avoid touching your face (eyes, nose and mouth) to prevent transmission. 
• Regular disinfection of all working surfaces (e.g. workstations, tables in meeting rooms) with disinfectant/diluted bleach.
• Avoid all public gatherings, meetings and events including places of worship, social gatherings (weddings and funerals), crowded places e.g. shopping malls and entertainment premises.
• Limitation of visitors to hospitalized patients in both public and private hospitals. 
• Avoid all non-essential travel, including local travel. Minimize congestion in public transport wherever possible.
• If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early and share travel history with your health care provider.
• Stay at home if you feel unwell with symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing for 14 days, which corresponds to the incubation period of Coronavirus. 

6. Where to get more information about the corona virus

People are encouraged to stay updated with information from trusted sources e.g. Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, etc.

7.  Where to get tested if one has symptoms?

All suspected Coronavirus cases are being referred to the Ministry of Health for Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) testing. If confirmed, the Ministry of Health shall coordinate the referral process to an appropriate facility for management of the disease.

8. Contacts for the Ministry of Health?

The Ministry of Health has provided the following toll-free lines to report any suspected Coronavirus cases;

CALL

0800 100 066   

0800 203 033 

0800 303 033

Or 919 

WhatsApp 

0770 818 139 

Alternatively, you can send a free text message or Report to 8500. 

They will provide the necessary guidance on Coronavirus, including referral to the appropriate facilities, if Coronavirus is confirmed.