Europe has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. What are the symptoms of Covid-19? What do I do if I suspect that I have contracted Sars-CoV-2?
- Fighting the spread of the coronavirus: will face masks soon become mandatory in Germany too?
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In Germany, the number of officially confirmed coronavirus infections is over 113,000. Spain has the most cases in Europe with over 148,000, more than 14,700 people died as a result of the viral disease. The lung disease only claimed even more deaths in Italy (over 17,600, as of April 9, 2020).
Due to exit restrictions, the shutdown of public life and the overloading of the health system, the state of emergency prevails. We have summarized the most important facts for you here.
Overview of article content:
What are the symptoms of the coronavirus?
Live map shows spread of the corona virus
The corona virus originally spread to the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. There, the virus was transmitted to humans from a wild animal market.
On the evening of January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially announced the global health emergency due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in order to introduce stricter measures to combat the spread of viruses.
On March 11, 2020, the WHO officially classified the spread of the coronavirus as a pandemic. The term describes a worldwide spread of an illness in humans across all continents.
Worldwide, more than 1,400,000 cases are officially known – more than 32,000 people are cured of them, so far over 88,000 people have died from the consequences of Covid-19, the disease that triggers the coronavirus (as of April 9, 2020).
A live map of the John Hopkins University of Baltimore (Maryland, USA) shows the current official status of the spread of the virus. Almost in real time, the map provides accurate information about all confirmed cases, fatalities and healed people.
An interactive map of the University of Washington shows how quickly the number of confirmed cases in each country increases.
What symptoms of coronavirus infection?
Over 80 percent of those infected with coronavirus experience no or only mild symptoms such as chills, mild cough and sore throat. In the worst case, the new virus can become life-threatening – for example due to septic shock, multi-organ failure or respiratory arrest. It is therefore important to understand the typical symptoms of coronavirus infection.
The main symptoms with Covid-19 are high fever and respiratory symptoms such as dry cough with a generally strong feeling of illness. Because the infection mainly affects the airways, respiratory problems such as shortness of breath are characteristic of the coronavirus.
As soon as the symptoms mentioned are present, direct or indirect contact with infected people and regions in which the coronavirus has already spread is considered an indication of a possible coronavirus infection. Contact persons should therefore have flu-like symptoms clarified at an early stage.
Important: If you suspect that you may be suffering from the coronavirus, register your visit to the doctor beforehand by telephone and mention your suspicion.
The following symptoms have also been described in previous coronavirus cases in Germany:
Some infected people also reported an almost complete loss of their sense of smell and taste.
Usually there is a flu, cold or other cause behind the symptoms and no infection with Sars-CoV-2, as the new virus is called. The most important thing when you suspect Covid-19 is to stay calm.
How do the symptoms of coronavirus, cold or flu differ?
The symptoms of a coronavirus infection are very similar to those of a flu or cold. How can an infection with the corona virus be distinguished from a flu infection?
Corona virus in Germany and Europe
It is still unclear where the origin of Sars-CoV-2 infections originated in Europe, which made it difficult to control the spread of the coronavirus from the start.
First cases of coronavirus in Germany at the end of January
The first coronavirus case in Germany was confirmed on January 27, 2020. The 33-year-old coronavirus patient contracted a woman from China who was a guest in Germany. The Robert Koch Institute states that this is the first known case of human-to-human coronavirus transmission outside of Asia. According to the RKI, 16 further cases can be attributed to this first infection.
Big virus wave in Germany started in late February
Further cases became known in Germany at the end of February. Initially, only major events were canceled; meanwhile, public life has declined sharply overall. The number of cases is increasing rapidly and the quarantine measures are being expanded further.
Christian Drosten, virologist at the Charité Berlin, assumes that the majority of people in Germany will sooner or later become infected with the corona virus (60 to 70 percent). It is only unclear in what time period this happens. He also explains that Germany is an "absolutely serious situation" and that we should expect to run straight into an epidemic wave. (Status: 09.03.2020).
Italy and Spain particularly affected across Europe
In northern Italy, the corona virus spread surprisingly quickly in February 2020.
The number of people infected and the number of deaths are alarming and extremely high compared to Germany and other countries in relation to the number of confirmed cases. Bergamo in particular is badly affected. As the local capacities are insufficient, the military have to transport the deceased to other regions.
Public life across the country has been reduced to the bare minimum. Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte announced on March 20, 2020 that the curfew will be extended until April 3.
Spain has the highest number of confirmed cases of infected people after the United States. The first became known at the end of January, it was a German tourist. At the end of February, cases related to Italy were increasingly known: Among other things, an Italian doctor from Lombardy, who was on holiday in Spain, tested positive for Covid-19.
The situation in the country is desolate, the health system is very overloaded. In an old people's home, soldiers who disinfected care facilities at the end of March are said to have found people who were left to their own devices and lived between corpses – medical doctors consider a connection between these deaths and Covid-19 as likely.
How dangerous is the corona virus?
The RKI declares that it is a "very dynamic and serious situation" worldwide and in Germany. For Germany, the overall health risk from the corona virus is classified as "high", for risk groups as "very high". The risk varies from region to region and the risk of severe courses of Covid-19 infections increases with age and if pre-existing conditions exist. (As of: April 9th, 2020)
On March 2nd, 2020, the EU health agency ECDC corrected its risk assessment for the European population from "moderate" to "high". Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides explains that the situation is changing very quickly, but there is no reason to panic.
Because Covid 19 disease often does not lead to symptoms and not all people are tested for an infection, the number of infected people worldwide could be correspondingly high. In order to find infected people, diagnostic tests are carried out at full speed in laboratories.
Panic in population due to coronavirus
Lurid headlines, misinformation and their viral distribution via social media channels do not make it easy to keep calm in these times. Therefore, not all people act responsibly and in solidarity, but react uncontrollably, which is evident, for example, in hamster purchases. There is no reason for buying hamsters, the supply of the population is secured. Find out from trusted sources. You can find serious reports about the corona virus, for example:
A podcast with virologist Christian Drosten from Charité Berlin also provides detailed insights into current developments and how to deal with the corona virus on a daily basis.
Spread favored due to long incubation period
The novel corona virus is still relatively unexplored. It is assumed that an infected person infects about two to three other people by droplet infection.
This is also due to the relatively long incubation period, while those affected are already contagious. It can take from one to a maximum of 14 days for the first symptoms to appear after being infected with the coronavirus. It is still unclear how long infected people are contagious.
Also, because coronavirus infections often go undetected due to symptoms that are often mild or lacking, the risk of further spread is increased.
The most important rules of conduct for protection against the corona virus at a glance
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Protective measures: Minimize the risk of infection
Dr. Martin Hoch, head of the "Task Force Infectiology" of the State Office for Health and the Robert Koch Institute and Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn declare the following protective measures to be sensible in order to minimize the risk of infection from the corona virus:
regular and thorough hand washing
Generally reduce contacts to a minimum
Generally avoid contact with obviously sick people and people who have had personal contact with the sick (about one to two meters away)
Avoid touching your face, mouth, nose or eyes with your fingers
Cough and sneeze in the crook of the arm or in a handkerchief
Use disposable handkerchiefs that are disposed of immediately after single use
Ventilate regularly
work from home if possible
People over the age of 60 should be vaccinated against pneumococci if there is no protection
If possible, walk or cycle instead of using public transport
These measures not only protect the individual, but also reduce the risk of the virus spreading further.
What really helps against coronavirus infection?
Face mask against the corona virus
It is quite possible that a mouth protection obligation will also be introduced in Germany soon.
According to the Federal Center for Health Education, wearing a face mask can make sense for people who move around in public spaces. To protect other people. Because the face masks primarily help to keep droplets from coughing or sneezing.
It is important, however, that the mouthguard fits snugly, is not shifted when worn and is replaced as soon as it is wet.
Conventional masks can hardly stop viruses from entering. According to the WHO, mouth and nose protection can even create a false sense of security for the wearer, which neglects hygiene measures.
The most important measures to curb the spread of the virus as far as possible are still thorough hand washing, observance of the cough and sneeze label and keeping a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from other people.
What should you do if you suspect Covid-19?
The most important thing is always: Keep Calm. In most cases, your symptoms are more likely to be due to a flu or cold.
Basically: If there are symptoms and there was also personal contact with one or more sick people, the health department or the family doctor should first be contacted by phone.
Important: Under no circumstances should you go to the doctor on your own without prior notice. If there is reasonable suspicion, it is advisable that you do not go outside and that the examination by medical personnel takes place in your home.
In case of breathlessness or loss of consciousness, please always dial 112 immediately!
Coronavirus infection diagnosis
In order to detect the corona virus, smears from the upper airways and material from the lower airways are examined using DNA sequencing (polymerase chain reaction, or PCR for short). Thanks to this new examination method, a diagnosis is possible after only four to five hours.
"It only makes sense to test people for a possible infection with the coronavirus when symptoms appear," says Dr. Martin Hoch, head of the "Task Force Infectious Diseases" on the day of the first confirmed coronavirus case in Germany. He explains that the virus can only be detected if the viral load (concentration of the virus in the blood) is high enough. This is often not the case during the incubation period. The test could therefore wrongly be negative in symptom-free people and give the all-clear, even though there is actually an infection.
In the meantime, however, suspicious cases without symptoms are being checked because the virus spreads faster than expected.
Gradually, nationwide specialized diagnostic centers are being set up in order to be able to check suspected cases for the coronavirus more quickly and more extensively.
Corona Virus Quarantine: Questions & Answers
On April 6, 2020, the Corona Crisis Cabinet decided that returning travelers who would like to return to the Federal Republic of Germany after spending several days abroad had to go to quarantine for two weeks.
The aim of this measure is to prevent the spread of the corona virus as far as possible.
What does quarantine mean?
Quarantine is an officially ordered, temporarily local separation of suspect persons from other people.
How long is the Corona Virus quarantine?
The duration of the quarantine depends on the incubation period. With the Sars-CoV-2 this is 14 days. Officially, however, an ordered quarantine does not end until it has been lifted by the responsible authority, such as the local health authority.
Can I go shopping while I'm in quarantine?
No, because when shopping you can easily get in touch with other people. In most cases, neighbors or friends can help out and run errands on the doorstep. Usually there is also the option of having groceries delivered directly to your home.
What happens if I do not keep the quarantine?
An ordered quarantine should not only be adhered to out of solidarity with other people, but also in your own interest. Because anyone who violates the regulations of a valid quarantine runs the risk of being fined and even sentenced to prison.
What if I need medical care in quarantine?
Important: In the event of breathlessness, loss of consciousness or loss of consciousness or in other medical emergencies, please do not hesitate to dial 112 immediately.
Otherwise, the first point of contact by phone to ensure medical care during a quarantine is your family doctor or specialist. This can be the case, for example, if you need medication or a medical examination or treatment. If you have any complaints that could endanger compliance with the quarantine, please notify the local health department immediately.
Treatment for coronavirus infection
Since no vaccine against the coronavirus is available so far, only the classic means of controlling epidemics are mainly used for the time being. Researchers around the world are working flat out to find a remedy for the corona virus.
In addition, several active substances are discussed as a possibility for antiviral therapy against infection with Sars-CoV-2. Doctors and scientists see several drugs as having the potential to slow down the multiplication of the virus in the body and thus to counteract severe courses of Covid-19 diseases.
One of these active ingredients is Remdesivir, for example. The previously unapproved drug was originally developed for the treatment of Ebola and can now be used in individual cases.
However, since the active substances are usually not free of side effects, are also required for other patients and have not yet been tested for the treatment of Covid-19, it has so far only been permitted to use them in individual cases in the case of particularly severe disease courses.
Too late, some scientists say. Christian Drosten from the Charité for Virology in Berlin, for example, explains that such medications actually have potential, if at all, to make a difference, especially in the initial phase of an illness. Because at the beginning of an infection, the virus begins to multiply in the body before it is damaged in the body. And this is exactly what the active ingredients are supposed to counteract: the multiplication of the Sars-CoV-2 virus.
Because there is currently no specific therapy against coronavirus infection, treatment of Covid-19 is limited to relieving symptoms depending on their severity. Above all, it is possible to treat fevers well. With the "your pharmacy" app, you can save time in the pharmacy and pre-order medication from home.
If the pulmonary pathways are severely impaired, intensive medical surveillance is sometimes necessary.
Course of the disease and prognosis
The disease Covid-19 runs according to Prof. Dr. Wieler from the RKI is mild in four out of five cases and can heal without symptoms, especially in young, healthy people. But it is also known that in rare cases the pathogen can cause pneumonia with bilateral lung infiltrates, which can be fatal.
In particular, people over the age of 60 and people with chronic diseases, a weakened immune system or existing lung diseases, for example asthma or COPD, are more susceptible to infections with the coronavirus and resulting complications.
Telephone hotline for questions about the corona virus
Those who are unsure or fear that they have contracted the virus can call the coronavirus hotline of the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) on the telephone number 09131 / 6808-5101 Ask questions.
The Berlin health administration is also open between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. 030/90282828 accessible to concerned citizens.
In urgent cases, please dial the number of the emergency medical service: 116117.
Further information on the corona virus and its spread can also be found on the website of the Bavarian Ministry of Health.
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