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 100,000. Spain has the most cases in Europe with over 130,000, more than 12,000 people died as a result of the viral disease. The lung disease COVID-19 only claimed even more deaths in Italy (over 15,000, as of April 6, 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 and what you really should know here.
Overview of article content:
What are the symptoms of the coronavirus?
Live map shows spread of the corona virus
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 11th The WHO then officially classified the spread of the corona virus as a pandemic. The term describes a worldwide spread of an illness in humans across all continents.
Worldwide, over 860,000 cases are officially known – more than 178,000 of them are cured, so far more than 42,000 people have died from the effects of Covid-19, the disease that triggers the coronavirus (as of April 1, 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.
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.
What symptoms of coronavirus infection?
Over 80 percent of those infected with coronavirus experience no or only mild symptoms such as chills and sore throats. In the worst case, the new virus can also become life-threatening – for example, from a 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 respiratory tract, the coronavirus is characterized, among other things, by severe breathing difficulties with shortness of breath.
As soon as the symptoms mentioned are present, direct or indirect contact with regions in which the coronavirus has already spread or with infected people is considered to be 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 have coronavirus, please register your visit to the doctor bitterly beforehand by telephone and mention your suspicion.
The following symptoms have also been described in previous coronavirus cases in Germany:
In most cases, the symptoms mentioned have causes other than an infection with the coronavirus. The most important thing when you suspect Covid-19 is to stay calm. Most of the time there is a flu, cold or other cause behind the symptoms.
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
First cases in 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. Since then, the unrest in the population has increased with the increasing number of infected people. 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 most severely affected by the corona virus in Europe
In northern Italy, the corona virus spread surprisingly quickly in February 2020. It is still unclear where the infection originated in Italy, which made it difficult to control the spread of the virus from the start.
The number of people infected and the deaths are alarming. Bergamo in particular is badly affected. As the local capacities are insufficient, the military take the dead to other regions.
Public life across the country has been reduced to the bare minimum. Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte announced on March 20. to extend the curfew currently valid until April 3rd.
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 health risk posed by the coronavirus is rated as "high" by the RKI (as of March 17th, 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.
Due to the long incubation period, the number of unreported cases could be correspondingly high anywhere in the world. In order to find infected people, diagnostic tests are carried out at full speed in laboratories.
Panic in population due to coronavirus
Experts are particularly concerned about the spreading panic among the population regarding the corona virus. Lurid headlines, misinformation and their viral distribution via social media channels do not make things any better. Not all people act responsibly and in solidarity, but react panicked and uncontrolled, which can be seen, for example, in hamster purchases. 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 therefore unclear how quickly it could spread to different regions of the world. Zapf explains that living conditions, for example, also have an impact. If the population pressure is particularly strong, as is the case in Wuhan, China, the risk of spreading the coronavirus may be higher.
It is currently 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 unclear how long infected people are contagious.
But because coronavirus infections often go undetected due to mild or lack of symptoms, this also means a higher risk of spread.
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 Infectious Diseases" of the State Office for Health and the Robert Koch Institute and Federal Health Minister 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
Avoid contact with obviously sick people and people who have had personal contact with the sick (about one to two meters)
Limit shaking hands if possible
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
no travel to regions affected by the virus
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?
Controversial mouthguard in use against the corona virus
Wearing a face mask is not generally recommended by coronavirus protection experts. There is a lack of scientific evidence to make a basic recommendation for this.
According to the Federal Center for Health Education, however, wearing a conventional mouthguard can make sense for people who suffer from a respiratory infection and 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 family doctor should 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 to check suspected cases for the coronavirus more quickly and more extensively.
Treatment for coronavirus infection
Since no vaccine against the coronavirus is available so far, only the classic means of controlling epidemics can be used for the time being. Researchers around the world are working flat out to find a remedy for the corona virus.
Because there is no specific therapy against coronavirus infection, treatment of Covid-19 has so far been 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.
At home because of corona virus: Use time wisely
