The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus. Our intent is to provide you factual and actionable information so that you can keep yourselves and your family safe.

Stay Informed, Stay Safe

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions & Answers

WHO is continuously monitoring and responding to this outbreak. This Q&A will be updated as more is known about COVID-19, how it spreads and how it is affecting people worldwide. For more information, check back regularly on WHO’s coronavirus pages. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases- es/novel-coronavirus-2019
  • What Is Coronavirus?
    Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as MERS and SARS. The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
  • What is COVID-19?
    COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. COVID-19 is now a pandemic affecting many countries globally.
  • What Are The Symptoms Of COVID-19?
    The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Other symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include aches and pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes.
  • How does Coronavirus spread?
    Coronavirus is thought to spread mainly from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Spread is more likely when people are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • What Do I Do If I Develop Symptoms?
    If you have symptoms, such as a cough or a fever, please visit Flu OPD at Kalpana Chawla Medical College or your nearest COVID Centre for checkup and testing.
  • Can the coronavirus disease spread through food?
    Currently, there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. Before preparing or eating food it is important to always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds for general food safety.
  • How can I protect myself?
    Visit the Prevention page linked in the menu above to learn about how to protect yourself from COVID-19.
  • Should I wear face masks?
    Wear masks or cloth face coverings in public settings when around people not living in your household and particularly where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores, hospitals, chemist shops, and markets. Cloth face coverings may slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.
  • Am I at risk from COVID-19 from mail and packages?
    Although the virus can survive for a short period on some surfaces, it is unlikely to be spread from domestic or international mail, products or packaging. However, it may be possible that people can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
  • Should I use soap and water or sanitizer to protect me from COVID-19?
    Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • What should I disinfect and what cleaning products should I use to protect against COVID-19?
    Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. To disinfect, most common household disinfectants will work.
  • How long does the virus survive on different surfaces?
    Coronavirus can live for hours to days on surfaces like countertops and doorknobs. How long it survives depends on the material the surface is made from. A study published in the New England Medical Journal revealed that while viable virus was still detected on plastic and stainless steel after 72 hours, for cardboard and copper it was no longer detectable after 24 hours and four hours respectively.
  • What should I do if I have a close contact with someone who has COVID-19?
    Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. Consult your doctor for getting tested.
  • Who is at risk for serious illness?
    Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people with underlying medical conditions like Diabetes, Herat Disease, Hypertension, COPD are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
  • Can CoVID-19 be transmitted from a person who has no symptoms?
    The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.
  • Is there a vaccine for COVID-19?
    Not yet. To date, there is no vaccine. Possible vaccines and some specific drug treatments are under investigation and may be available soon.

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