Overview
COVID-19 is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. It usually spreads between people in close contact.COVID-19 vaccines provide strong protection against severe illness and death. Although a person can still get COVID-19 after vaccination, they are more likely to have mild or no symptoms. Anyone can get sick with COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die, but most people will recover without treatment.People over age 60 and those with existing medical conditions have a higher risk of getting seriously ill. These conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, immunosuppression including HIV, cancer and pregnancy. Unvaccinated people also have a higher risk of severe symptoms.
Symptoms
People may experience different symptoms from COVID-19. Symptoms usually begin 5–6 days after exposure and last 1–14 days.The most common symptoms are:- fever
- chills
- sore throat.
- muscle aches and heavy arms or legs
- severe fatigue or tiredness
- runny or blocked nose, or sneezing
- headache
- sore eyes
- dizziness
- new and persistent cough
- tight chest or chest pain
- shortness of breath
- hoarse voice
- numbness or tingling
- appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhoea
- loss or change of sense of taste or smell
- difficulty sleeping.
- difficulty breathing, especially at rest, or unable to speak in sentences
- confusion
- drowsiness or loss of consciousness
- persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- skin being cold or clammy, or turning pale or a bluish colour
- loss of speech or movement.
Treatment
Most people will recover without needing treatment in a hospital. For those who need it, doctors will suggest treatments for COVID-19 based on the severity of the disease and the risk of it getting worse. They will consider the person’s age and if they have other health problems.Prevention
People should get vaccinated as soon as it’s their turn. They should follow local guidance on vaccination and ways to protect themselves against COVID-19.COVID-19 vaccines provide strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death. To prevent the spread of COVID-19:- avoid crowds and keep a safe distance from others, even if they don’t appear to be sick;
- wear a properly fitted mask if you feel sick, have been close to people who are sick, if you are at high-risk, or in crowded or poorly ventilated areas;
- clean your hands frequently with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
- cover your mouth and nose with a bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze;
- dispose of used tissues right away and clean your hands; and
- if you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, self-isolate until you recover.
WHO response
The World Health Organization is the global coordinating agency for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Organization works with Member States and partners on all aspects of the pandemic response, including facilitating research, developing guidance, coordinating vaccine development and distribution, and monitoring daily case numbers and trends around the world. Since April 2020, the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, launched by WHO and partners, has supported the fastest, most coordinated, and successful global effort in history to develop tools to fight a disease. COVAX, the vaccines pillar of the ACT-Accelerator is a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. WHO provides global coordination and member state support on vaccine safety monitoring. It developed the target product profiles for COVID-19 vaccines and provides R&D technical coordination.WHO also leads work to improve global capacity and access to oxygen production, distribution and supply to patients.Although WHO announced the end of the emergency phase of COVID-1♋9 in May 202♑3, the Organizatiꦏon continues to coordinate the global response.