What is Coronavirus?

The World Health Organization highlights that coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illness in both humans and animals. Coronavirus (COVID-19), is the most recently discovered coronavirus, now a global pandemic affecting people.   

Human Coronavirus 

Several coronaviruses are known to cause infections in humans. The coronaviruses in humans mentioned below have caused significant infections and loss of life in the 21st century:

• MERS coronavirus - Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS) causes severe respiratory illness. 3 or 4 people out of 10 who are infected with MERS will die. What is the life cycle of MERS coronavirus? For more on MERS and it's lifecycle visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
• SARS coronavirus - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a contagious respiratory infection that can be fatal. It first surfaced in China back in November 2002. What does SARS coronavirus do? Symptoms are influenza-like, and consist of fever, headache, and shivering.  Severe cases progress to respiratory complications requiring intensive care.

Other common human coronaviruses:

• Coronavirus Nl63 - has been shown to infect mainly children.
• Coronavirus Oc43 – it is the most common coronavirus linked to human infections, yet not much is known about it.
• Coronavirus HKUL – found during lower and upper respiratory tract infections. It, along with NL63, prefers the winter period. 
• Coronavirus 229e – associated with mild colds to pneumonia, it is known to stay infectious on surface materials for days.

As we mentioned above, coronavirus is not only found in humans. There is coronavirus in cats and coronavirus in dogs too. Canine coronavirus causes intestinal disease worldwide in dogs. 

Coronavirus Transmission

Humans transmit coronaviruses in the following ways:

• Air droplets are spread when sneezing, coughing, and talking.
• Close contact with an infected person
• Touching an object that has been contaminated virus, then touching one's eyes, nose, or mouth. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus Symptoms

Most individuals infected with COVID-19 will suffer from mild to moderate respiratory illness. Most will recover without requiring special treatment. Older persons and those with medical difficulties like diabetes and cancer are more prone to develop severe illness.

The Mayo Clinic lists the following coronavirus symptoms as emergency signs that one should seek immediate medical care:

• Difficulty Breathing
• Constant pain
• Lack of ability to stay awake
• Confusion
• Blue lips and blue face

Coronavirus Prevention

Without a vaccine in place, pandemics can cause significant illness and loss of life. Here is some advice from the Mayo Clinic and other sources listed below:

• Avoid sizable crowds
• Keep 6 feet apart from anyone showing coronavirus symptoms.
• Regularly washing your hands with soap and hot water for a minimum of 20 seconds
• Cover your mouth when sneezing
• Use a face mask in public areas
• Avoid public transportation 
• Disinfect areas

Guidance for Disinfecting

Here is the CDC's guidance for disinfecting areas at home, work, and public spaces. 

Common Coronavirus Questions 

Below are frequent questions most people have specific to the coronavirus. We provide a link to where you can find quality information for each item. 

How long does coronavirus last? 

People with a mild case of COVID-19 recover within one to two weeks.  Severe cases can last six weeks or more. 1% of the population will die from COVID-19.

Which disease is caused by coronaviruses? 

How to treat coronavirus? 

No medication is recommended, and a cure isn't available either. Visit the Mayo Clinic's page for additional treatment guidance. 

How is coronavirus spread? 

It is spread from person-to-person, primarily from respiratory droplets. 

How long does coronavirus live on surfaces? 

The virus can survive for hours, even days, on most surfaces. 

When is coronavirus not contagious anymore? 

Harvard Medical advised that most people are no longer infectious after ten days. However, many experts are still recommending 14 days of isolation 

Where is the Coronavirus? 

Check out the CDC's world map. 

What is the Coronavirus Structure?

Many people have questions regarding the actual shape of the coronavirus, as it does have a unique look.  The National Center for Biotechnology Information classifies the structure as spherical.

Is there a Coronavirus Vaccine?

Here is a link to all the most recent news regarding a coronavirus vaccine 

Important COVID-19 Website Links

CDC Coronavirus 
CDC Common Coronaviruses 
Mayo Clinic COVID-19
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
OSHA COVID-19 Workplaces
John Hopkins Medicine
WebMD Coronavirus
World Health Organization Coronavirus
World Health Organization Advice
World Health Organization Q&A

Disclaimer: MCR Safety's COVID-19 resource pages are intended for informational and educational purposes only. The user is solely responsible for determining the suitability of any product selection for a particular application. MCR Safety makes no guarantee or warranty (expressed or implied) of our products' performance or protection for specific applications. Please utilize the above links from The CDC, OSHA, The World Health Organization, and others for official guidance and support. Otherwise, a person should consult their primary medical physician for complete advice for the virus.