Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), better known as the Corona virus, is a

new type of coronavirus that is transmitted to humans. This viral infection is called COVID-19 and was
first discovered in the city of Wuhan, China, at the end of December 2019.

Cause

COVID-19 is caused by a coronavirus, a group of viruses that infect the respiratory system. In most
cases, coronaviruses only cause mild to moderate respiratory infections, such as flu. However, this virus
can also cause severe respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome
(MERS), and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

A person can get COVID-19 through a variety of ways, namely:

• Accidentally inhalation of saliva splashes from sneezing or coughing sufferers of COVID-19

• Hold the mouth or nose without washing hands first after touching an object affected by saliva
splashes of COVID-19 patients

• Close contact with people with COVID-19, such as touching or shaking hands

Corona virus can infect anyone, but the effect will be more dangerous or even fatal if it occurs in elderly
people, pregnant women, people who are sick, or people whose immune systems are weak.

The symptoms

Corona virus infection or COVID-19 can cause sufferers to experience flu symptoms, such as fever,
runny nose, cough, sore throat, and headache; or symptoms of severe respiratory infections, such as
high fever, cough with phlegm and even bleeding, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

However, in general there are 3 general symptoms that can indicate someone is infected with the
Corona virus, namely:

• Fever (body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius)

• Cough

• Hard to breathe

According to research, symptoms of COVID-19 appear within 2 days to 2 weeks after exposure to the
Corona virus.

Prevention

Until now, there is no vaccine to prevent Corona virus infection or COVID-19. Therefore, the best
preventive way is to avoid the factors that can cause you to be infected with this virus, namely:

• Avoid traveling to public places that are crowded with visitors (social distancing).
• Use a mask when on the move in public places or crowds.

• Routinely wash hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol after
doing activities outside the home or in public places.

• Do not touch the eyes, mouth and nose before washing hands.

• Avoid contact with animals, especially wild animals. In case of contact with animals, wash your hands
afterwards.

• Cook the meat until it is completely cooked before consumption.

• Cover mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Avoid being close to people who are sick with a fever, cough, or runny nose.

• Keep clean objects that are often touched and environmental clean.