1. How does the coronavirus affect your body?

Ans: Viruses infect your body by latching onto and entering healthy cells. Once inside, the invader makes copies of itself and multiplies throughout your body. The coronavirus busts into the ACE2 receptors. Once inside, the coronavirus hijacks your healthy cells takes over command. Eventually, it kills some of the healthy cells.

2. What happens to your body if you’re infected by the coronavirus?

Ans: COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, starts in your respiratory tract. That’s the airway between your mouth, nose, throat, and lungs. It’s the same place that the common cold attacks. But COVID-19 is more likely to get deeper into your respiratory tract, including into your lungs.

When your body spots the virus, your immune system counter attacks. One sign of that is a fever. You might have a cough, too. That’s your body’s usual response to something that’s in the airways that shouldn’t be.

3. What happens to your body if you have a serious case of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus?

Ans: Serious coronavirus infections can cause pneumonia. This makes your airways swell and fill your lungs with fluid. In the most severe cases, this fluid in the lungs can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. People who get this condition are usually already in the hospital for the illness that caused it. ARDS makes it difficult or impossible to breathe.

As fluid collects in the lungs, they carry less oxygen to your blood. That means your blood may not supply your organs with enough oxygen to survive. This can cause organs like your kidneys and liver to shut down and stop working.

4. Does high blood pressure put me at higher risk of coronavirus?

Ans: If you have high blood pressure, it's a good idea to take extra care to protect yourself during the coronavirus (COVD-19) outbreak. Early research shows that people with the condition may be more likely to:

Get COVID-19.

Have worse symptoms.

Die from the infection.

5. How does coronavirus affect people with high blood pressure?

Ans: While pneumonia is the most common complication of the virus, it can also damage the cardiovascular system.

6. Are people with high blood pressure more likely to die of coronavirus?

Ans: People with high blood pressure are slightly more likely to die from coronavirus. Their risk is about 6% higher than the overall population.

7. Should I stop taking my high blood pressure medication because of the threat of coronavirus?

Ans: Until more research comes out, the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association recommend that you keep taking your high blood pressure medicine as prescribed. Stopping these drugs could raise your risk for a heart attack or stroke, putting you in the hospital just as coronavirus cases are coming in.

8. How could high blood pressure raise my risk for coronavirus?

Ans: A weaker immune system is one reason people with high blood pressure and other health problems are at higher risk for coronavirus. Long-term health conditions and aging weaken your immune system so it's less able to fight off the virus. Nearly two-thirds of people over 60 have high blood pressure.

9. Can I use Zinc to help treat or prevent coronavirus?

Ans: Zinc is important to a healthy immune system. It’s a mineral that’s been touted to help fight colds and upper respiratory infections. Taking zinc within 24 hours of the first signs of a cold can shorten the duration of a cold. It can also help make symptoms less severe. Zinc helps fight infections by boosting the production of antibodies against infections. Consequently, a deficiency of zinc can increase your risk of infections. In past studies, the WHO reported that zinc deficiency may be responsible for 13% of all lower respiratory tract infections, most often pneumonia and flu, in children younger than 5 years. Zinc deficiency is common in the elderly, who are most likely to be severely affected by coronavirus. Researchers think that zinc deficiency may be one of the reasons seniors are more susceptible to infections. No doubt that adequate zinc is essential for seniors because of the consequences of even mild zinc deficiency on the immune system. If you’re taking care of a senior, or thinking about supplements to help during this outbreak, talk to your doctor first about which supplements you may need. Don’t ignore it.

10. Does drinking water kill coronavirus?

Ans: While drinking water is one of the healthiest things you can do, drinking water frequently is not an effective way to help prevent COVID-19. The suggestion is that drinking every 15 minutes would wash any virus down the esophagus so it can’t get into our lungs. When we’re exposed, there are at least thousands of viruses that we come into contact at any given time. It’s highly unlikely you would wash all that virus down your throat and ultimately into your stomach. The primary way the virus is transmitted is through respiratory droplets in the air, directly into the respiratory system. Chances are that some of that virus would have already made its way into your nose before you start drinking water. Plus, we often contaminate ourselves by touching our nose, allowing the virus to immediately enter our respiratory tract.

11. Can lemon juice decrease the chance of getting COVID-19?

Ans: The theory is that alkalinizing your body (i.e. making it less acidic or raising the pH) creates a less appealing environment for this new coronavirus. Well, it doesn’t. You cannot – and you don’t want to – change the pH of the cells in your body by anything you eat or drink. Your body must tightly regulate the acidity of your blood and cells and will do so at any cost. When it starts to fail at this, your body begins to fail. It’s not consistent with life. There’s no evidence – and it’s even contrary to medical science – that attempting to alkalinize your body through lemon juice or any other means does anything for coronavirus. And biologically speaking, it’s simply nonsense.

12. What is the malaria drug for COVID-19 and is it safe?

Ans: Initially, the anti-malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and cloroquine were thought to be potential treatments for COVID-19 and the FDA granted emergency use authorization. The agency later reversed itself after reviewing new information from large clinical trials. They stated they now believe that the suggested dosing regimens "are unlikely to produce an antiviral effect" but the drugs may be prescribed by physicians for off-label uses if they determine it is appropriate for treating their patients, including during COVID.

13. Can I take any vitamins or supplements to prevent coronavirus?

Ans: There are no vitamins or supplements proven to help prevent coronavirus, including COVID-19. Certain nutrients may help strengthen your immune system's ability to fight the virus, including vitamin D, high-dose vitamin C, zinc and potassium if you're deficient. Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruit and lean protein. Probiotics may also help. You can get these in yogurt and fermented foods. Like cassava products (garri, fufu, elubo, abacha, akara akpu), yam products (amala), maize products (ogi, agidi, soy‐ogi), millet products (ogi‐baba, kunu, tuwo, fura). Regular exercise and stress management techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or meditation, also help prime your immune system to fight off infections.

14. Can gargling with salt water or vinegar eliminate coronavirus?

Ans: The short answer is, no. A theory circulated early on that the coronavirus stays in the throat for a few days before making its way into the lungs. To counter that, some have suggested that gargling with salt water or vinegar could wash the virus out of your throat, preventing it from either taking hold or getting down into your lungs. Not only is there no evidence for this, but given the way the virus most commonly enters the body, gargling won’t help prevent infection. Typically, the virus enters your body when you breathe in virus that’s floating in the air after it was coughed or sneezed by an infected person. Another way the virus gains entry into our body is when we touch our nose with our hands contaminated with virus. In both instances, the virus never lands in the part of the throat that gargling would even touch.

15. Can vitamin C’s immune boosting effects ward off coronavirus?

Ans: There's no evidence that taking vitamin C regularly can help prevent coronavirus or COVID-19. In fact, there's a lot of research looking at vitamin C to help prevent the common cold and it has shown to not be effective. There is a small study looking at high doses of vitamin C either by mouth of IV (intravenous). In that study, high-dose vitamin C appeared to decrease the time on a ventilator for seriously ill people with COVID-19. More research is underway to better understand how we might use IV vitamin C to help treat COVID-19.

16. How do I know if I've already had coronavirus?

Ans: After having COVID-19, your immune system produces antibodies. Antibody tests can tell you if you've been infected with the virus. We're not sure if the antibodies produce immunity, and if they do, for how long. Still, if you have tested positive for antibodies, you can potentially donate plasma. Experimental use shows that hospitalized COVID-19 patients’ conditions improved after being treated with plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients.

17. How do I keep my family safe if I get sick with COVID-19?

Ans: To help keep the rest of your family healthy, if you get symptoms of COVID-19, you should stay away from others and wear a mask if they are nearby. Stay in one room that others can avoid. Try to use a separate bathroom from anyone else. Don’t share any personal items, such as utensils, cups, towels or bedding. Wash these items thoroughly with soap and water before anyone else uses them. Every day, disinfect surfaces in your room that are highly touched, such as doorknobs and countertops. Have someone else in the family disinfect the rest of the house. Stay isolated until you have no fever for 72 hours without the need for fever-reducing medicines, your symptoms have improved, and at least 10 days after your symptoms have ended.

18. Can coronavirus live in water?

Ans: We have very limited information on how well the novel coronavirus that causes COVD-19 can live in water. It would not live in properly treated pool water and hot tub water, so swimming is safe as long as you avoid other people. There is also no evidence that coronavirus can transmit in drinking water.

19. Will garlic help prevent coronavirus?

Ans: Garlic is a popular remedy for helping to boost the immune system. It has been shown to have germ-fighting properties but the research is very preliminary. One study showed that garlic had some inhibitory effects on a coronavirus but not this coronavirus (COVID-19), which is new.

20. What should I do if I think I have coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Ans: If you think you may have coronavirus (COVID-19) and your symptoms are mild, you can stay home, rest, stay hydrated, and let your body heal itself. If you get worse, develop shortness of breath, or you’re concerned about your symptoms, call your doctor first before going in and ask if there are any special instructions before going in. Take extra care not to spread it to others. Separate yourself from others in the home. You’ll also want to limit contact with pets. There have been a few incidents of pets becoming sick with COVID-19, so to be on the safe side it’s best to avoid contact until we know more. If there is no one else available to care for your pet, be sure to wash your hands before and after any contact. If there are others in your home, it’s best to isolate yourself to one room and have others avoid that room as much as possible until you’ve fully recovered. If you cannot isolate, remember to wear a face mask and avoid physical contact.

21. Can coronavirus live in air ducts/air filters?

Ans: Air filters can capture, kill and convert pollutants, bacteria and viruses. The technology of these filters can remove and kill pollutants, bacteria, viruses and even some of the smallest pollutant particles from the air. There are claims that a particular filter with this technology remove and kill the COVID-19 Virus. In fact, the filters capture, kill and convert particulate matter even smaller than the COVID-19 virus!! Also you can help reduce the spread of the corona virus by ensuring you don’t come into contact with any airborne virus by practicing social distancing. The greatest risk of contracting the virus is by being within 6 feet of someone who is infected. Also, if someone is sick in your home, isolate them to their own room and bathroom. If you have to help care for them, make sure to wash your hands immediately afterwards and disinfect any surfaces.

22. Could goods from the store carry coronavirus?

Ans: According to the FDA, food and food packaging have not been linked with the spread of COVID-19. Unlike food borne viruses that can make people sick through contaminated food, SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes COVID-19, is spread by droplets in the air from coughing or sneezing or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your face. Since the virus can survive on surfaces, up to 24 hours on cardboard, practice usual hygiene. Wash your hands for 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol before, during, and after handling food or food packaging. Fruits and veggies that are not prewashed should be scrubbed well under running water. Disinfect surfaces in your food prep and cooking areas including high touch areas like the fridge door.

23. Can you get coronavirus from touching cash?

Ans: Yes. You could be exposed to the COVID-19 virus, if you handle money contaminated by someone who is infectious. Use the same precautions with cash as you would touching other objects or surfaces in public areas. After contact with money, wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Be sure not to touch your face or eat food without clean hands.

24. Is it safe to take aspirin to treat coronavirus symptoms?

Ans: For adults, it’s safe to take aspirin for pain or fever from COVID-19. Due to initial concern that anti-inflammatory drugs may worsen coronavirus symptoms, the World Health Organization initially recommended against the use of these anti-inflammatory drugs. However, they reversed that recommendation several days later and no longer recommend against ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin. Children and teenagers should not take aspirin due to the risk of it causing a life-threatening condition called Reye’s syndrome.

25. How does coronavirus affect someone with HIV?

Ans: We know that having a weak immune system puts you at a higher risk of infection and severe illness.

26. However, can antiviral treatments for HIV help protect you against coronavirus?

Ans: It would seem to make sense that medications used to treat HIV would have some effect because, some work similarly to treatments currently being tested/used for coronavirus. The anti-viral medication remdesivir which has been used to treat HIV has been given emergency use authorization to help fight SARS-CoV 2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Preliminary data shows hospitalized patients with advanced COVID-19 and lung involvement recovered faster after receiving remdesivir.

27. I’ve heard 80% of people with coronavirus (COVID-19) have mild symptoms. What are mild symptoms?

Ans: That’s correct. A large majority of people have few to no symptoms. They have a positive test for the virus but no symptoms. Mild symptoms can range from sore throat, runny nose, and headache to a low-grade fever and cough. If you have mild symptoms, you should stay home and recover. Just make sure to stay isolated so you don’t spread the infection to others. People with severe symptoms typically have a high fever, severe cough, and possibly shortness of breath and often need hospital treatment to recover.

28. How often do people die from coronavirus?

Ans: Currently the mortality rate in Nigeria is between 1-2%. Coronavirus is particularly fatal in people with underlying chronic medical conditions. Older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions -- like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and being treated for cancer, for example -- seem to be at higher risk of developing serious COVID-19 illness. It can spread easily and can be particularly serious for these groups of people. However, everyone should take precautions. Social distancing and wearing face masks in public are recommended for everyone. With social distancing you maintain a 6 feet separation between you and others; you can go outdoors for necessary activities like shopping, exercise, doctors’ appointments, etc., but avoid unnecessary travel to reduce your risks.

29. How do you care for someone who has COVID-19 symptoms?

Ans: If you’re taking care of someone who’s sick, follow these steps to protect yourself:

Limit your contact as much as you can. Stay in separate rooms. If you have to be in the same room, use a fan or an open window to improve air flow.

Ask the person who’s sick to wear a cloth face mask when you’re around each other. You should wear one, too.

Don’t share items like electronics, bedding, or dishes.

Use gloves when handling the other person’s dishes, laundry, or trash. When you’re done, throw away the gloves and wash your hands.

Regularly clean and disinfect common surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, faucets, and countertops.

Take care of yourself. Get enough rest and nutrition. Watch for COVID-19 symptoms.

30. Is the coronavirus airborne?

Ans: The coronavirus is not ‘airborne’ like tuberculosis, measles, or smallpox for example, which can circulate in the air. When someone coughs, sneezes, or talks, these droplets can infect another person if they get into their airways. Droplets typically do not travel more than six feet (about two meters) and do not linger in the air. A social distance of 6 feet intends to protect you against infecting another person or becoming infected. Still, the CDC is now recommending the use of face masks in public. Infected surfaces that have viruses can also lead to infection. And under experimental conditions, the virus can stay alive in air for several hours. Because we don’t know and completely understand this virus, it’s a good idea to take airborne precautions.

31. Is there a way to treat coronavirus naturally?

Ans: While there is no known natural remedy to coronavirus, there are natural remedies to keeping your immune system strong. Regular exercise and a diet rich in non-starchy vegetables, fruit and lean protein is critical for your immune system to function optimally. Because chronic stress can suppress the immune system, practice stress-management techniques, such as deep breathing exercise and meditation. While some supplements claim to help maintain a healthy immune system, there is little research to support those claims.

32. How much more at risk am I for coronavirus infection if I smoke or am a reformed smoker?

Ans: People who smoke or vape have a higher risk of infection and serious complications with COVID-19. Tobacco and marijuana can damage the lungs and the immune system, making people more vulnerable to the virus's attack on the lungs. Stopping smoking or vaping and reducing second hand exposure are important prevention tools and will lesson your risk of symptoms if you contract coronavirus.

33. Can babies get coronavirus?

Ans: Yes, they can, although the incidence of this occurring is low and only about 0.2% had serious illness with COVID-19. That said, the CDC is warning of a rare and sometimes-deadly inflammatory condition that strikes children and may be connected COVID-19. Called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C, the condition has symptoms which include fevers, low blood pressure, rashes, red eyes, stomach upset, and inflammation of the heart and its arteries. Some of these symptoms overlap with toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease, which is one of the leading causes of heart disease in children.

34. What are signs of coronavirus in toddlers?

Ans: Kids and toddlers may have runny noses, coughs and fevers. They also may have stomach symptoms such as diarrhea. To prevent COVID-19 in kids, it's really important that children wash their hands, observe social distancing, and wear masks, even with their friends next door. (Children under the age of 2 should not wear masks due to risks of suffocation.) The coronavirus is very contagious and because people can carry it and not have symptoms, it’s best to maintain a social distance, especially with those who could get sick more easily such as grandparents too. You should also be aware of a rare and sometimes-deadly inflammatory condition that strikes children and appears to be connected COVID-19. Called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C, the condition has symptoms which include fevers, low blood pressure, rashes, red eyes, stomach upset, and inflammation of the heart and its arteries. Some of these symptoms overlap with toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease, which is one of the leading causes of heart disease in children. If your child's fever lasts for more than 2 days, if your child develops any of the other symptoms mentioned, or if you’re worried, contact your doctor.

35. What is asymptomatic transmission?

Ans: Asymptomatic means no symptoms. When someone has an infection, there is a period of time after they catch the germ before they have symptoms. This is called the incubation period. In some cases, people may catch the infection and never have any symptoms. Even with no symptoms, it’s possible to spread an infection. For example, the flu is contagious a day before someone develops symptoms. For COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, it’s most contagious when someone has symptoms, but it’s still possible to spread the infection from person to person even with no symptoms.

36. Can it only spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes within 6 ft of you?

Ans: No. There are several ways that COVID-19 can spread. The most common way appears to be when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or even talks or breathes, within 6 feet of you. The virus can even spread before someone has symptoms. The coronavirus also spreads through contact when you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus has been found in both semen and fecal material, but it is unclear if it can be spread to another person this way.

37. What is a cytokine storm?

Ans: Aging is one of various risk factors for death from COVID-19; and, there’s no doubt that as we age, we have a decline in our immune system. Other conditions that are linked to poor outcomes with COVID -19 also are associated with being immune-compromised. Our immune system has 2 arms to help us fight infections. One produces antibodies to reduce the ability for viruses to replicate, and the other arm produces chemicals called cytokines from cells of the immune system such as lymphocytes or monocytes. These chemicals help signal and regulate our immune system and inflammation. Normally, this system is kept in balance by the body. Yet, sometimes the reaction becomes uncontrolled, and too many immune cells are activated in a single place. When this happens, a significant amount of damage can happen to the body and its organs. If it happens in the lungs, for example, fluids and immune cells such as macrophages may accumulate and eventually block off the airways, potentially resulting in death.

38. How can I help my loved ones take this COVID-19 pandemic seriously?

Ans: Everyone responds to stressful situations differently. For some people, minimizing the significance of an event is their way of coping. While this can be frustrating and scary for both their safety and yours, try to stay calm and not judge them for the way they are coping with the situation. Share why you are concerned. Let them know that this situation is scary for you and if they don’t take steps to protect themselves and the rest of the family, that’s creating extra anxiety for you. Keep sharing your feelings. Make it about how you’re feeling and not about what they are or aren’t doing.

39. How can I prevent coronavirus when pregnant?

Ans: According to the CDC, pregnant women should do the same things as the general public to avoid infection. You can help stop the spread of COVID-19 by taking these actions:

Wear a face mask in public.

Avoid people who are sick.

Clean your hands often using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Social distancing is key during this time to reduce the risk of exposure.

40. What do I do if someone coughed on me?

Ans: If someone has coughed on you and the droplets touch your face or hands, wash immediately. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Find out if the person has any other symptoms of the coronavirus, such as fever, fatigue, body aches, chills or shortness of breath. If they do, you may need to reach out to your doctor and potentially self-isolate yourself for 14 days to make sure you don't have symptoms of COVID-19. But check with your doctor.