COVID-19 is a disease caused by the newly discovered Corona virus and is linked to the same kind of viruses as SARS and other common cold. COVID-19 stands for Corona Virus Disease 2019, which was formerly known as ‘2019 novel Corona viruses or ‘2019-nCoV.’ This virus was unknown before until its first outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

To facilitate public with feasibility to buy the essentials, government of Andhra Pradesh has given a relaxation time from 6AM to 9 AM to come out and buy groceries.
However, practices like social distancing, wearing masks, clean hands etc are to be strictly followed to avoid the spread of the infection. Also only 1 individual is allowed to come out and buy the essentials.

There is lot information available about COVID-19 over the web. However for the government announcements specific to Andhra Pradesh, please visit http://covid19.ap.gov.in/

There are different symptoms for COVID-19 like cold, fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some others show body aches, nasal congestion, running nose, diarrhea and sore throat. These are mild symptoms and are noticed gradually. Some don’t even show any such symptoms even after being infected.

However, most of the infected are recovering with some general symptom based treatment. Whereas, few like 1 out of 6 or so are becoming severely ill and are developing breathing problems. People with medical conditions like fever, cough and breathing difficulty are highly recommended for a medical examination on immediate grounds.

Government of AP has taken many notable measures to control the spread of the virus. Here are a few worth of knowing action plans that the government has come up with.

• The state government has passed orders to all the private medical institutions that their resources, man power and premises are to be put at the district collectors’ disposal for as and when use.
• Government is setting up isolation facilities with 100 beds in every constituency. Whereas, the district head quarters hold 200 – 300 tertiary care treatment facilities solely for COVID-19 patients.
• Unique of its way and unlike seen in any other state of India, Andhra Pradesh government recruited around 1.5 lakh village volunteers and secretariats for strengthening village administration and also for delivering commodities to the households as and when planned and needed.
• Launched drones for surveillance in areas tagged red zones.
• 16723 isolation centers are created and are made available to manage the pandemic situation.
• The 2.8lakh village volunteers and ASHA workers are extending their support in tracking the COVID cases, spreading awareness regarding COVID-19 and preventive measures and maintaining surveillance.
• Over 25000 individuals are advised to self quarantine. The government of AP has come up with a “COVID alert tracking system”, via which the officials keep an eye on the quarantines. The database of the mobile numbers of those who are supposed to be self quarantined, is collected by the state disaster management. With this tracking system, the government kept a tab on the real time location of the quarantined individuals, with the help of the telecom service providers.

Andhra Pradesh state government has already started making the test kits that can produce test results in less than an hour. The unit and AP MedTech zone in Vizag can produce around 2000 kits per day and the capacity may be ramped to 25000 units a day depending on the circumstances.

The government has also planned for the making of ventilators at this facility mid April, increasing the output to 6000 units in phases.

COVID-19 spreads when exposed to infected persons droplets. These droplets from the infected persons nose or mouth, when sneezed or cough settle on objects. When a healthy person gets exposed to these droplets or touch the objects carrying the droplets, use the hands to touch his/her face without cleaning then becomes infected. It’s because of this reason that we should stay at least 1 meter away from the infected.

To facilitate health, volunteers, government officials, emergency service providers, government has announced essential volunteer passes issued from respective police department to avoid any travel complications. • District SP will give passes for in the district travel and in the state travel scenario. • For traveling to other states, your district SP will process the pass and other details to the DGP who further enquires with the other state officials and issue the pass. • Those who are applying for this pass has to submit the details like name, vehicle number, number of people traveling, Aadhar number, from where to where journey details, etc., • Can apply to the pass to district SPs Whatsapp number or email ID. • Once the pass is approved, the details of the pass are sent to the registered number and the individual has to carry the pass details during travel.

The respiratory droplets of the infected person are the main source of getting infected. So, the chance of catching COVID-19 from a person with no symptoms is low. However, many COVID infected people show mild symptoms like cold but doesn’t appear ill which happens at the early stages of infection. It is in such cases, it’s possible to catch COVID-19 from the infected with mild symptoms.

The possibility of virus spread from the feces seems to be low. But investigations also prove the existence of virus in the feces in certain cases but the transmission through this means is not the main route of the outbreak. This is why, it is important, to wash your hands post using washrooms and before eating.

Following certain simple measures can prevent the spread of the COVID-19 and also keep you protected: • Clean your hands thoroughly with soap and water or with any alcohol-based hand washers. Reason: Washing hands with soap and water or any alcohol-based hand rub kills the virus and further mitigates the spread of virus and as well protects you from the infection. • Maintain social distancing; maintain at least 1 meter distance from those suffering with cold or cough or sneezes, although they may appear with no illness. Reason: The chances of being exposed to the virus that’s released from the infected person sneeze or cough droplets can be reduced if you maintain the distance from the infected or else you may breath in the droplets that contain viruses from the infected. • Avoid touching your face with your hands. Reason: We touch anything around with hands thus the chances for the hands to be contaminated are high. Touching face can transfer virus from hands to your eyes, nose or mouth and further carry them to your body and will make you sick. • Maintain body and respiratory hygiene like using your elbow bent while sneezing or using a tissue and carefully disposing off after usage. Reason: Droplets are the main carriers of virus, so by following respiratory hygiene you in a way protect yourself and as well prevent further spread of the virus to others. • Be sure to stay at home if you observe any fever or cough or difficulty breathing. Immediately contact your health care advisory authorities and follow their directions. Reason: National or local health authorities will have all the information up to date about the virus. Call them at the earliest as it helps in guiding you to the right health care facility. Also take necessary preventive measures in further spreading of the virus. • Keep yourself up to date of the COVID-19 hotspots and by all means avoid travelling to those areas, especially if you’re an aged one. Reason: This increases the chance of getting exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

A toll free number 14410 has been assigned for this purpose. Around 300 doctors and 114 executives have volunteered to serve. These individuals serve from 8AM to 6PM in shifts. Started with a main intention to identify the COVID-19 cases, isolate them, test and quarantine if needed. OP services and medicines advisory and suggestions are given over phone. Doctors are provided with the internet facility and technical assistance is given by the respective team. The process takes in 3 steps: Step 1 – A missed call to the toll free number. Executive calls the dialer and collects the details like where about, symptoms and gives a unique ID. Step 2 – Patients details are made visible to all the doctors on the platform. Doctor available at the moment accepts the call and provides OP services. The patient is informed of the test and medicines to be taken. Depending on the symptoms, COVID-19 suspects are identified. An SMS with the treatment details is sent. Video consultation is also provided at times when needed. In case if needed, Doctors also take decision about which hospital the patient has to be sent. Step 3 - The list of COVID-19 suspect cases is made. These patients if needed are tested; quarantined and isolated treatment details are made available at the PHC at district and state level. These lists are also sent to the district authorities. Take care of the proper necessary actions.

A Follow all the preventive measures that would restrict the spread of the disease. • Self isolate yourself if you have cough or even mild fever or running nose or any other symptoms to avoid further spread of the virus to others. • If you suffer with fever or cough or running nose or difficulty breathing, get immediate medical advisory as this can be because of any respiratory infection or any other serious conditions. Also, be sure of informing your advisory of any recent travel history so as to take the measures to stop the further spread of the disease.

No, UV lamps are not suggested to be used to clean your hands or any other parts of the body as it instead of killing the virus can cause skin irritation. So use soap and water or any alcohol-based hand washes to clean your hands against any viruses.

It depends on many factors like if you’re anywhere around where there is any COVID case identified. For most people or locations, still the risk of COVID-19 is low. However there are also localities or countries where the virus is wide spread. The chances of getting COVID-19 are high in such areas. So follow the travel rules from the government and also avoid large gatherings. Cooperating with the authorities in controlling the disease will decrease the chances of the virus spread. COVID-19 can be controlled as many countries, however, the spreading is also rapid. So follow your authorities and keep yourself up to date to the latest outbreaks and stay safe.

COVID-19 illness is actually mild in many cases and don’t even need hospital care, except for 1 in 5. Hence, its of worry about COVID-19 and its spreading. Convert your concerns to caring and actions to prevent further spread of the virus. Above all necessary actions, be sure to regularly clean your hands with hand rub or soap and water. Next, be informed and follow any restrictions imposed by the authorities on travel, movement and gatherings.

Thermal scanners are good in finding people sick with fever because of the new virus. But, they are not capacitative enough to figure out infected people who don’t yet show the fever symptoms. Fever in the infected people may appear late in some and some people might be in the initial days of infection.

No, alcohol and chlorine has no effect on the viruses that’s already in your body. Moreover, alcohol and chlorine are very dangerous to your organs like eyes, mouth, skin, etc. Please be alarmed that alcohol or chlorine should be used to disinfect the surfaces that too under proper recommendations.

Pneumonia vaccines like pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine show no protection against the new corona virus. This new corona virus is completely different and needs a unique vaccine prepared for itself. Scientists and researchers are working hard for the vaccine to protect against the new 2019-nCoV. However, taking a vaccine for respiratory illness is utmost suggested as it protects your body.

There is no proven case, wherein regular rinsing of nose with saline has protected from the new Corona virus. There are few cases wherein regular rinsing of nose can recover from the respiratory cases. But, still, regular rinsing of the nose has not proven prevention of respiratory infections.

Red zones in AP are completely contained and serious restrictions are imposed to control further spread of the virus and restrict people to homes. - Strict sanitation measures. - All essentials home delivered. - Regular monitoring of the activities by the officers and the ministers.

The new Corona virus has no age limitations. Anyone under any age group, if exposed to the new virus, 2019-nCoV gets infected. However, aged people and anyone with earlier respiratory problems like Asthma, diabetes, heart conditions stand at high risk of getting severely ill because of the infection.

Antibiotics work only against bacteria but not viruses. COVID-19 is caused by the new Corona virus and so antibiotics should not be used for treating COVID-19. Whereas, incase if you’re hospitalized due to COVID-19, antibiotics may be used against bacterial co-infection.

Till date there is no medicine to treat COVID-19 or prevent Corona virus infection. Hospitals are treating COVID-19 patients by treating and relieving them from their every individual symptom. Whereas those with severe illness are treated by the doctors by the most and best effective use of the medical care available. Also many countries are doing their best in researching and finding a best solution for the COVID-19.

No, the viruses that cause COVID-19 and SARS are genetically related but the resulting diseases are quite different. COVID-19 spreads fast unlike SARS which is deadly. There are no SARS cases since 2003.

No, wear a mask only if you feel any illness or if you’re attending any one with illness. Use your elbow or a tissue when you cough. Whole world is facing COVID-19 and so is running low on masks. So it is highly advised to cleverly use mask only when needed to avoid shortage of resources and misuse of masks. The best way to protect yourself is regularly cleaning your hands with hand rub or soap and water, cover while you cough or sneeze and maintain at least 1 meter distance between you and the one sneezing or coughing.

• A mask should only be used by health workers, care takers, and those with respiratory symptoms like cough or running nose or sneezes. • Clean your hands with hand rub or soap and water before touching a mask. • Check if the mask is in good condition or damaged • Look for the top side with the metal strip and be ensured that the correct side faces outwards. • Place the mask on your face and pinch on the metal strip so that the mask gets adjusted to your face. Adjust it so that it covers your chin also. • To take of the mask, pull off the strips mounting around your ears. Be sure that the mask won’t get in touch with your body or clothes or anything else as its contaminated already. • Throw off the mask into a closed bin post usage. • Again post disposal clean your hands.• A mask should only be used by health workers, care takers, and those with respiratory symptoms like cough or running nose or sneezes. • Clean your hands with hand rub or soap and water before touching a mask. • Check if the mask is in good condition or damaged • Look for the top side with the metal strip and be ensured that the correct side faces outwards. • Place the mask on your face and pinch on the metal strip so that the mask gets adjusted to your face. Adjust it so that it covers your chin also. • To take of the mask, pull off the strips mounting around your ears. Be sure that the mask won’t get in touch with your body or clothes or anything else as its contaminated already. • Throw off the mask into a closed bin post usage. • Again post disposal clean your hands.

Incubation period is the time taken for the virus from entering the host and showing any symptoms. Incubation period can vary from 1 to 14 days, but, in most cases its 5 days. The estimations can be more affirmed with further data available.

There are recent instances where the pets of the COVID-19 patients are infected with the disease. So with that said, there is a possible chance of animals infected with a close contact to the infected person. With whatever information is available, human to human transmission is the main driving factor of the disease spread. It’s too early to come to a judgment on whether pets could also be an intermediate host for the spread of the disease. However maintain proper pet hygiene to avoid any concerns later.

There is no confirmed information of how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on the surfaces but it seems to just behave like other corona viruses. Studies show that survival period of this Corona virus varies from few hours to several days depending on the type of surface and temperature of the environment.Consider cleaning surfaces before using them. Avoid touching your facial parts like nose, mouth and eyes.

Yes, you can definitely get a package from a COVId-19 infected area. The chance for the package to get contaminated by a COVID-19 patient is low. And the chance of catching a virus from a package that just moved and exposed to different temperature conditions is also low.

Smoking, wearing multiple masks and taking antibiotics is to be avoided. Incase if you sense cough or fever or breathing difficulty, get in touch with the medical authorities at the earliest possible to avoid the severity of the infection. Be sure to discuss about your travel history and any other medical conditions with your health advisory.

Here are a few places from our daily routine which stand a possible chance of the virus spread. Milk packets, elevator buttons, door bell switch, newspaper, car doors, while emptying the trash, while buying vegetables and fruits, shop counters, office pantries, mess and bathroom, parks, play areas, door handles, online home delivery boys, through maids, shopping bags, money notes or coins, taxis, buses, trains, kids bags and others, flight travels etc. Lets wash hands clean regularly and eradicate Corona virus spread. Let us all be very cautious and protect ourselves from COVID-19.