CORONAVIRUS is continuing its deadly spread with cases reaching almost 400,000 worldwide.
But as a new illness, which emerged in China in December, doctors still don't have a cure for Covid-19.
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The best way to beat coronavirus is to know the symptoms – and if they are mild, to stay at home.
These usually include:
- A new or persistent dry cough
- A high temperature
Some people may also develop shortness of breath and fatigue.
Others can develop aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea – but these are usually mild and begin gradually.
Around one out of every six who gets Covid-19 become seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing, according to the WHO.
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are at most risk developing serious illness.
The NHS advises individuals with these symptoms to stay at home for seven days.
At the moment, only those in hospital are being tested for Covid-19.
But the Prime Minister has announced that tests will be ramped up – and there's hopes of a new check which will be able to show whether a person has already had the illness.
Boris Johnson said that the new test will give people "a green light" to go back to work safe in the knowledge that you are "unlikely to get it again".
Public Health England are currently looking at ways to get a much more widespread version of the test out, according to the government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance.
How to treat coronavirus?
As a new virus, there is currently no known treatment for Covid-19.
Experts are desperately testing old drugs, such an anti-malaria and HIV medication, to see if they could be possible treatments.
And scientists are also carrying out vaccine trials but it's expected to be months before they will be made available.
Coronavirus is a viral infection, which means treating it with antibiotics is useless – they only work in combating bacterial infections.
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Those in hospital with complications, such as pneumonia, may be given antibiotics however it's not something that should be used at home.
So the main thing to do is to try and alleviate the symptoms as best you can while your body battles the disease.
The NHS recommends getting rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
Those with the illness can also take paracetamol to relieve symptoms caused by infection such as fever – but the advice is currently not to take ibuprofen.
The health service recently changed its guidance around using the anti-inflammatory to treat coronavirus, amid fears it could make the condition worse.
But medics have reassured people pointing out there is a lack of evidence to say ibuprofen is dangerous – however for now, given this is such a new disease, it's wise to avoid the drug.
If your symptoms get worse or if you are unable to cope with them, you should call NHS 111.
And in the event of an emergency, always call 999.
How long does coronavirus last?
Everyone responds differently to illnesses such as the common cold or the flu – and the same can be said for this new virus.
Some people will experience severe symptoms while others might not even know they've had Covid-19 at all.
Scientists have produced a general day-by-day breakdown of the typical symptoms – to help people better understand the nature of the illness.
The analysis includes adults with Covid-19 admitted to Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital after December 29 2019, who had been discharged or died by January 31 2020.
For most people, the first symptoms will be fever (temperature above 37.8C) and/or cough, which is usually dry to start with.
A team of researchers who studied 138 patients with Covid-19 at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University found that on average it took five days for people to develop signs of breathing difficulties – from displaying the first symptoms.
About 85 per cent of people diagnosed with coronavirus will see their symptoms start to diminish by day seven and coming out of isolation is a possibility.
Dr Sarah Jarvis told us: "For most people, most symptoms will have settled within a week."
However, the government says that if you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days.
The illness tends to only continue beyond a week in people with severe symptoms.
By day 8, the scientists say some patients may develop signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Symptoms of ARDS can include severe shortness of breath, rapid, shallow breathing, tiredness, drowsiness or confusion and feeling faint.
Patients with worsening breathing problems tend to be entered into an intensive care unit at day ten.
day 12, fever – an early sign of Covid-19 – would typically end around this point.
However, a cough associated with the illness may stay around for longer, the scientists found.
In fact, 45 per cent of the 191 patients who were looked at still had a cough on discharge after the 12 day period.
Dyspnoea – shortness of breath – tends to cease after about 13 days for those who survive and continue until point of death for those who didn’t.
From illness onset, the average time to death was 18.5 days, according to the study.
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