WHO COVID-19 Guidelines

World Health Organization
For the latest health advice and updated statistics, go to:
www.who.int/COVID-19
COVID-19
BREAK THE CHAIN
OF TRANSMISSION
WHO Status Update 16/03/2020 16:00 CET
Confirmed Cases Deaths Countries with cases
168,019 6,610 146
Total confirmed cases
(March daily evolution)

KEY FACTS
Trustworthy health advice has never been more vital – it may be the difference between life and death.
Spreading rumours and misleading information is dangerous, always check the source reliability before sharing on social media.
BE INFORMED BE SMART BE SAFE
• To protect yourself and others from
getting sick, learn about the disease to
assess the risks;
• Follow accurate public health advice
from WHO and public health
authorities;
• Follow the news on latest updates;
• Identify safe ways to serve those that
are at high risk or vulnerable;
• If caring for a household member, follow
recommended precautions and monitor
your own health regularly.
• Immediately self-isolate and seek early
medical care if you have fever, cough
and difficulty breathing;
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or
hospital. Stay isolated at home and call
the dedicated national health hotline;
• If the medical professional thinks you
might be infected, they will direct you to
the right health facility;
• Create a household plan of action and
share it family, friends and neighbours;
• Make sure you have access to
medications and food supplies in case
you need to stay home – ensure you are
responsible when buying supplies.
• Break the chain of transmission by
following WHO guidelines;
• Stay at home and do not receive visitors
if you or a family member are an older
adult or have underlying health issues;
• Wash your hands regularly and
thoroughly;
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth;
• Practice respiratory hygiene;
• When reaching home, immediately
Take your shoes off, change clothes,
clean and disinfect frequently touched
objects and surfaces (tap, door handles,
mobile phones, keys, etc) and wash
your hands thoroughly.

WHAT IS A CORONAVIRUS?
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases
such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a newly identified respiratory virus in the coronavirus family, but it is more severe and spreads easily. Diagnosis is
difficult because it shares several symptoms with a flu and cold.
Why COVID-19 was declared pandemic by World Health Organisation?
This assessment was made for two main reasons:
• Speed and scale of transmission
Almost 150,000 cases have now been reported to WHO, from 146 countries. In the past two weeks, the number of cases
reported worldwide has increased almost 13-fold, and the number of affected countries has almost tripled.
• Some countries are not approaching this threat with the level of political commitment needed to control it
This is a controllable pandemic. Countries that decide to give up on fundamental public health measures may end up with a
larger problem, and a heavier burden on the health system that requires more severe measures to control.

COMMON SYMPTOMS
Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after being exposed
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough.
Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore
throat or diarrhea.
These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become
infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people
(about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.
Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and
develops difficulty breathing.
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood
pressure, respiratory condition, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to
develop serious illness.
How is COVID-19 transmitted?
COVID-19 spreads just like the flu or a cold — through respiratory droplets
from an infected person's cough or sneeze. By touching eyes, nose and mouth
after close personal contact (like touching or shaking hands) and by touching
an object or surface with the virus on it,
When will this epidemic end?
No one knows for sure, scientists say it is too early to determine.

COVID-19 RISK ASSESSMENT
The risk of severe disease associated with COVID-19 infection is currently considered moderate for the general population
and high for older adults and individuals with chronic underlying conditions, based on the probability of community
transmission and the impact of the disease.
The risk of healthcare system capacity being exceeded in the coming days is considered high. The impact and risk
assessment on health system capacity can be mediated by the application of effective infection prevention and control and
surge capacity measures.
The risk of transmission of COVID-19 in health and social institutions with large vulnerable populations is considered high.
The impact of transmission in health and social institutions can be mediated by the application of effective infection
prevention and control and surge capacity.
Most countries are quickly moving toward a scenario of sustained community transmission of COVID-19. The situation is
evolving very quickly and a rapid, proactive and comprehensive approach is essential in order to delay transmission, as
containing transmission to local epidemics is no longer considered feasible.
A rapid shift from a containment to a mitigation approach is required, as the rapid increase in cases, that is anticipated in
the coming days to few weeks may not provide decision makers and hospitals enough time to realise, accept and adapt
their response accordingly if not implemented ahead of time. Measures taken at this stage should ultimately aim at
protecting the most vulnerable population groups from severe illness and fatal outcome by reducing transmission and
reinforcing healthcare systems.

PROTECTION MEASURES FOR EVERYONE
Authorities in China and some other countries have succeeded in
slowing or stopping their outbreaks. However, the situation is
unpredictable so check regularly for the latest news.
To save lives we must break the chains of transmission. That means
finding and isolating as many cases as possible, and quarantining
their closest contacts. Even if we cannot stop transmission, we can
slow it down and protect health facilities, old age homes and other
vital areas.
SIMPLE MEASURES CAN PROTECT YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY.
Video: https://youtu.be/8c_UJwLq8PI
1. Wash your
hands
regularly
2. Maintain social
distancing and isolate
the vulnerable
3. Avoid touching
eyes, nose and
mouth
4. Practice
respiratory
hygiene
1.5. Stay
home if you
feel unwell
and seek
medical help
6. Stay informed and
follow advice given
by your healthcare
provider
1.7. Plan and
prepare
WHO GUIDELINES
IT IS YOUR PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO
BREAK THE CHAINS OF
TRANSMISSION

1. WASH YOUR HANDS REGULARLY
Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with
soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand rub.
You should expand this to other exposed parts of
the body, mostly, arms and face.
Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them
fully by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.
Why?
Washing your hands with soap and water or using
alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on
your hands.

2. MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING AND
ISOLATE THE VULNERABLE
Maintain at least 2 metres distance, especially from
those who are showing respiratory symptoms like
repeatedly coughing and sneezing.
Just as avoiding handshakes and hugs is important
while greeting others, people should also be mindful
about not touching inappropriately objects and
surfaces in shared facilities.
Avoid exposing family members to work clothing and
shoes. Take your shoes off, change clothes and wash
your hands immediately after reaching home.
If you are 60+, and/or you have an underlying
condition like high blood pressure, cardiovascular
disease, respiratory condition and diabetes, avoid
crowded areas and isolate from people that might be
infected.
Why?
When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small
liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may
contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the
droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person
coughing has the disease.

3. AVOID TOUCHING EYES, NOSE AND
MOUTH
Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are
not clean.
Why?
From picking up objects to turning doorknobs, hands
touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once
contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes,
nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your
body and can make you sick.

4. PRACTICE RESPIRATORY HYGIENE
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow
good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your
mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue
when you cough or sneeze.
Use only paper tissues and dispose them
immediately.
Clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap
and water after coughing or sneezing.
Why?
Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory
hygiene you protect the people around you from
viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

5. STAY HOME IF YOU FEEL UNWELL
AND SEEK MEDICAL HELP
It's important to stay at home to stop coronavirus
spreading. This action will help protect you and others
in your household and community.
Self-isolate for 14 days and seek medical attention by
contacting the national health hotline if:
• You are in or have recently visited (past 14 days)
areas where COVID-19 is spreading;
• Experience symptoms like fever, cough and
difficulty breathing.
Tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with
travellers.
UNLESS INSTRUCTED BY YOUR HEALTH PROVIDER, DO
NOT GO TO A GP SURGERY, PHARMACY OR
HOSPITAL.
Why?
National and local health authorities will have the most
up-to-date information on the situation in your area.
Calling in advance will allow your health care provider
to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will
also allow these facilities to operate more effectively
and help protect you and others from possible COVID-
19 and other viruses.

6. STAY INFORMED AND FOLLOW ADVICE
GIVEN BY YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
Learn about the disease to assess the risks. Stay
informed on the latest developments about COVID-
19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider,
your national and local public health authority or
your employer on how to protect yourself and others
from COVID-19.
The spread of misinformation is already
commonplace on social media, where the sharing of
content from biased sources frequently outpaces
whatever fact-checking and moderation safeguards
are in place. To avoid spreading rumours and
misinformation, it is everyone’s responsibility to
check the source of information. Avoid sharing
unofficial information, check the WHO website, and
official health authorities.
SOME OFFICIAL WEBSITES
World Health Organisation
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
EU - European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china
NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19
Why?
National and local authorities will have the most up to date
information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area.
They are best placed to advise on what people in your area
should be doing to protect themselves.

7. PLAN AND PREPARE
Support the loved ones
• Information is key - learn about the disease to assess the risks.
• Check in regularly especially with those affected, show solidarity
and empathy;
• Help the vulnerable by getting their supplies, like food and
medicines;
• Provide calm and correct advice to children and elderly;
Create a household plan of action
• Consider members of the household that may be at greater risk
such as older adults and people with severe chronic illnesses;
• Get to know your neighbors. If your neighborhood has a website
or social media page, consider joining it to maintain access to
neighbours, information, and resources;
• Create an emergency contact list including family, friends,
neighbours, healthcare providers, teachers, employers, the local
public health department, and other community resources;
• Consider staying away from crowds if you or a family member are
an older adult or have underlying health issues;
• Choose a room and bathroom in your house that can be used to
separate sick household members;
• If you have a sick household member, avoid sharing personal items
like food and drinks. Provide clean disposable facemasks to wear at
home. Ventilate and regularly clear and disinfect the sick room and
bathroom;
• If you live alone and become sick during a COVID-19 outbreak, you
may need help. If you have a chronic medical condition and live
alone, ask family, friends, and health care providers to check on you
during an outbreak. Stay in touch with family and friends with
chronic medical conditions;
• Take care of the emotional health of your household members. Take
breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories about
COVID-19. Connect with family and friends. Share your concerns
and how you are feeling with others;
• Make sure you have access to several weeks of medications and
food supplies in case you need to stay home – ensure you are
reasonable and responsible when buying supplies, other families
are looking to stock up too.

Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home
Stay away from others: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home.
Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available.
Ventilation: Make sure that shared spaces in the home have good air flow. Close the door of the isolated room and
bathroom, and ensure it has good ventilation.
Waste: Use a pedal waste bin and a plastic bag that can be closed.
Limit contact with pets & animals: Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-
19, it is still recommended that people sick with COVID-19 should avoid unnecessary contact with animals until more
information is known about the virus.
What to to if you are sick
if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and/or developed symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing,
self-isolate and contact the national health hotline. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other
people from getting exposed and will direct you to the right health facility.
DO NOT GO TO A GP SURGERY, PHARMACY OR HOSPITAL UNLESS INSTRUCTED BY YOUR HEALTH PROVIDER
Stay home except to get medical care
Stay home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 must be isolated at home. All movements on the house shared places,
and outside home, must be restricted, except for getting medical care.
Avoid public areas: Do not go to work, school, or public areas.
Avoid public transportation: Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

Wear a facemask
If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) or pets and
before you enter a healthcare provider’s office.
If you are caring for others: If the person who is sick is not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble
breathing), then caretakers should wear a facemask if they enter the isolated room.
Cover your coughs and sneezes
Cover: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Dispose: Throw used tissues in a pedal waste bin.
Wash hands: Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or, if soap and water are not
available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Clean your hands often
Wash hands: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose,
coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol,
covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry.
Avoid touching: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid sharing personal household items
Do not share: You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or
pets in your home.
Wash thoroughly after use: After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
Clean all “high-touch” surfaces frequently and ventilate the isolated room
Clean and disinfect: Practice routine cleaning of high touch surfaces like: counters, table tops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures,
toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.
Disinfect areas with bodily fluids: Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
Household cleaners: Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions
for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as
wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
Ventilation: Make sure that shared spaces in the home have good air flow, when possible, open the windows.
Monitor your symptoms
Seek medical attention: contact the national health hotline if your illness is worsening (e.g., difficulty breathing).
Alert health department: Ask your healthcare provider to call the local or state health department. Persons who are placed
under active monitoring or facilitated self-monitoring should follow instructions provided by their local health department or
occupational health professionals, as appropriate.

Discontinuing home isolation
Stay at home until instructed to leave: Patients with confirmed COVID-19 should remain under home isolation precautions
until the risk of secondary transmission to others is thought to be low.
Talk to your healthcare provider: The decision to discontinue home isolation precautions should be made on a case-by-case
basis, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments. Someone who has been released
from isolation is not considered to pose a risk of infection to others.
To release someone from isolation they must meet all of these requirements:
• The patient is free from fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• The patient is no longer showing symptoms, including cough.
• The patient has tested negative on at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected at least 24 hours apart.
Anxiety and Stress: Being separated from others can be stressful. Everyone feels differently after coming out of quarantine.
Some feelings include:
• Mixed emotions, including relief after quarantine
• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
• Stress from the experience of monitoring yourself or being monitored by others for signs and symptoms of COVID-19
• Sadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have unfounded fears of contracting the disease from
contact with you, even though you have been determined not to be contagious
• Guilt about not being able to perform normal work or parenting duties during quarantine
• Other emotional or mental health changes
Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.

Recommended precautions for household members, intimate
partners, and caregivers
Household members, intimate partners, and caregivers may have close contact with a person with symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed
COVID-19 or a person under investigation. Close contacts should monitor their health; they should call their healthcare provider right away if
they develop symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
Close contacts should also follow these recommendations:
• Make sure that you understand and can help the patient follow their healthcare provider’s instructions for medication(s) and care. You
should help the patient with basic needs in the home and provide support for getting groceries, prescriptions, and other personal needs;
• Monitor the patient’s symptoms. If the patient is getting sicker, call the healthcare provider, they will direct you to the right health facility
• Prohibit visitors who do not have an essential need to be in the home;
• Make sure that shared spaces in the home have good air flow, such as by an air conditioner or an opened window, weather permitting;
• Perform hand hygiene frequently. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer that contains 60 to 95% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and
water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands;
• Wear a disposable facemask and gloves when you touch or have contact with the patient’s blood, stool, or body fluids, such as saliva,
sputum, nasal mucus, vomit, urine:
• Throw out disposable facemasks and gloves after using them. Do not reuse;
• When removing personal protective equipment, first remove and dispose of gloves. Then, immediately clean your hands with soap
and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Next, remove and dispose of facemask, and immediately clean your hands again with
soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Recommended precautions for household members, intimate
partners, and caregivers
• Avoid sharing household items with the patient. You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or
other items. After the patient uses these items, you should wash them thoroughly (see below “Wash laundry thoroughly”).
• Clean all “high-touch” surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and
bedside tables, every day. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
• Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of
the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure
you have good ventilation during use of the product.
• Wash laundry thoroughly.
• Immediately remove and wash clothes or bedding that have blood, stool, or body fluids on them.
• Wear disposable gloves while handling soiled items and keep soiled items away from your body. Clean your hands (with soap and
water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) immediately after removing your gloves.
• Read and follow directions on labels of laundry or clothing items and detergent. In general, using a normal laundry detergent
according to washing machine instructions and dry thoroughly using the warmest temperatures recommended on the clothing
label.
• Place all used disposable gloves, facemasks, and other contaminated items in a lined container before disposing of them with other
household waste. Clean your hands (with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) immediately after handling these items.
Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
• Discuss any additional questions with your state or local health department or healthcare provider. Check available hours when
contacting your local health department.

Reducing Stigma
Public health emergencies are stressful times for people and communities. Fear and anxiety about a disease can lead to
social stigma toward people, places, or things.
Stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate a disease with a population or nationality, even though not everyone in
that population or from that region is specifically at risk for the disease. Stigma can also occur after a person has been released from
COVID-19 quarantine even though they are not considered a risk for spreading the virus to others.
Some groups of people who may be experiencing stigma because of COVID-19 include:
• Persons of descent of the areas affected;
• People who have travelled;
• Emergency responders or healthcare professionals.
Stigma hurts everyone by creating fear or anger towards other people. Stigmatized groups may be subjected to:
• Social avoidance or rejection
• Denials of healthcare, education, housing or employment
• Physical violence.
Stigma affects the emotional or mental health of stigmatized groups and the communities they live in. Stopping stigma is important
to making communities and community members resilient.
Everyone can help stop stigma related to COVID-19 by knowing the facts and sharing them with others in your community.

Managing anxiety and stress
Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people
you care about, and your community stronger.
People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include:
• Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19;
• Children and teens;
• People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders.
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:
• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones;
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns;
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating;
• Worsening of chronic health problems;
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs;
• Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your
community stronger.
Things you can do to support yourself:
• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting;
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and
avoid alcohol and drugs;
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy, if possible, outside the house;
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community
stronger. Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.

General advice for travellers
All travellers should follow sensible guidance to prepare for their trip and reduce risk of exposure to COVID-19 while this
outbreak is on-going.
• Avoid all nonessential travel;
• Be aware of, and keep up to date with the latest official advice offered by the country you are departing from or travelling
to during this COVID-19 outbreak.
• If you are elderly or have pre-existing health issues, you should be aware that if you are infected with COVID-19 you could
be at increased risk of severe infection.
• Use of facemasks is generally not recommended outside clinical settings for personal protection. Should you decide to use
a mask (or it is a requirement at your destination), you should ensure you continue to use all the recommended
precautions in order to minimise the risk of transmission.
• Check the impact this outbreak may have on your travel insurance coverage, including medical repatriation costs in case of
ill health or any new restrictions on travel.
• Contact your airline, tour operator, cruise line or other transport and accommodation providers for up-to date information
on your itinerary and travel plans.
• Be aware that there may be enhanced screening/monitoring at entry and exit ports. You may also be required to self-
isolate for a set period, even if you do not have symptoms on your return.
• If you have been in contact with a known COVID-19 case, follow local public health advice (if available), and speak to your
healthcare provider or travel insurance company as soon as possible for further guidance.

Advice if you become unwell abroad
If you develop symptoms of cough or fever or shortness of breath (even if minor) while abroad or during travel, you should
immediately:
• Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people, as you would with the flu.
• Call your health provider and/or insurance company to discuss what you should do.
• Follow local public health guidance if available.
• If you become unwell at an airport, bus or train station before or during a long trip, seek medical attention and do not
start or continue your journey.
• Once you have fully recovered, check with your health provider if you are fit to travel, before any onward travel.

Advice for those who travelled to specific affected areas
Category 1: Travellers should self-isolate, even if asymptomatic, and contact the national health hotline to find out what to do
next. Go home or to your destination and then self isolate.
Travellers who returned from areas of Northern Italy that were under containment measures between 19 February and 8
March 2020 should self-isolate for 14 days. If they develop symptoms they should contact the national health hotline.
Travellers who returned from the rest of Italy before 9th March 2020 do not need to undertake any special measures, but if
they develop symptoms they should self-isolate and contact the national health hotline.
Category 2: Travellers do not need to undertake any special measures, but if they develop symptoms they should self-isolate
and contact the national health hotline.
Category 1 countries/areas: Category 2 countries/areas:
• Wuhan city and Hubei Province (China)
• Iran
• Daegu/Cheongdo (Rep. of Korea)
• Italy
• Cambodia;
• China;
• Hong Kong;
• Japan;
• Laos;
• Macau
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Republic of Korea
• Singapore
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

COVID-19 Myth busters – Advice for public
Are there any specific medicines to prevent or treat the new coronavirus?
To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
However, those infected with the virus should receive appropriate care to relieve and treat symptoms, and those with severe
illness should receive optimized supportive care. Some specific treatments are under investigation, and will be tested through
clinical trials. WHO is helping to accelerate research and development efforts with a range or partners.
Does the new coronavirus affect older people, or are younger people also susceptible?
People of all ages, races and genders can be infected by COVIF-19. Younger people, seem to be insulated to some extent to
protect (them) from getting particularly sick. While children might have mild to no symptoms with coronavirus, they can still be a
source of infection.
Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more
vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.
Is COVID-19 especially harmful for pregnant women?
Researchers do not have information from published scientific reports about susceptibility of pregnant women. Premature births
have been reported among infants born to mothers who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy. Nevertheless, it is
not clear if these outcomes were related to maternal infection, so the risk is unknown.
Should we use masks to protect against the new coronavirus?
If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection.
Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing. Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning
with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.

COVID-19 Myth busters – advice for public
How long does the virus survive on surfaces?
It is not certain how long the COVID-19 virus survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies
suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or
up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).
If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others.
Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus?
No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria. The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics
should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.
However, if you are hospitalized for the 2019-nCoV, you may receive antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.
Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the new coronavirus?
No. Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide
protection against the new coronavirus.
The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against 2019-nCoV,
and WHO is supporting their efforts.
Although these vaccines are not effective against 2019-nCoV, vaccination against respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to
protect your health.
Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kill the new coronavirus?
No. Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying such
substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth). Be aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be
useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations.

Can regularly rinsing your nose with saline help prevent infection with the new coronavirus?
No. There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people from infection with the new
coronavirus.
There is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing nose with saline can help people recover more quickly from the common
cold. However, regularly rinsing the nose has not been shown to prevent respiratory infections.
Taking a hot bath does not prevent the new coronavirus disease?
Taking a hot bath will not prevent you from catching COVID-19. Your normal body temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C,
regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower.
Can I catch COVID-19 from my pet?
While there has been one instance of a dog being infected in Hong Kong, to date, there is no evidence that a dog, cat or any pet
can transmit COVID-19. COVID-19 is mainly spread through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or
speaks. To protect yourself, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly.
WHO continues to monitor the latest research on this and other COVID-19 topics and will update as new findings are available.
How effective are thermal scanners in detecting people infected with the new coronavirus?
Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people who have developed a fever (i.e. have a higher than normal body
temperature) because of infection with the new coronavirus. However, they cannot detect people who are infected but are not
yet sick with fever. This is because it takes between 2 and 14 days before people who are infected become sick and develop a
fever.

Can an ultraviolet disinfection lamp kill the new coronavirus?
UV lamps should not be used to sterilize hands or other areas of skin as UV radiation can cause skin irritation.
Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus?
No. Hand dryers are not effective in killing the 2019-nCoV. To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently
clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should
dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.
COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in areas with hot and humid climates
From the evidence so far, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in ALL AREAS, including areas with hot and humid weather.
Regardless of climate, adopt protective measures if you live in, or travel to an area reporting COVID-19.
Cold weather and snow CANNOT kill the new coronavirus
There is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill the new coronavirus or other diseases. The normal human body
temperature remains around 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the external temperature or weather.
The new coronavirus CANNOT be transmitted through mosquito bites
To date there has been no information nor evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes.
The new coronavirus is a respiratory virus which spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs
or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose.
Can home remedies can cure or prevent the virus?
There’s no evidence from the outbreak that eating garlic, sipping water every 15 minutes or taking vitamin C will protect people
from the new coronavirus. Same goes for using essential oils, colloidal silver and steroids.

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