Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

2019 Novel Coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV, is a new virus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. It is named novel as it has not previously identified. The COVID-19 virus is a new virus linked to the same family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and some types of common cold

At present exact source of infection of 2019 novel Corona virus has not been identified. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and other that circulate among animals. Initially, many of the patients in the outbreak in Wuhan, China reportedly had some link to large seafood and animal market, suggesting the virus likely emerged from an animal source

The “incubation period” means the time between catching the virus and beginning to have symptoms of the disease. Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days. These estimates will be updated as more data become available.

Common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Tiredness
• Dry Cough

Other symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Aches and pains
• Sore throat
• And very few people will report diarrhoea, nausea or a runny nose

The virus is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person (generated through coughing and sneezing), and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus. The COVID-19 virus may survive on surfaces for several hours, but simple disinfectants can kill it.

This is why it is important that sick person should wear masks to cover their nose and mouth

WHO→ To prevent infection and to slow transmission of COVID-19, do the following:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer or hand rub that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Maintain at least 1 metre distance between you and people coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Stay home if you feel unwell.
• Refrain from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs.
• Practice physical distancing by avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from large groups of people.
• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.

Currently, there is no vaccine available to protect against 2019-novel Corona Virus.

All nonessential travel to China and other affected countries is to be avoided. If the travel is unavoidable-At all times follow the simple public health measures

• Observe good personal hygiene
• Monitor your health closely
• Seek medical attention promptly if you feel sick
• If you feel sick during travel, inform airline crew about your illness and seek mask from the airline crew
• For further details kindly check Travel advisory issued by MohFW, GoI available on website (www.mohfw.gov.in)

There is no specific treatment for disease caused by a novel coronavirus. However, many of the symptoms can be treated and therefore treatment based on the patient’s clinical condition. Moreover, supportive care for infected persons can be highly effective.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent 2019-nCoV infection. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

• All non-essential travel to China and affected countries* to be avoided.
• Observe good personal hygiene.
• Practice frequent hand washing with soap.
• Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing.
• *The list of affected countries is available on WHO website (www.who.int) and would be updated time to time.

Self-monitor your health starting from the day of last contact with such a case and continue for 28 days. Watch for the development of acute onset of signs and symptoms

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing

If you observe any of the above symptoms visit the nearest health facility for further advice and treatment. Further you must furnish the details of exposure of such patients to your health care worker.

If you develop acute onset of fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, you should visit nearest health facility and the doctor’s will decide if you need to be tested for 2019-novel Corona Virus depending upon your history of travel to China/ affected countries or contact with any suspected/ lab confirmed case.

WHO→ Yes, they can be, as health care workers come into contact with patients more often than the general public. WHO recommends that health care workers consistently use personal protective equipment (PPE) and take necessary hygiene measures.

COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Based upon available information to date, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 include:

• “People aged 65 years and older”
• People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
• Other high-risk conditions could include:
  1. People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
  2. People who have serious heart conditions
  3. People who are immune compromised including cancer treatment
  4. People of any age with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] >40) or certain underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, such as those with diabetes, renal failure, or liver disease might also be at risk
• People who are pregnant should be monitored since they are known to be at risk with severe viral illness, however, to date data on COVID-19 has not shown increased risk

Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications

Fear and anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions. Things you can do to support yourself:

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories and 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.
• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
• Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.

Only wear a mask if you are ill with COVID-19 symptoms (especially coughing) or looking after someone who may have COVID-19. Disposable face mask can only be used once. If you are not ill or looking after someone who is ill then you are wasting a mask. Prefer using a homemade cloth mask which is washable and can be reused when needed.

• Remember, a mask should only be used by health workers, care takers, and individuals with respiratory symptoms, such as fever and cough.
• Before touching the mask, clean hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water
• Take the mask and inspect it for tears or holes.
• Orient which side is the top side (where the metal strip is).
• Ensure the proper side of the mask faces outwards (the coloured side).
• Place the mask to your face. Pinch the metal strip or stiff edge of the mask so it moulds to the shape of your nose.
• Pull down the mask’s bottom so it covers your mouth and your chin.
• After use, take off the mask; remove the elastic loops from behind the ears while keeping the mask away from your face and clothes, to avoid touching potentially contaminated surfaces of the mask.
• Discard the mask in a closed bin immediately after use.
• Perform hand hygiene after touching or discarding the mask – Use alcohol-based hand rub or, if visibly soiled, wash your hands with soap and water.

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. We continues to monitor the latest research on this and other COVID19 topics and will update as new findings are available.

There is no need to panic buying. The Ministry of Home Affairs has circulated a list of guidelines during the lockdown in which they have mentioned that all essential goods will be available even during the lockdown which includes medical stores, shops including ration and food items.

Yes. The probability of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.

Do’s

• Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
• Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
• Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or issue/handkerchief when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw used tissues in closed bins immediately after use
• Stay home if you feel unwell.
• If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek
• Medical attention and call in advance.
• Follow the directions of your local health authority.
• Wear a mask/cloth to cover your mouth and nose while visiting your doctor Cooperate with disease control efforts and be informed

Don’ts

• Shake Hands with any one
• Have close contact with anyone if you have symptoms like cough and fever
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
• Sneeze or cough into palm of your hand
• Spit in public
• Travel unnecessarily to any affected region
• Participate in larger gatherings/ include sitting in
• groups (please check govt. notifications)
• Visit to any public places / market
• Spread rumors or panic

Please do not stigmatize people who may be affected or those who have returned to the villages from cities recently – come together as a community to enforce preventive measures and follow government instructions at your location. Take special care of the elderly, the children and pregnant mothers – keep them indoors and follow instructions. Social distancing is one effective way to control the spread of this pandemic. Avoid meeting people in groups, attend unnecessary social events and gatherings. Social distancing doesn’t mean social disconnecting, so do keep in touch with your dear ones, greet your neighbors with NAMASKAR, instead of shaking hands or hugging. Be a responsible citizen by notifying the local authorities and get immediately quarantined in case you see any of the COVID symptoms in you or your family members.

The lockdown is a preventive step which has been taken in order to control the community spread. It is difficult to predict what will the situation be like once the lockdown is over. However, it is advised that the basic preventive measures are to be followed post the lockdown as well.

If followed, the lockdown will help maintain social distancing which could reduce the chances of community spread. This is being executed to control uprising of new cases and give effective treatment to the sick individuals.

The following steps can be adopted if you bring your daily items from Outside:

• Do not visit market if you have fever, dry cough and respiratory problem
• Do not send any elderly people above 60 years to market
• While bringing any fruits or vegetable items from outside, please do wash it in water or soapy water for 20 seconds and then use it.
• If you are bringing grocery items like flour, rice, dal, masala please do avoid bringing them in plastic you may carry packets from home. For loose dal or rice, soak it in water for 20 seconds and then use it. Also, try to keep the fresh bought grocery items untouched for at least 24hours and then unpack them to bring in use.
• For Items like meat, fish or egg, please do wash it in warm water or cook well before use.

Target Group	Benefits	What should you do
3.5 crore construction workers	Centre asks states to utilize INR 31,000 cr fund to bene_t construction workers Punjab – INR 3000 TO each workers UP- INR 1000 to each worker Delhi – INR 5000 to each worker (Should get more info from other state govt )	Register worker should ensure that the bank account is active
8.3 crore Ujjwala Yojna bene_ciaries	Bene_ciaries to receive 3 cylinders for free for the next three months	Contact gas agency
20 Crore women holding Jan Dhan Bank Accounts	Account holders will be provided INR 1500 over the next three months in three installments of INR 500/month	Ensure bank account is active
3 crore senior citizens, widows, and disabled citizens	One time additional payments of INR 1000 in two installments for the next three months (April- June 2020)	Ensure bank account is active
Self Help Group(SHGs) of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)	Each SHG is eligible for a collateral-fee loan of INR 20 Lakh, raised from the previous amount of INR 10 Lakh	SHGs can directly approach bank/district o_ces of the NRLM
5 Crore laboures under MGNREGA scheme	The wages under MGNREGA scheme has been increased from INR 182 to INR 202 per day per worker	If allowed by rge district magistrate, MGNREGA Job Card holder can take up agriculture activities which ensure social distending as well
8.69 crore farmers	Farmers will be provided INR 2000 by Direct Bene_t Transfer within next few days	Ensure bank account is active Ensure you are enrolled to PM Kisan Samman Yogna
Under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojna (PMGKY) which is a part of the relief package, at least 80 crore poor people will be covered	Under the scheme, an additional _ve kilos of rice/wheat will be given to 80 crore individuals — over the 5 kilo they already get — along with a one-kilo pulse per household for a period of three months