Covid-19 Explained: Everything you wanted to know about the Coronavirus but were afraid to ask

Paul Hopkins explainer on all things Coronavirus/Covid-19

1. The majority of Covid-19 infections are mild, flu-like for 80.9 per cent infected, 13.8 per cent severe and 4.7 per cent critical. It is quite transmissible (though less than measles) and quite lethal (though less than SARS or MERS). About two per cent of people with the virus die, about the same proportion as died from the Spanish flu of 1918 — although the figures aren’t reliable either for 2020 or 1918.

2. Symptoms are fever, dry cough and headache, but you can have the bug four of five days before symptoms show and so are, essentially, capable of contaminating those around you. The coronavirus, which attacks the respiratory system, came during the flu season and even doctors can struggle to distinguish between the two – the overlap in symptoms probably contributed to slow detection in Italy. If you think you are infected, self-isolate, phone your GP — don't visit unnecessarily — or the HSE helpline on 1850 241850.

3. The virus takes between three and seven days to run its course, depending on your health. Those over 60, and especially with heart and respiratory conditions and high blood pressure and diabetes, are most vulnerable.

4. We only know now that 40 per cent of coronavirus cases in China were transmitted in hospitals – and the same may be true of both Italy and Iran. Indeed, may be true of all cases in all 100 plus countries affected. It seems also that the majority of those infected here are health-care workers and those back from Italy.

5. Despite the fear and panic around Covid-19, it can be still defeated by one thing, done daily. The simple act of cleaning your surfaces and floors twice a day, daily — most household disinfectants will effectively deactivate the virus. Clean yourself, with frequent and thorough hand-washing, and good old soap is very efficient. Avoid touching your face as the virus enters the body through, mouth, nose and eyes from the droplets of 'mucus' sneezed or coughed out by people already infected. The virus can stay on surfaces, like work-tops and door knobs, for up to three ays. Your mobile phone is lethal, like a couple of nights at the Ritz for this little bugger.

6. Most of what we know about the quickening pace of the virus is derived from studying widespread 'zootonic' infections like Ebola and influenza. The virus since last week is recognised as a pandemic because it shows successful person to person transmission; results in sickness and death; and is appearing worldwide.

7. Another way to circumvent Covid-19’s rapid transmission is by promoting social distancing. Just keep your distance, where viable, from others, especially at gatherings in pubs still open and travelling on trains and buses. It has to be a form self-isolation but that doesn't mean you can't go for a walk or go to your pharmacy or supermarket, just don't get too up-close and personal with anybody. This also means stocking up on necessary food items to reduce exchanges between potential carriers. Frozen fruit and veg are just as nutritional as fresh produce. Panic buying achieves nothing but chaos and deprivation for others. The retail association says the food chain supply is fully adequate.

8. Schools closing does NOT mean a holiday for your children and allowing them congregate in groups and run riot goes against effective HSE advice and allows these 'super spreaders' to worsen the contamination.

9. Make sure you have enough prescribed medications you may need and keep pain-killers to hand, in the event of contamination and its accompanying fever and headache. Drink plenty of water.

10. Keep an eye on elderly and vulnerable neighbours. Let them know you are there.

11. Working from home is hopefully provisional but may seem strange and frustrating to those not used to it but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to learn from going forward from recent advancements in tele-working.

12. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insists: "We can push this virus back". The development of the disease globally is not a "one-way street" and can be defeated if countries act quickly and effectively — starting with containment/isolation measures.

13. There is currently no vaccine against the disease. Scientists are working round the clock and clinical trials in China and the US on a drug called Remdesivir look promising, but it could be a year, more likely 18 months, before a vaccine for all is available.

14. Don’t bank on this epidemic easing in the summer. March 29th will not see an end to it, according to may sources. We are in this for the long haul, at least three, if not six, months.

15. Stay safe, look after each other, and, for all our sakes, don't be a 'spreader' — knowingly. We should, hopefully, learn from this and come up stronger and better humans.