Viruses - Symptoms, signs, information and frequently asked questions

Coronavirus - WHO chronology of action

COVID-19 - a chronology of WHO actions December 31, 2019. The Municipal Health Commission of Wuhan, China, reported a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province. The causative agent was subsequently determined to be a novel coronavirus. January 1, 2020. WHO establishes an Incident Response Support Team at the three levels of the organization (headquarters, regional offices and countries) and moves into the Organization's emergency outbreak response mode. January 4, 2020. WHO reports on social media a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan city, Hubei province; all patients are alive. January 5, 2020. WHO publishes the first outbreak news release on the new virus. This is the first technical publication on the subject for the scientific and public health communities and the world's media. The release contains a risk assessment, recommendations, and information received by the Organization from China on the status of patients and public health measures taken in res...

Trump signs bill to help small businesses and health care providers The $484 billion bill was the second government aid package signed into law. On Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump signed a $484 billion bill to provide $484 billion in additional aid to small businesses and health care providers in the face of a coronavirus pandemic. Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill. "388 lawmakers voted in favor and 5 voted against. On Tuesday, the bill was unanimously approved by the Senate. Most of the money would go to small businesses that did not receive help from the last package. Democrats have insisted that some of the money from the new $320 billion Paycheck Protection Program go to women- and minority-owned businesses or those without banks. Under the program, if a company uses the money it receives to pay workers for the next two months, the government will cover the cost and the company won't have to pay the money back. Launched on April ...

Study: Hydroxychloroquine ineffective in treating coronavirus Mortality rate was higher in patients who took the drug A new study has found that the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine, which has been touted as a possible cure for coronavirus, is not only ineffective in treating the disease, but may also be associated with higher mortality rates. In early April, US President Donald Trump said the drug could make a "dramatic difference" for those infected with the coronavirus. This week, however, the Veterans Affairs Department and a team of scientists presented a study based on a review of data from 381 male patients that found patients who received hydroxychloroquine alone or in combination with the antibiotic azithromycin bore the disease more severely than those who were not given the drugs. Of the study participants, 97 took hydroxychloroquine, another 113 took both hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, and 153 took neither. According to the study, 27 percent of pa...

How to find reliable information and how to spot misinformation Seek trusted sources of information, such as WHO, national health authorities and your health professional. For updated information on COVID-19, check the WHO website. Always double-check the information you receive. Beware of websites and texts that use the same messages and have the same writing and overall style, as these are likely to be viral messages produced for mass distribution that are intended to mislead. Beware of false and misleading claims, particularly in relation to the effects of alcohol on health and immunity. Such claims should be categorically discounted as a source of health information as there is no evidence that drinking alcohol offers any protection against COVID-19 or has a positive effect on the course and outcomes of any infectious disease. Beware of claims made online that alcohol offers any essential benefits that you really need to have during your period of home isolation or quarantine...

Alcohol use disorders and COVID-19

Alcohol use disorders and COVID-19 Alcohol use disorders are characterized by heavy alcohol use and loss of control over alcohol intake. Although they are among the most prevalent mental disorders globally, they are also among the most stigmatized. People with an alcohol use disorder are at greater risk of COVID-19 not only because of the impact of alcohol on their health but also because they are more likely to experience homelessness or incarceration than other members of the population. It is therefore essential, under the current conditions, that people who need help because of their alcohol use get all the support they need. If you, or a person close to you, have problems in relation to alcohol use, please consider the following: The present situation is a unique opportunity to quit drinking, or at least to cut down considerably, as various social cues and peer pressure situations, such as parties, friends’ gatherings, restaurants and clubs, are (by necessity) avoidable. On...

Alcohol and home isolation or quarantine To limit the spread of COVID-19, countries have progressively introduced community-wide lockdowns and periods of quarantine for those who are suspected of having contracted the virus or have been in contact with someone infected by the virus. This means that an unprecedented number of people are now staying in their homes. It is important to understand that alcohol poses risks to your health and safety and should therefore be avoided during periods of home isolation or quarantine. When working from home, adhere to your usual workplace rules and do not drink. Remember that after a lunch break you should still be in a fit state to work – and that is not possible if you are under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol is not a necessary part of your diet and should not be a priority on your shopping list. Avoid stockpiling alcohol at home, as this will potentially increase your alcohol consumption and the consumption of others in your household....

Alcohol Use and Physical Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic To help slow the spread of the virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends keeping at least three feet away from sick people as a protective measure. Bars, casinos, nightclubs, restaurants, and other places where people gather to consume alcohol, as well as house calls, increase the risk of transmission. Therefore, a protective measure such as physical distancing reduces the availability of alcoholic beverages and gives you a good opportunity to reduce your alcohol consumption and take care of your health. Read more What to do and what not to do during a pandemic? Alcohol: Do's and Don'ts During a COVID-19 Pandemic To avoid weakening your body's immune system, harming your health, and creating health risks for others, you should completely avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. Only in a sober state can you maintain vigilance, speed of reaction and action, and clarity of mind when making decisi...

Alcohol: Do's and Don'ts During a COVID-19 Pandemic To avoid weakening your body's immune system, harming your health, and creating health risks for others, you should completely avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. Only in a sober state can you maintain vigilance, speed of reaction and action, and clarity of mind when making decisions that affect you personally, your family members, and members of your environment. If you consume alcohol, reduce the amount to a minimum and avoid alcohol intoxication. Drinking alcohol should not become a social occasion for smoking in company and vice versa: drinking alcoholic beverages is often accompanied by smoking, and smoking in turn increases the risk of a more complicated and dangerous course of COVID-19. Don't forget that smoking indoors is a risk for other members of your family, and you must avoid creating an environment that endangers their health. Children and teenagers who live with you should not have access to alc...

Common myths about alcohol and COVID-19 Myth: Drinking alcohol kills the virus that causes COVID-19. Truth: Drinking alcohol does not kill the virus. Conversely, drinking alcohol can increase health risks if a person becomes infected with the virus. Alcohol (at a concentration of at least 60%) can be effectively used to disinfect the skin, but it does not have a disinfectant effect when ingested. Myth: Drinking strong alcoholic beverages destroys the virus particles in the air you breathe. Truth: Drinking alcohol does not help kill viral particles in the air you breathe, does not disinfect your mouth and throat, and is in no way a way to protect yourself from the virus. Myth: Drinking alcohol (in the form of beer, wine, distilled spirits, or herbal spirits) strengthens the immune system and increases the body's resistance to the virus. Truth: Drinking alcohol has a devastating effect on your immune system and does not strengthen your immune system or increase your bo...

Alcohol and the human body: general facts Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) - a substance that is contained in alcoholic (alcoholic) drinks and is the cause of most of the harm from their use, regardless of which alcoholic beverages ethanol enters the body: wine, beer, spirits or other alcoholic products. Unfortunately, other toxic substances that may smell but are not ethanol can be added to adulterated drinks that are produced by illegal or artisanal methods; or they may be present in alcoholic products not intended for ingestion, such as hand sanitizers. Exposure to additives such as methanol (methyl alcohol) is fatal to humans even in small amounts or can lead to blindness and kidney failure, among other effects. According to media reports, as well as information from private sources, in some countries during the COVID-19 outbreak, there have already been deaths due to the use of alcohol-based products based on the unfounded belief that they can provide protection against the virus. ...

Alcohol and COVID-19: What You Need to Know With the current COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection) pandemic, all countries in the world must take decisive action to stop the spread of the coronavirus among the population. In these critical circumstances, it is critical to educate people about other health risks and hazards in order to ensure the safety and health of the public. This bulletin contains important information you need to know about COVID-19 and alcohol use. Also, special attention is paid to misinformation about the connection between COVID-19 and alcohol consumption, which is spread through social networks and other communication channels. The main things to remember: Drinking alcohol in no way protects against COVID-19 infection and cannot prevent COVID-19 disease. By WHO Regional Office for Europe . Read more Alcohol does not protect against COVID-19 Alcohol does not protect against COVID-19; during the general quarantine, access to alcoholic beverages ...