Small percentage who contract COVID-19 succumb

DPI Guyana, March 12, 2020

The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) first began in China and eventually spread to the United States, Europe and other parts of the world.  Guyana recorded its first case on March 11.

The World Health Organisation has reported that there are now more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 people have succumbed to the virus.

Of the 118,000 cases reported globally, more than 90 percent of cases are in just four countries, and two of those – China and the Republic of Korea – have significantly declining epidemics. 81 countries have not reported any cases, and 57 countries have reported 10 cases or less.

The statistics show that in the majority of the cases of where persons have been infected with COVID 19 a small percentage have succumbed to the virus.  Eight percent of infected persons are restricted to their home with flu symptoms, another 13. 8 percent are hospitalised with severe infection and 4.7 percent are critical that require intensive care

Globally, about 3.5 percent of reported COVID-19 cases have died.  Forty percent of persons affected are still ill and 56.6 percent have recovered.

Persons who are at higher risk of getting ill from virus include older adults and persons with serious chronic medical conditions.

Persons who have serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, high blood pressure and cancer.

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).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people.

The virus has been named ‘SARS-CoV-2’ and the disease it causes has been named Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

On March 11, 2020, the WHO characterised COVID-19 as a pandemic.