Coronavirus has sparked worldwide panic after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global health emergency. The virus peaked in China in February but evidence now suggests the country could be overcoming the epidemic. However, the same cannot be said around the world.
Mi Feng, a spokesperson for China’s National Health Commission, said at a recent briefing: “The rapid rising trend of virus cases in Wuhan has been controlled.”
“Outbreaks in Hubei outside of Wuhan are curbed and provinces outside of Hubei are showing a positive trend.”
However, the virus is still picking up speed outside China, in places like the UK.
More than 80,000 people have now been infected in Britain, with almost 10,000 deaths – making the UK the fourth-highest on the death toll.
Italy, Spain and France have all surged ahead of Wuhan, where the virus originated from.
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How many people have recovered from coronavirus?
Despite what seems to be a spiralling rate of infections, the symptoms of coronavirus are reasonably mild for many people
Dr Nasia Safdar told NBC News: “For most people, this will be the course. It will be like a cold.”
However, this has not stopped more than 100,000 people dying due to COVID-19.
By the end of March, there was some hope to be had, as more than half the patients infected at that time had recovered.
But the statistics make for grim reading into April.
Some 22 percent of coronavirus patients worldwide have become better, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering live tracker.
The tracker shows that of the 1,778,562 confirmed cases around the globe, 108,902 have died while 404,878 recovered.
That leaves 1,264,782 – or 71 percent – still sick.
That also means 22 percent of patients have died from the virus.
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Is there a treatment available for coronavirus?
There is currently no treatment for this new coronavirus.
A report from Harvard University read: “Treatment is supportive, which means giving fluids, medicine to reduce fever, and, in severe cases, supplemental oxygen.
“People who become critically ill from COVID-19 may need a respirator to help them breathe.”
“Bacterial infection can complicate this viral infection. Patients may require antibiotics in cases of bacterial pneumonia as well as COVID-19.
“Antiviral treatments used for HIV and other compounds are being investigated.
“There’s no evidence that supplements, such as vitamin C, or probiotics will help speed recovery.”
However, the signs suggest many people may have had mild cases of the virus and recovered without special treatment.
Compared to SARS and MERS, the risk of serious illness or death is significantly lower.
The report added: “In terms of total deaths in the United States, influenza overwhelmingly causes more deaths today than COVID-19.”
How long does it take to recover from coronavirus?
The length of time can vary between patients, however.
One patient in California was released from isolation aving tested negative for the virus after nine days.
While another in Chicago was sent home after about a month.
Dr Safdar added: “That’s why these seemingly drastic measures are being taken.
“If you’re a positive COVID-19 case, you stay in isolation until testing shows that you are negative.
“Then you can be released into the community.”
What are the symptoms of coronavirus COVID-19?
According to the NHS, the symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a cough
- a high temperature
- shortness of breath
The World Health Organisation says about 80 percent of COVID-19 cases are mild.
Dr Robert Citronberg, director of infectious diseases with Advocate Aurora Health said: “It’s reassuring to know that the majority of people who get this disease have no symptoms or mild symptoms.”
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