As the Wuhan coronavirus continues to spread, officials in China are urging citizens to wear masks in public to stop the spread of the virus - and cities in China as well as other parts of Asia are reportedly running out of face masks. But can a mask really keep you from catching the virus?
Cloth masks, which are reusable and washable, offer no real protection while being potentially harmful in case there is any moisture retention or dirt in them due to their being reused.
It is a good practice to wear a mask all the time, especially if you have any respiratory illness.
It is advisable to be careful while removing your mask, as a mere touch of your hands on the front of the mask can contaminate it.
It is also advisable not to touch your face or nose too much.
Constantly and frequently wash your hands, all year round, and get a flu shot, as it is flu season. While a flu shot is not a protection against the virus, it is still advisable to get one.
A rapidly evolving health story broke in late December when a novel illness originating in Wuhan, China made the news. Reports of the number of infected people swiftly rose, and isolated cases of this new coronavirus - dubbed 2019-nCoV by scientists - have appeared in several countries due to international travel.
They are a group of viruses that cause respiratory infections, including the common cold. They can infect certain animals and spread from one animal to another. They can reach t...
Common symptoms: coughing, fever, and shortness of breath. Non-respiratory symptoms (feeling nauseous, vomiting having diarrhea) were also reported. The virus is more violent with the elderly, the very young and with individuals that have a weak immune system. The majority of those infected however recover after a few days.