COVID-19 is a coronavirus causing respiratory disease, which means it affects the lungs.
The first reported cases of the virus came from Wuhan, China.
The source of the virus is not known but it is believed to be a coronavirus found in animals which has been transferred to humans.
While it is not known for definite, it is believed that COVID-19, like other coronaviruses, is spread through respiratory droplets, meaning that coughing and sneezing cause the spread.
More serious symptoms include:
view early signs and symptoms here.
If you have these symptoms, you should self-isolate for fourteen days to recover.
If you suffer from some of the serious symptoms, you should seek urgent medical attention.
You should self-isolate for at least seven days to see if any of the symptoms mentioned above develop.
You should wash your hands regularly throughout the day for at least twenty seconds with soap or with our alcohol hand sanitiser and regularly clean surfaces.
You should also avoid contact with people who are ill.
Learn more about protecting yourself and others from the virus here.
If you definitely have the virus, you should remain at home to recover if you do not require medical attention.
If you only suspect that you may have the virus, you should sneeze or cough into a tissue and dispose of the tissue in the bin straight away, this will help to stop the spread to others if you do have it.
Where possible, you should try to remain at home; this can be helped by having friends and family bring food and shopping to you and working from home if your employer offers it as an option.
Do NOT visit your local GP or a hospital for an evaluation. Instead, if you have symptoms of the virus (high temperature or continued cough) the NHS have advised to use the 111 coronavirus service. Only call 111 if you are unable to get the help you need online, and for any life-threatening emergencies you should always call 999.
There is no cure for the virus and antibiotics won’t work against it either.
Unless you suffer from any of the serious symptoms, you should remain at home to recover rather than heading to a hospital or your local GP.
Discover more about coronavirus treatment here.
Everyone who contracts the virus will experience it differently with effects ranging from mild illnesses to severe illness and death.
The elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions may be more vulnerable but people of all ages can catch the disease and can potentially suffer complications.
If you suffer from some of the serious symptoms, you should seek urgent medical attention.
It is not recommended that you should wear a face mask unless you either have the virus or are caring for someone who does. Learn more.
The UK Government website constantly updates to provide statistics for COVID-19 cases in the UK.