Health experts are trying to calm some of the panic surrounding the coronavirus by unveiling a list of the main symptoms to look out for.
The World Health Organisation says while scientists are still trying create a vaccine, they have a pretty good handle on what Covid-19 does and doesn't do to the human body.
A fever and a cough (usually dry) are the most common two symptoms to look out for, however sneezing is not.
So you can stop throwing eye daggers at the person on your bus for sneezing their brains out - they will most likely just have a cold.
Advert
Fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, aches and pains and a sore throat can 'sometimes' occur according to the WHO.
Symptoms that only happen rarely (meaning it shouldn't be automatically assumed you have coronavirus) include a runny or stuffed nose and diarrhoea.
One of the best ways to ensure you don't contract the coronavirus is to maintain good hygiene and washing your hands.
However, it appears that not everyone is overly concerned about good hand hygiene.
Advert
In fact, a recent LADbible poll of more than 20,000 people found that around a third didn't always wash their hands after a visit to the loo.
The reality is that washing your hands often is the best way to fight the spread of germs. Good hand hygiene is a key part of keeping medical environments such as hospitals and GP's surgeries resilient against wider infection.
So we should really be doing it more as part of our standard daily routine.
The virus has officially been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, who said the decision was made due to the 'alarming levels of spread and severity'.
Advert
A pandemic is classed as the 'worldwide spread of a new disease', according to the WHO.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO, said the decision hadn't been taken lightly, though it doesn't affect its advice to countries.
He said: "Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death.
"Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO's assessment of the threat posed by this coronavirus. It doesn't change what WHO is doing, and it doesn't change what countries should do.
Advert
"We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. And we have never before seen a pandemic that can be controlled at the same time. WHO has been in full response mode since we were notified of the first cases.
"We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear."
He went on to say that 81 countries have so far reported no cases of Covid-19, while 57 countries have reported 10 cases or less, adding that even in countries where the virus is widespread it can still be suppressed.
It's okay to not panic. LADbible and UNILAD's aim with our Coronavirus campaign, Cutting Through, is to provide our community with facts and stories from the people who are either qualified to comment or have experienced first-hand the situation we're facing. For more information from the World Health Organisation on Coronavirus, click here.
Topics: News, Interesting, Coronavirus