What you need to know.
This page contains information to help you to understand Coronavirus.
This page is in an Easy to Read format.
We are updating this page as new information and facts are known.
Always follow official health advice.
Coronavirus is a virus.
A virus can make you sick or unwell.
A virus can cause an illness.
This illness was not seen before December 2019.
It was first found in a city called Wuhan in China.
By March 2020 the virus had spread to over 60 countries.
The illness has passed from animals to humans.
Coronavirus can pass from human to human.
People of all ages can be infected.
It is not serious for most people, including children.
Most people will get better.
The virus causes an illness called pneumonia.
Pneumonia is an infection.
It can cause the lungs to fill with fluid.
It can also cause fever, chills and make it hard to breathe.
Pneumonia is most serious for the very young and old.
Pneumonia is dangerous for people who are already sick.
It can cause a organs to stop working.
- A fever is a high temperature.
This might lead to Pneumonia
- Difficulty breathing
It can take between 2 to 14 days before an infected person appears sick.
If you cough or sneeze use a tissue and throw it away.
Wash your hands properly and regularly.
Clean your hands using soap or an alcohol rub.
Dry your hands using a paper towel or a warm hand dryer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Avoid contact with people with coughs or colds.
Wash hands if around animals.
Avoid close contact with animals that are sick.
Only eat well cooked food.
Avoid eating raw meat, dairy or animal products.
Do not share cups, knives or forks.
Avoid travel if you have a fever or cough.
Do not spit.
If you wear a face mask it should cover your nose and mouth.
A vaccine protects the body from an illness.
There is no vaccine for Coronavirus.
Antibiotics do not work for viruses.
Doctors are working to find a vaccine that will work.
They do not know how long this will take.
Advice and Support
The World Health Organization has detailed guidance:
The UK government has produced official advice.
- Click: Get latest advice here.
The NHS has a website about Coronavirus.
- Click: NHS Coronavirus Information
The European Union has a website above Coronavirus
- 3.6% of people aged 60-69 years old have died.
- 8% of people aged 70-79 years old have died.
- 15% of people aged 80 and over have died.
- Doctors think that about 1% of all people infected may die.
- 81% of people only get mild illness.
- 14% of people get severe illness.
- 5% of people get critically ill.
- It is not fully known how dangerous Coronavirus is.
- It is not known how many people have been infected.
- 10% of people who caught SARS passed away. SARS appears similar to Coronavirus.
- About 400,000 people die from flu each year.
- There are now over 60 countries with infected people.
Key Numbers are based upon facts and figures first published on or before 31st January 2020. We updated or added to these on the 3rd March 2020.
When we make easy read guides we always try to bring as many sources of information together as possible.
These sources can vary in detail. You can see where we found the information for this guide at the bottom of this page.
We want this guide to be correct, accurate and a reliable resource.
To do this we fact check our work
Information and advice around health and wellbeing can change. Do we need to update this page or make changes? Contact us here.
We produce Easy Read and Plain Language resources in all formats.
In creating this information we have referred to the following sources:
- What is coronavirus and how worried should we be?
- Pneumonia – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
- Pneumonia – NHS Guidance (UK)
- WHO: Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public
- Coronavirus: latest information and advice
- Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
- Outbreak numbers reported as of 02.03.2020
- What is coronavirus and what should I do if I have symptoms?
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters
- Advice on the coronavirus for places of education
- Coronavirus spreads further as WHO expert warns world ‘not ready’ for pandemic
- Coronavirus: today’s developments at a glance [02.03.2020]
- Coronavirus maps and charts: A visual guide to the outbreak
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/03/coronavirus-live-updates-china-latest-news-us-australia-deaths-markets-italy-iran-update-cases-italy-south-korea-japan [03.03.2020]
- Coronavirus: What it does to the body
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You may hear people say social distancing when they talk about Coronavirus.