The new coronavirus disease: what do we know so far?
Sammer Tang, Mike Brady, Jo Mildenhall, Ursula Rolfe, Alexandra Bowles, and Kirsty Morgan Journal of Paramedic Practice 2020 12:5, 193-201
The new coronavirus disease: what do we know so far?
Sammer Tang, Mike Brady, Jo Mildenhall, Ursula Rolfe, Alexandra Bowles, and Kirsty Morgan Journal of Paramedic Practice 2020 12:5, 193-201
The new coronavirus disease: what do we know so far?
Sammer Tang, Mike Brady, Jo Mildenhall, Ursula Rolfe, Alexandra Bowles, and Kirsty Morgan Journal of Paramedic Practice 2020 12:5, 193-201
The new coronavirus disease: what do we know so far?
Sammer Tang, Mike Brady, Jo Mildenhall, Ursula Rolfe, Alexandra Bowles, and Kirsty Morgan Journal of Paramedic Practice 2020 12:5, 193-201
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus that causes the new Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The symptoms range from mild to severe with a higher incidence of severe cases seen in patients with risk factors such as older age and comorbidities. COVID-19 is mainly spread through the inhalation of respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing or via contact with droplet-contaminated surfaces. Paramedics should be aware that some aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) may put them at a higher risk of contracting the virus via possible airborne transmission. The use of remote triage clinical assessment is likely to increase as a result of the pandemic. There is no curative drug treatment for the virus and some medications may exacerbate its effects or make patients more susceptible to it. Paramedics should accept that feeling stressed by the pandemic is a natural response. Official guidelines and advice are evolving continually as the evidence on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 grows. Paramedics should keep up to date with the latest clinical guidance from their employers.
Medicine and Pharmacology, Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
