Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by a strain of the coronavirus family that is novel, has an animal origin and has not been encountered before.

Once infected the disease manifests through coughing, sore throat, fever and breathing difficulties.

In severe cases, multi-organ failure and in some cases death may results.

Being a viral infection, antibiotics cannot be used to treat and existing antiviral drugs are not effective.

Recovery from the illness is self-limiting and purely depends on individual immune system ability to counter the virus.  

The virus can be transmitted from person to person hence in case one experiences the signs and symptoms, whether travelled or not, they should self-quarantine for at least fourteen days and keep away from contact with others including family members.

No vaccine exists yet and information on how dangerous the new virus is still scanty which is worrying.

It’s estimated to have a case fatality rate of 1-3 per cent with the risk being higher among the elderly and people with existing respiratory or immune problems.

A huge pandemic has hit the world causing illness to a significant number of people and death to some.

However its mortality rate is still low and from a global perspective, a huge population are still at a lower risk of developing the disease.

Globally, so far over 182,726 people have been infected of which more than 79,883 have recovered and approximately 7,174 died in 155 countries according to World Health Organisation.

In Africa around 327 cases have been confirmed with 4 COVID-19 related deaths reported.

It’s anticipated that if public/individual health measures are not optimised, the pandemic will get to its peak resulting in an increase in mortality rate hence health care services will be overwhelmed. It’s also possible that "second wave” will happen like it has happened with other flu pandemics (though this is not flu).

This could be attributed to among other risk factors, the low case fatality rate, transmission parameters and pre-asymptomatic transmission.

With the possibility of complete global lockdown governments must keep its people safe.

A global multi-sectoral approach recommended including but not limited to individual caution, enhanced awareness, social distancing, intense surveillance, effective isolation and proper management of confirmed cases.

More specifically, those who can work from home are encouraged to do so. Avoid handshake, keep a distance of about 1 meter away from each other, handwashing with soap for at least 20 seconds several times a day or were not available, use alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60 per cent alcohol. 

Crowded places/ eating in public places avoided, take vitamin C to boost the immune system and enhance proper use of masks.

Safety starts with you, take care of yourself and your loved once and do not panic.

Things are not as bad as they look we shall triumph by working together in the spirit of global unity and cooperation.

Dr. Nicholas Njau Ngomi is a medical epidemiologist and a senior lecturer at Mount Kenya University.