- COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2 and was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It is very contagious and has quickly spread around the world.

- COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel like a cold, a flu, or pneumonia. COVID-19 may attack more than your respiratory system and other parts of your body may also be affected by the disease.

- Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people, especially unvaccinated people, older people, people with chronic diseases or immune system problems may become severely ill.

- Some people including those with minor or no symptoms may suffer from post-COVID conditions — or “long COVID”.

- Vaccines against COVID-19 are safe and effective as recommended by international and national health authorities. Vaccines teach our immune system to fight the virus that causes COVID-19.

You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading the virus by taking some simple precautions:

- Consult a health professional and get vaccinated if you haven`t been vaccinated yet.

- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If washing is not possible, then clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

- Maintain distance between yourself and others. COVID-19 mostly spreads when a healthy person comes into close contact with droplets that are released when an infected person speaks, coughs, or sneezes.

- Avoid going to crowded places. When people come together in crowds, they are more likely to come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19 and it is more difficult to maintain a physical distance.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands. Hands come into contact with many surfaces and can pick up germs like the coronavirus. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus or other germs to your eyes, nose or mouth and lead to an infection.

- Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means coughing or sneezing into your bent elbow or into a tissue. Disposal of the used tissue and washing your hands is also very important.

- If you have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, headache or diarrhea, stay at home and self-isolate even if your symptoms feel minor. If you need to share a living space with other people or if you need to leave your house, wear a mask or other face covering to avoid infecting others. Seek medical attention for your symptoms. This will help protect you and others from the spread of the coronavirus and other infections.

- Keep up-to-date on the latest information from trusted sources, such as the World Health Organization or your local and national health authorities. Local and national authorities are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves and to seek help.