The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is a novel coronavirus that causes the respiratory disease COVID-19. Infection can occur via droplet infection and close contact. Airborne transmission is possible under certain circumstances, and smear infections cannot be ruled out.

According to current knowledge, the incubation period is up to 14 days, with a mean of 3-7 days. The symptomatology of patients with COVID-19 is nonspecific and similar to that of many other respiratory diseases. The disease can be completely free of fever and almost without symptoms, so that it is quite possible that someone who is infected does not even notice it. So far, it is fortunate to be able to say that 80% of illnesses are mild to moderate and not dangerous to those affected.

However, about 20% of COVID-19 patients may experience clinical deterioration during the course of the illness, with the development of respiratory distress, and/or hypoxemia (lack of oxygen in the arterial blood). This usually occurs about 1 week to 10 days after symptom onset. About 5% of cases require intensive medical therapy, 4% require ventilatory therapy due to hypoxemic respiratory failure, and in about 0.5-1% the disease results in death.

The risk group for severe disease includes people 50 to 60 years of age and older. People over 80 years of age have a mortality of >15%. People with various underlying diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, malignancies, respiratory system diseases, immunosuppression are also at risk regardless of age.

Please do NOT go to your family doctor if you think you are infected, but either call them or go directly to your local health department. You can find out which health department is responsible for you HERE.