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coVID-19: ThE FAcTs

FRoM A DocToR’s

PERsPEcTIVE

T he first case of the an envelope of protein spikes. This

2019 novel coronavirus
gives it an appearance of a crown.
infection, or COvID-19 as
it is commonly known, The Latin word for a crown is corona.
This is how these viruses got the
was reported in the city of Wuhan name coronaviruses. The sArs-Cov
China in December 2019. The virus 2 virion (virus particle) is ~ 125 nm
has since spread exponentially in diameter and its genome ranges
throughout the world. On 5 March from 26 to 32 kilobases, said to
2020, the south African Minister of be the largest for an rNA virus.
Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, confirmed
the first case of COvID-19 in the Transmission
country, a south African returning Cov is transmitted to humans
from Italy. On 12 March 2020, the through animals. Once in humans,
World Health Organization (WHO) the virus is mainly transmitted
declared the coronavirus outbreak By Dr Nangamso Kukulela, Specialist via inhalation of aerosol droplets
a global pandemic. On 15 March, Physician, MBChB(UCT), Mmed (Wits), from coughing, sneezing or
the President of the republic, Cyril FCP(SA), practising at Netcare being in close contact with
ramaphosa, announced a national Sunninghill Hospital symptomatic individuals.
state of disaster. This was followed by
the government taking the necessary In the air, the larger droplets tend
steps to try to limit the spread of emerged in 2012 in saudi Arabia; to drop toward the ground within
the virus and its impact, mainly to • Severe acute respiratory syndrome 1m, while the smaller droplets
flatten the curve so as to enable the coronavirus (sArs-Cov 2) – the can travel as an aerosol cloud

health system’s capacity to cope. first case reported end December over 2m. These remain viable in
2019 in Wuhan, China. the air for up to 3 hours under
COvID-19 (coronavirus disease) is a certain conditions. Another form
respiratory infection caused by severe These viruses consist of a core of of transmission is through hand to
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus genetic material surrounded by face contact from infected surfaces.
2 (sArs-Cov 2). Coronaviruses (Cov)
are a family of enveloped, positive- Image 1: structural proteins of the sARs coV 2 virion (3).
IMAgE By LECTurIO
sensed, single-stranded rNA (+ssrNA)
viruses. They tend to cause mild upper
respiratory tract diseases in humans.

The three species of Cov known to
cause severe diseases in humans are:
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus (sArs-Cov) – which
emerged in 2003 in southern China;
• Middle East respiratory syndrome
coronavirus (MErs-Cov) – which

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