What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new (often referred to as ‘novel’) strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans.
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, which means that they are transferred from animals to humans. First identified in Wuhan, China, COVID-19 has spread around the world and is classified as a pandemic by the WHO.
The WHO advises that common symptoms COVID-19 include:
- Respiratory symptoms;
- Fever;
- Cough;
- Shortness of breath, and;
- Breathing difficulties.
In more severe cases, COVID-19 can cause:
- Pneumonia,
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome,
- Kidney failure, and even death.
There are common prevention strategies to prevent the spread of the virus, including hand washing, covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and avoiding close contact with anyone exhibiting symptoms.
Why Take A Course On COVID-19?
Coronaviruses are not a new phenomenon, and the world has dealt with other coronaviruses like SARS or MERS. COVID-19, however, has spread widely around the world, and different countries are taking drastic measures to contain the spread of the virus as much as possible.
Courses on COVID-19 may be offered as:
- Self-paced e-learning;
- One-time webinars;
- Educational and informational videos;
- Training for organizations to prepare for COVID-19.
If you are looking for more information about COVID-19, taking a free course from a recognised organisation can help answer any questions you may have about the virus after reading through resources from your local authorities, and help you and/or your organisation stay as up-to-date as possible to cope with uncertain circumstances - such as how to implement a remote working programme, health and safety initiatives to take in the workplace, and more.
Your country may have closed its borders, your company may have enforced a remote working policy for a certain period, and you may be in self-isolation as your local authorities take measures to ensure the safety of the general population.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is consistently updating its webpage with the latest information for Americans to track the spread of the virus and offers a huge range of information and videos to help you and your business stay up-to-date with everything you need to know about COVID-19.
Furthermore, the CDC has a comprehensive list of guidelines for businesses to deal with the outbreak of COVID-19, including advice for employers and employees, as well as links to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration to ensure that businesses are doing everything they can to limit the spread and protect their employees.
Given its global reach, coronavirus COVID-19 has sparked widespread panic and disinformation as individuals, authorities, and governments figure out the best ways to contain the viruses spread. Take a course from a recognised health organization in order to stay informed with the correct, and most recent information on COVID-19. For your own safety, your employees’ safety, and the longevity of your business.