CORONAVIRUS has killed more than 119,00 people to date and infected 1,925,811 others around the world.
But what are the symptoms and how can you check if you have it?
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Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause infections ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).
The virus attacks the respiratory system, causing pneumonia-like lung lesions.
In 2003 an outbreak of a similar virus, Sars, killed more than 900 around the world within weeks.
What are the symptoms?
The official symptoms are:
- Dry, persistent new cough
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
Other symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Loss of taste and smell
- Diarrhoea and stomach ache
- Headache and brain fog
Reported but unconfirmed symptoms can include:
- Fizzing – patients have described a bizarre new symptom – a 'fizzing' sensation under the skin.
- Chest pains
- Loss of appetite
- Runny nose
- Nose bleed
- Nausea
- Joint aches
- Sneezing
- Seizures
- Rash
In most cases, you won't know whether you have coronavirus or a different cold-causing virus, such as rhinovirus.
But if a coronavirus infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract (your windpipe and your lungs), it can cause pneumonia, especially in the elderly, people with heart disease or those with weakened immune systems.
There is currently no vaccine for coronavirus.
However there a range of options and resources to determine if you may have been infected with Covid-19.
Visit NHS 111 coronavirus service
To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
Avoid phoning NHS 111 as the service is experiencing a high volume of calls and you will be placed on a list.
Instead, use the NHS' 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do.
It will tell how likely it is that you have coronavirus, and then advise you on your next steps.
Visit Patient Access
Some GP surgeries have switched off online appointments or are turning to telephone or video appointments to minimise the risk of people coming in with Covid-19 symptoms.
But some remain open and are conducting telephone consultations with GPs from home.
Patient Access, an online appointment system, connects you to your local GP service. It will list all available appointments, from which you can book.
The website also has a symptom checker which you can use without signing in.
Visit the Babylon symptom checker
Babylon Health provides remote consultations with doctors and health care professionals via text and video messaging that you can use through their specially designed mobile app.
Babylon are also regular updating a Covid-19 guide to give more information about symptoms and the latest medical developments.
It also outlines the risks, how to prevent infection and what to do if you’re feeling unwell with coronavirus.
Check your temperature at home
You can check your temperature at home using an oral thermometer or a digital thermometer.
It is also possible to measure someone else's temperature without a thermometer.
Touch your own skin first, and then touch their skin and compare the two temperatures. If the other person is significantly hotter than you, they may have a fever.
Hospital testing for severe cases
Currently, there are no testing kits available for general home use.
At the moment, the only way to be tested for coronavirus is at hospital.
But to qualify for testing in hospital you will need to be showing at least two symptoms of coronavirus and be in a relatively severe stage before being admitted.
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