The COVID-19 pandemic: What it is, who's at risk, and how you can protect yourself

Now that the World Health Organization hasdeclared the novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, shutting down cities and even an entire country, many people want to know more about what they can doto fight COVID-19.

Canada confirmed its first case on Jan.25 and as the new virus makes its way around the world, here's a breakdown of what itis, who is most at risk, and most importantly, what you can do to protect yourself.

1. What is COVID-19?

It's the illness that's caused by a viral respiratory infection. The virus that leads to COVID-19 is known as SARS-CoV-2.

Dr. Allison McGeer, a clinical scientist with Sinai Health System in Toronto, saidSARS-CoV-2 probably started showing up in China in November 2019.

The World Health Organization says Chinese officials first reported cases of pneumonia with an unknown cause to the WHO Country Office on Dec.31, 2019.

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2. Who is most at risk?

Overall, 80 per cent of those who get infected will have mild symptoms, saidDr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease expert at University Health Network in Toronto.

Severe COVID-19 cases are more common for those who are "older, immunocompromised and/or have underlying health issues," saidMcGeer.

InFebruary, China's centre for disease control and prevention (China CDC), published a studyoutlining the age and gender of 72,314 people infected with COVID-19.

The findings show that about 80 per cent of those who died from COVID-19 in Chinawere 60or older.

This virus does not infect you through your skin-Dr. AlisonMcGeer

In Italy, the National Health Institute says the average age of patients who have diedis 81, with the majority suffering from underlying health problems.

"The disease in children appears to be mild," said McGeer.

China CDC found that only 0.9 per centof infections were children under the age of 10.

• Canada's first COVID-19 death is not cause for panic but shows need to protect most vulnerable

3. How can you protect yourself?

According to the World Health Organization:

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Keep your hands away from your face.
• Maintain at least one-metre distance between youand anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
• Stay home if you're unwell.
• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve.

Proper hand hygiene,saidMcGeer,can greatly reduce your risk of contracting the illness.

Although using soap to thoroughly cleanse your hands is best, "if hand sanitizer is all you have, use that," saidBogoch.

"Go for the hand sanitizer that has about 70 per cent alcohol," he said.

4. How does it spread?

The World Health Organization says the virus is spread from person-to-person through small droplets from an infected person's mouth or nose.

"If you get the virus on your hands, this virus does not infect you through your skin," saidMcGeer."It has to then be transmitted to your eyes, mouth or nose."

That's why it's so important to keep your hands away from your face, saidBogoch.

"It's actually hard to do that in practice, but if people are mindful and don't touch their faces they'll come into less contact with this virus," said Bogoch.

5. Should you be stockpiling toilet paper? Food?

COVID-19 isn't a gastrointestinal virus, saidMcGeer.

"We've seen quarantines in China and Italy but there's not been a circumstance in which there has been shortages of food or or basic supplies or life saving medication.," she said.

If you do get sick, you will need to stay home for two weeks.

Having enough food for 14 days is key, said McGeer. You should alsorefill your prescriptions so you have enough medication to last through a quarantine.

6. What are the symptoms?

Though many people infected with COVID-19 may have few orno symptoms, the government of Canada's website says those symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Pneumonia in both lungs

7. What happens if you get infected?

Stay home, say both McGeer and Bogoch.

The government of Canadawebsite also outlines that if you need to see a doctor or go to the hospital because your illness is severe, call ahead or tell officials that you have a respiratory illness right when you arrive.

• Canadians being urged to help 'flatten the curve' of COVID-19

8. What is next for the virus?

WHO is coordinating efforts to develop vaccines and some drug treatments are currently under investigation.

ButBogoch said a vaccine is at least a year away.

He said the infectious disease communitybelieves that there are three scenarios for the future of COVID-19:

• It will spread around the world and burn itself out.
• It will spread around the world and there will always be low-level transmission.
• It will spreadglobally and eventually integrateitself into the colder seasonal viruses like the influenza virus.

"We need to develop an effective vaccine to protect communities from this infection, because it's unlikely to go away anytime soon," said Bogoch.