COVID-19 is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus - a new type of coronavirus. The virus spreads from person to person, mainly by droplet route (when people sneeze, cough or in air exhaled while speaking). There is no specific treatment for this disease yet. Until scientists invent a medicine or vaccine, limiting social contacts is a way to stop the spread of the disease. See what happens when an infected person stays at home.

How can you avoid an infection? There is currently no vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. The only method of prevention is to limit your potential exposure to infection: wash your hands properly and often with soap and water or disinfect them with alcohol-based liquid (at least 60%), keep a safe distance – (at least 2 meters) away from sick people, avoid gatherings of people.

One infected person will infect between 1,5 and 3,5 other people (average 2.6). Some patients may never show symptoms at all. People could potentially be infectious without knowing they are carrying the virus.

What happens when a person infected with coronavirus stays at home?