COVID-19

This virus was first reported at the end of 2019 in China, where it was associated with an outbreak of pneumonia. The first case confirmed in the United States was reported on January 21, 2020. The patient had recently traveled to Wuhan, China, where the outbreak first began, according to the CDC.

COVID-19 is transmitted from person to person through tiny droplets, which can spread when a person infected with the virus coughs or exhales. Approximately one out of every five infected people needs hospital care

What Causes a Coronavirus?

The four most common coronaviruses — 229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1 — did not start in animals, but use humans as their natural hosts.

SARS, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2 are zoonotic, which means they are transmitted between animals and people. Experts estimate animals are responsible for about 60 percent of human infectious diseases. The viruses commonly circulate in animals. In fact, several known coronaviruses are currently circulating in animals but have not yet infected humans, according to the WHO.

The majority of people will become infected with a human coronavirus at some point in their lives. Usually this doesn’t pose a major health risk. It often causes a mild to moderate upper-respiratory infection, like a cold. Sometimes these can be more serious, however, and lead to bronchitis and pneumonia.

Risk Factors for Becoming Infected With a Coronavirus

The risk of catching a coronavirus typically peaks in the winter and drops in the spring and summer, though this may not be the case with COVID-19. According to a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, there is no evidence that summer weather will interfere with the spread of COVID-19.

With COVID-19, people with the highest risk are those who have close exposure to a person infected with the virus. COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, which is why experts recommend staying at least six feet away from a person who is sick. Research suggests that people may spread the virus even if they don’t show any symptoms.

It’s also possible that COVID-19 can be spread by a person touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes, notes the CDC.

Risk of Developing a Severe Coronavirus

The groups at a higher risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19 include adults over the age of 65 as well as people with the below preexisting conditions:

Chronic lung disease
Asthma
Serious heart conditions
Severe obesity
Diabetes
Liver disease

Symptoms and Diagnosis for Coronavirus
The symptoms of a coronavirus can vary depending on the level of the infection. According to the CDC, a mild to moderate upper respiratory infection may include the following:

Runny nose

Headache

Cough

Sore throat

Fever

Feeling poorly in general

More severe infections that turn into bronchitis or pneumonia can cause these symptoms:

Fever

Cough with mucus

Shortness of breath or labored breathing

Chest pain or tightness when breathing or coughing.

Can Vitamin C or Zinc Boost the Immune System to Help Prevent Coronavirus Infection?
The answer to whether or not vitamin C, zinc, or other supplements might help your body fight off infections — like one caused by the novel coronavirus — is not a simple one. The body and the immune system need both vitamin C and zinc, as well as other nutrients, to be able to function optimally. (27) But there’s little evidence that doses above and beyond the regular daily recommended amounts will provide additional benefit.

The immune system is a complicated network of cells found in many tissues in the body (the skin, the blood, and more) that work together to fight off germs like bacteria and viruses. (28) The vitamins and nutrients our bodies get from the food we eat provide the building blocks for a lot of the cells that are part of the immune system. If you’re malnourished or not eating a healthy diet, your body might be deficient in some of these key nutrients that allow the immune system to function properly — in which case a supplement could bolster your immune response. If you’re not deficient, there’s little evidence that getting extra amounts of specific nutrients can prevent illness.