"The city is currently on lockdown" - South African teacher experiencing coronavirus in China
The coronavirus is spreading like wildfire and has infected hundreds of people since the outbreak in China. Roxanne Rawlins, a teacher from South Africa who works in China, shared more about the current situation on Breakfast with Martin Bester.
China on Tuesday urged its citizens to postpone foreign travel to curb a viral outbreak that has killed 106 people, as the first cases of human-to-human contagion were detected abroad.
READ: Coronavirus: Everything you need to know explained by virologist
Until now, all cases in more than a dozen countries involved people who had been in or around Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the coronavirus first emerged in late December, before infecting thousands of people nationwide.
Roxanne Rawlins, a South African teacher who lives in China, found out about the virus and she shared the current situation on Breakfast with Martin Bester.
"I teach in the city (Wuhan) where it all started," she said.
"When you leave your house you feel anxious. The city is currently on lockdown. Public transport is also stopped, so we can go nowhere. If we need food we must walk to the closest supermarket.
"For now, they are not even sure when schools will open."
WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS?
According to CNN and Dr Myburgh, "The Coronavirus is a large family of viruses. In rare cases, they are what scientists call 'zoonotic', meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans."
SYMPTOMS
"The virus makes people sick - similar to a common cold. Coronavirus symptoms include a runny nose, cough, sore throat, possibly a headache, and maybe a fever," Dr Myburgh said.
HOW IT SPREADS?
"Viruses can spread from human contact with animals," Dr Myburgh said.
"When it comes to human-to-human transmission of the viruses, often it happens when someone comes into contact with an infected person's secretions, such as droplets in a cough."
TREATMENT
According to CNN, there is no treatment for now, but research is underway.
HOW TO PREVENT IT?
"Avoid sick people. If you feel sick - seek a doctor or healthcare provider," Dr Myburgh added.
Always cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and disinfect the objects and surfaces you touch.