COVID-19 is something that the whole world seems to be battling with now.

With thousands confirmed with the disease and thousands more battling with it in hospitals, the best way to keep safe and protect yourself is to understand it better.

Here's some basic information relating to COVID-19:

What is COVID-19?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , COVID-19 is the official name for the coronavirus disease. The newly found infectious disease is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Many viruses and the diseases they cause have different names.

SARS-CoV-2, which caused COVID-19, was largely unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Many of us have seen memes of people running away from that one sneezy friend, but the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are actually fever, tiredness and dry cough.

According to WHO, patients with COVID-19 may also experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and diarrhoea.

WHO has also warned that some people could even become infected but don't develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell.

How does is it spread?

COVID-19 is spread from those who already have the virus. A healthy person can get COVID-19 through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.

What happens is that these droplets land on objects and surfaces around the infected person. Healthy people then catch the virus by touching these objects and surfaces, and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

WHO also states that people can get COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person who has the disease. This is also why authorities have been stressing social distancing.

Therefore, it is important to stay more than one meter away from a person who is sick.

Protecting yourself is the most important thing to do at this point of time, but how do you do this?

These are recommendations made by WHO:

Clean your hands regularly with an alcohol-based sanitiser or wash them with soap and water as it kills the virus that may be on your hands.

Maintain social distancing. Keep at least one metre away from anyone who is coughing or sneezing as it reduces the risk of you breathing in droplets from a person who has COVID-19.

Try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth as your hands tend to come in contact with many surfaces and has a higher chance of picking up viruses.

Follow good respiratory hygiene. Good practices include covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough and sneeze and disposing of that tissue IMMEDIATELY.

Practice self-isolation if you are feeling unwell. If you have a fever, are coughing and have difficulty breathing, get medical help.

Keep up to date with COVID-19 related reports. Understand where the high-risk areas are and avoid travelling there. You should take extra precautions if you are an elderly person or have diabetes or heart or lung disease.

Should you be wearing a mask?

This is probably the most misunderstood form of 'protection' when it comes to COVID-19.

Masks should only be used if you are ill or you are looking after someone who is ill.

WHO says healthy people who use masks are only wasting it. There is a worldwide shortage of masks and everyone has been urged to use it wisely.

The organisation stresses that the best way to protect yourself is to clean your hands frequently, cover your cough with the bend of elbow or tissue and maintain a distance of 1 meter from those who are coughing or sneezing.

While numbers of those confirmed positive for COVID-19 and those who have died from COVID-19 are on the rise, it is no wonder that most people are worried about the disease.

According to WHO, the infection due to COVID-19 is generally mild. This is especially true for children and young adults.

WHO however notes that one in every five people who get COVID-19 need hospital care. This is why it is crucial to practice all the precautionary measures and inform health authorities if you have symptoms of the disease.

The Ministry of Health has a dedicated channel for those seeking information on COVID-19 related matters.

The public have been urged to contact the National Crisis Preparedness And Response Centre (CPRC) Infoline at 03-88810200 / 03-88810600 / 03-88810700.

Alternatively, you can also send an email to [email protected].

Remember, guys; do not trust everything you read online - especially unverified messages on WhatsApp - and remember to wash your hands or sanitise them regularly.