Overview
The virus that causes Covid-19 was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019. In early 2020, the mainstream scientific consensus was that the novel virus, named SARS-CoV-2, originated from a mutation of a beta-coronavirus naturally circulating in bats. At the same time, emerging evidence suggesting that the novel coronavirus may have entered human populations as a result of a lab leak were dismissed.
Almost two years on, the lab-leak hypothesis has been gaining momentum, with suggestions that the virus may have been the product of gain-of-function research and it was accidentally or deliberately released. This evidence includes the lack of an identified intermediate animal host, genetic signatures typical of genetic engineering rather than natural selection, and leaked documents that reveal international collaboration in gain-of-function research in China.
Symptoms
The majority of people infected with coronavirus disease will encounter mild to moderate respiratory illness and will regain health without needing specialized treatment.
Older people and individuals who have underlying medical conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more susceptible to developing severe illness.
Some people infected with the coronavirus have mild symptoms, and others have no symptoms at all. In severe cases, however, Covid-19 can lead to more complicated medical conditions such as respiratory failure, nervous system problems, or death.
Common symptoms include:
- dry cough
- tiredness
- fever
Less common symptoms include:
- sore throat
- diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and other stomach problems
- conjunctivitis
- headache
- muscle and or/ body aches and pains
- rashes on the skin, discoloration of fingers or toes
- loss of taste and/or smell
Serious symptoms include:
- chest pain and/or pressure
- loss of speech and/or movement
- trouble breathing and/or shortness of breath
If you are presenting with a serious illness, you should seek medical attention by contacting your healthcare provider. People with mild symptoms should be able to recover at home.
It generally takes between 5–6 days from when an individual is infected with Coronavirus Disease for symptoms to appear and can take up to 14 days after exposure. An infected person with the coronavirus is contagious to others for up to 2 days before symptoms appear. They remain contagious to others for 10 to 20 days, depending upon their immune system and the severity of their illness. Once an individual has come out the other side, they likely will have developed a natural immunity from the disease which is the best way to protect the body from future infection.
Long Covid
Symptoms of covid that persist longer than four weeks after recovery from infection have been labeled ‘long covid’. The symptoms are similar to those of covid and can include:
- severe tiredness
- pins and needles
- issues with concentration and memory sometimes referred to as “brain fog”
- trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- earaches, tinnitus
- depression and anxiety
Treatments
There are various ways of treating Covid-19 and most people will not require hospital care. One of the most effective ways of combating the disease is through early intervention with combination therapies that commonly include anti-virals, anti-inflammatories, anticoagulants, and antibiotics.
Supplements are also critical to keep the immune system healthy. It is recommended that if individuals do come down with Covid-19, they should follow treatment protocols to combat the illness early. These can be found in our new Covid-19 Treatment Guide.
One of the best ways to protect yourself against having severe covid is to boost your body’s natural defenses. This can include making sure you are physically fit, eating a balanced nutritious diet, getting enough vitamin D through sunlight, and getting an adequate amount of sleep.
