Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause mild illnesses from the common cold to those as fatal as MERS & SARS.

It is spread by respiratory droplets from close contact or direct contact with infected secretions (usually on things people touch).

Symptoms: fever, cough, body ache, fatigue, chest tightness, short of breath, headache.

Incubation period 1-14 days (usually 5-7 days)

80% of cases are mild, 15% severely unwell, 5% need ICU

There is a greater than 6% chance of death if: diabetes, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, >70yo

Death is from: sepsis, respiratory failure, heart failure, coagulopathy (failure of the clotting system in your blood), kidney failure…

Dr Lachlan Soper