- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Infections range from mild to serious. The virus can turn deadly if it leads to pneumonia, respiratory failure, or septic shock. Those most at risk of death are the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
There is a strong relationship between nCoV and increasing age, as with most other infections (though not the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19, which hit healthy young adults particularly hard). People suffering from existing ill health, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and anything that suppresses the immune system, are also more vulnerable. As a result, most of those affected severely by the virus are over 65. Elderly people tend to have intrinsically weaker immune defences and suffer from more chronic disease.
If you become unwell and think you may have symptoms of coronavirus, seek medical attention.
If you must leave home to see your doctor, wear a surgical mask (if you have one) to protect others.