Coronavirus

The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped virus that primarily causes respiratory disease. It causes fever, rhinitis and coughing, but can also subside without symptoms. In persons at risk, such as very young children, pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised persons, more severe courses of the disease can also occur, such as apathy, loss of appetite and weight, pain (head, back, muscles), nausea and vomiting. In the worst case, death can occur as a result of weakening or cross-infection.

Infection occurs via secretions from the respiratory tract, smear infection and droplet infection. For prevention, the RKI recommends good coughing and sneezing etiquette, good hand hygiene and a distance of 1-2 m from obviously infected persons. All these measures correspond to the usual behaviour patterns which are also used in flu prevention. A face mask, on the other hand, follows the principle of politeness. It can reduce the spread of the virus of infected persons to healthy people out of politeness. However, studies have not yet been able to confirm that mouthguards protect healthy people who wear them. The mouthguard is therefore only appropriate if an infection is already present.