Covid Flashcards
(17 cards)
What percentage of individuals affected by COVID-19 have mild to moderate disease?
About 80%
This indicates that the majority of those infected experience less severe symptoms.
What virus causes COVID-19?
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
SARS-CoV-2 is the specific strain responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the characteristic symptoms of COVID-19?
- Respiratory symptoms
- Musculoskeletal symptoms
- Enteric symptoms
- Fever
- Cough
- Dyspnoea
- Loss of taste/smell
Some patients may have mild upper respiratory tract symptoms or be asymptomatic.
What are some complications of severe COVID-19 disease?
- Multi-organ failure
- Septic shock
- Venous thromboembolism
Severe cases can lead to serious health complications and persistent symptoms.
What is LongCOVID?
Persistent symptoms that continue for more than 12 weeks in some patients
LongCOVID can affect individuals even after recovery from the initial infection.
Where were the first cases of COVID-19 identified?
Wuhan, China
The first cases were linked to pneumonia in late December 2019.
When did the World Health Organization declare COVID-19 a pandemic?
11 March 2020
This declaration indicated widespread human-to-human transmission.
What is droplet transmission?
Occurs when people come in close contact (within 2 metres) of an infected person
Droplets can land in the nose, eyes, or mouth directly.
What is airborne transmission?
The virus can spread to people who are more than 2 metres away if they inhale air carrying very small particles that contain the virus
More likely in poorly ventilated or crowded indoor settings.
What is the basic reproduction number (R0)?
The expected number of cases directly generated by one case in a population where all individuals are susceptible
R0 helps in understanding the potential spread of an infectious disease.
What is the most accurate test for COVID-19?
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test
This test identifies genetic material from the virus and is performed in specialized labs.
What is the accuracy of the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)?
In the best circumstances, they are 80% accurate
RAT results are available within minutes but are less accurate than PCR.
What antiviral treatment is available for COVID-19?
Pfizer’s antiviral treatment Paxlovid
It is prescribed to vulnerable individuals soon after diagnosis.
What are some risk factors for oral antivirals eligibility?
- Immunocompromised
- Chronic heart or lung disease
- Diabetes or hypertension not well controlled
- Age 65 and over
- Age 50 and over without full vaccination
These factors are identified by the Ministry of Health.
What is the significance of mutations in SARS-CoV-2?
Variants of the virus develop as it mutates constantly
Some variants may evade natural or vaccine-induced immunity.
What is the new Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine available in New Zealand?
Comirnaty Pfizer JN.1 monovalent vaccine 30 mcg (12+ years)
This vaccine is available from January 2025.
What were the COVID-19 cases reported on 24 March 2025?
- 66 cases in hospital
- 60 new case 7-day rolling average
- 524 new cases reported in the last week
- 341 people reinfected within 90 days
- 0 COVID-19-related deaths in the 7-day rolling average
- 4602 total deaths
These figures reflect the state of COVID-19 at that date.
