The novel coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei province, China in December 2019 and since then rapidly spread across the world. On 11 March, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
As a global organization representing the cardiovascular community, WHF is committed to offering the latest evidence of the outbreak and ensuring everyone is aware of the necessary measures to protect themselves and others in order to slow the spread of the disease.
Learn more about the WHF Global Study on CVD and COVID-19.
Symptoms of the infection may appear 2-14 days after exposure and include:
If you develop emergency warning signs, get medical attention immediately. Warning signs may include:
Research suggests that some individuals are more vulnerable to the worst outcomes of the virus:
People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus. However, the virus poses a particular risk to people over the age of 60 and those with underlying medical conditions, including:
To avoid infection, we recommend you to:
Remain aware of your health state. If you experience severe symptoms (shortness of breath, fever), call your doctor or a hospital immediately. Explain to them that you are calling in relation to the new coronavirus and that you are at high risk.
Look after your mental health and well-being too. If you need to stay home for a prolonged period, try maintaining a daily routine that prioritizes taking care of yourself.
Considering the greater risk for populations in impoverished settings, WHF has developed a series of guidelines on COVID-19 prevention and control in low-income countries.
A study published in The Lancet on 14 March 2020 reviewed the psychological effects of quarantines during disease outbreaks. The report takes information from another study published in 2004 during the SARS outbreak, which revealed that quarantined hospital staff was more likely to report exhaustion and irritability, anxiety and depression.
To protect the mental health of these professionals, China’s National Health Commission released guidelines for psychological care during the pandemic and WHO shared several mental health tips for healthcare practitioners, which includes:
WHF regards the vaccine as a critical tool in our fight to ward off the disease and focus on managing and preventing the heart conditions that further complicate the lives of those with COVID-19.
In supporting the global effort to address the pandemic, WHF reiterates that successful vaccine roll-out must include those most vulnerable, either because of health risks, on-the-job exposure, or socioeconomic status, a particular concern in low and middle-income countries.
As a signatory to the WHO Declaration on vaccine equity, WHF urges others to get involved and spread the word for #VaccinEquity.
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