Coronavirus in the news

3 March 2020

MBI's co-Director, Professor Tania Sorrell, keeping the public informed about COVID-19

Coronavirus is a respiratory illness with symptoms ranging from a mild cough to pneumonia. Good hygiene can prevent infection.

MBI's co-Director, Professor Tania Sorrell, has been busy with the media informing the public around Coronavirus (COVID-19).

How it spreads

The virus is most likely spread through:

close contact with an infectious person
contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze
touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables) that have cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face

Prevention

Everyone should practise good hygiene to protect against infections. Good hygiene includes:

washing your hands often with soap and water
cover your mouth with tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze
avoiding close contact with others when you are experiencing cough and fever

If you are well, you do not need to wear a surgical mask. Surgical masks are most useful in preventing people who have coronavirus disease from spreading it to others.