Why is there so much attention for the virus?
As far as we know, about 2 percent of people who get the corona virus die from its consequences. That is slightly more than with a ‘normal’ flu virus. “There is so much attention because the virus is new, elusive and we cannot yet say exactly how it will work,” says Marion Koopmans, virologist of the Erasmus MC. “For example, we do not yet know how contagious the corona virus is and how serious the disease is that causes the virus.”
Do mouth masks make sense?
Not really, because mouth masks don’t actually stop the infection, Koopmans says. What is important to prevent infections is to wash your hands, sneeze into your elbow and keep your distance from people who are sick.
Hoarding mouth masks can lead to shortages, which means that they can hardly be found in hospitals where they are really needed. Read more about the use of mouth caps here.
Where in Europe has the corona virus been detected?
In Italy, the vast majority of cases are currently recorded in Europe. Eleven people died from the disease. In particular in Northern Italy, in parts of the regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Piedmont, there have been many cases. There are many popular ski resorts in these regions.
Infections have also been reported in Greece, Norway, Georgia, Estonia, Denmark, Northern Macedonia and Romania. On Tenerife, around 1,000 hotel guests had to quarantine after several people in the hotel were found to be infected.
See below where and how often the corona virus has surfaced:
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