Public awareness information from Better Work Bangladesh (BWB) to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and the community.

How dangerous is it?

Like other respiratory illnesses, it can cause mild symptoms including a runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. It can be more severe for some persons and can lead to pneumonia or breathing difficulties and organ failure. More rarely, the disease can be fatal. Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

Should I wear a medical mask?

While wearing a medical mask can help in limiting the spread of some diseases including the 2019-nCoV, it alone will not stop infection. Washing hands and avoiding contact with potentially infected individuals is the best way to reduce the risk of infection.

Are children at risk?

It is possible for people of any age to be infected with the virus, but it is important to note that so far there have been no reported fatalities of children linked to the coronavirus. The virus is fatal in rare cases, mainly with older people with pre-existing medical conditions.

However, there are significant secondary impacts on children, particularly for children in poor urban areas. These impacts also include school closures, recently witnessed in Mongolia.