2. Why is prevention important?

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new respiratory virus called coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2.

Coronavirus is spread via tiny droplets in the breath. It spreads most easily in crowded indoor spaces and if people are laughing, shouting, singing or breathing heavily.

COVID-19 can cause very severe breathing difficulties and can affect all the major organs in the body.

Many young people, experience only mild symptoms, or even no symptoms but they can still pass on COVID-19 to others.

Preventing this spread is important because even young healthy people can experience long term effects such as breathlessness, tiredness and difficulty thinking.

Older people over 60 and people with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and cancer are most likely to experience severe symptoms.

Students can unknowingly spread COVID-19 to vulnerable family members, neighbours and people in the workplace such as nurses, doctors, bus drivers, teachers and shop keepers.

Stopping this spread is important to prevent hospitals and their health care and public services becoming over whelmed.