The number of new patients with coronavirus is growing every day in the world. Experts told how COVID-19 differs from influenza, and how they can be distinguished.
As the Huffington Post writes, both viruses are characterized by spread through the so-called "super-spreading events", when a large number of people gather in one place. However, there are much more such events in the coronavirus due to the weak immunity to this infection in the population.
In addition, due to the long incubation period, the asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread of the coronavirus can last two weeks, while with the flu this "window" is much shorter - symptoms appear as early as three days after infection.
A person infected with the coronavirus transmits it to more people. The influenza reproduction index is estimated at 1-1.3 people, while a person with COVID-19 can transmit it to ten or more people. This is not due to the nature of the virus, but to the weak immunity of the population to it.
Earlier, the Russians were told the "real" likelihood of contracting the coronavirus. It is noted that there are ways that can still reduce the likelihood of infection.