Coronavirus: Doctor's advice on how to avoid COVID-19

24 January 2020, 10:21 | Updated: 24 February 2020, 20:55

After four people died in Italy after contracting coronavirus, this is what you need to do to avoid catching the Chinese superbug.

The country is dealing with Europe's first major outbreak of the Covid-19 illness, with more than 150 cases. Several towns have been sealed off. Last night neighbouring Austria stopped all trains crossing the border for several hours because of two suspected cases, which turned out to be a false alarm.

13 people in the UK have been held in quarantine after catching the disease.

So with fears of an outbreak in the UK, this is what you need to do to reduce the chances of catching the virus.

Coronavirus: Do facemasks protect you from the virus?

How is coronavirus transmitted?

Coronavirus is transmitted in the same way as seasonal flu. It's what we call droplet infection. It's the old saying of coughs and sneezes spread diseases and can be transferred person-to-person

However, Nick Ferrari spoke to Professor John Oxford, Emeritus Professor of Virology at the Queen Mary College, and he played down the concerns it would spread quickly. He told LBC: "The Chinese authorities say you can catch it person to person.

"But no virus in that coronavirus family is anything like influenza as regards infectivity. You'd have to get pretty close to somebody to catch it - probably living with someone. It's not the sort of virus you'll catch by walking past someone on the street."

Coronavirus is spreading around the world
Coronavirus is spreading around the world. Picture: PA

How can we stop coronavirus spreading?

People need to reinvoke the slogan "Catch it, bin it, kill it, wash your hands". That is the simple answer because it's a respiratory illness.

You should treat it in the same way you treat a cold: use alcohol-based anti-bacterial soaps and sprays, avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth and avoid contact with people who are infected.

Professor Oxford says the old-fashioned way of stopping viruses is the best defence here: "The only way to stop it is physical cleaning and social distance - keeping away from people. Once they are close together in taxis or small rooms, then there may be a problem."

What groups are most at risk of catching coronavirus?

The disease started in Wuhan, China and most of the people who have contracted the disease around the world have either travelled from China or been in close contact with someone who has.

What should you do if you're worried you've caught coronavirus?

If you think you may have coronavirus, please don't come down to your surgery or A&E and please don't get on public transport.

Stay at home and ring 111. They will triage you from there and if you need help, then help will come to you.

The advice that's gone out to Primary Care and GPs is to get a travel history to see what type of people they have come into contact with.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

The symptoms are similar to a common cold, including:
- a runny nose
- headache
- cough
- fever
- shortness of breath
- chills
- body aches

In most cases, you won't know whether you have a Coronavirus or a different cold-causing virus, such as rhinovirus.

But if a Coronavirus infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract, such as your lungs, it can cause pneumonia, especially in older people.

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Nick

Nick Ferrari callers react to new measures to control illegal migration

Exclusive
LBC Presenter Nick Ferrari visits Cromwell Hospital in West London.

Nick Ferrari shares his experience getting tested for prostate cancer amid calls for UK to ramp up routine screening

Exclusive
A report claims police should make people give their biological sex, rather than their self-ascribed gender.

Police should record biological sex after arrests, minister says, after report claims criminals can pick their own gender

Exclusive
Itay Kashti, a Jewish-Israeli music producer, was lured to what he believed was a musician retreat before being beaten and kidnapped for his race and religion.

Israeli music producer opens up about horrific anti-Semitic kidnapping as three men jailed for extortion plot

Exclusive
British military in 'sorry state' and needs 'well north of 3% of GDP for a decade', ex-Army chief warns

British military in 'sorry state' and needs 'well north of 3% of GDP for a decade', ex-Army chief warns

Exclusive
Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari, Katharine Birbalsingh branded the Government’s plans for school uniforms “marxist” and warned they could seriously impact students’ ability to learn.

‘Britain’s strictest head’ lashes out at government plans to limit branded school uniform items

Fury as London Underground book exchange scrapped over 'fire risk' after two decades

'Why can’t we have nice things?': Fury as London Underground scraps book exchange over 'fire risk' after 20 years

Exclusive
Jordan North and Chris Stark's hilarious remix of Sian Welby reading kids' book on LBC.

'Who's digging up my nuts?': Jordan North and Chris Stark's hilarious remix of Sian Welby reading kids' book on LBC

Politicians 'must be able to question judicial decisions' amid row over 'activist judges,' Priti Patel tells LBC

Politicians 'must be able to question judicial decisions,' Priti Patel tells LBC amid row over 'activist judges'

Exclusive
Israel must 'square the circle to get hostages out' as Israeli President labels 500 day wait 'tormenting, aching and painful’.

Israel must 'square the circle to get hostages out' says President, labelling 500 day wait 'tormenting, aching and painful’

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Nigel Farage 'reduced to tears' over ECHR rule which saw Albanian criminal's deportation 'halted over chicken nuggets'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage joins farmers and their tractors at Belmont Farm in north London

Farage urges farmers to 'keep the pressure up' as tractor protest hits Westminster over Labour’s ‘family farm tax’

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

Parish councillor resigns after being accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet cat

Exclusive
Calls for police to reinvestigate parish councillor who 'blew up' neighbour's cat

‘It made me feel physically sick’: Cat owner’s fury at parish councillor accused of trying to ‘blow up’ beloved pet

Nick Ferrari Reflects on an Unforgettable Journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust Survivor Arek Hersh

Nick Ferrari reflects on an unforgettable journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau with Holocaust survivor Arek Hersh

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Actress and Writer Dame Maureen Lipman reads The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin