Is it Possible to Recover from Coronavirus?

The novel coronavirus disease has spread rapidly across parts of India in the latter half of March 2020. With the number of cases increasing at a brisk pace in our country, panic about the disease is at an all-time high among citizens.

In this situation, it is pertinent to ensure that you are aware of several facts about this disease that can help you to gauge its severity. It is also important to learn about the chances of recovery from Covid-19 and dispel unverified information making rounds in social media regarding it.

So, without further ado, take a look!

Novel coronavirus disease as per WHO, in most cases, is not fatal for healthy young individuals. As per emerging trends observed, this disease is more severe among geriatrics and those with underlying health conditions like diabetes, asthma, heart conditions, etc.

As per researchers from the Imperial College of London, the death rate among patients of 80 years and older was around 13.4%. In contrast, the death rate among those in their fifties was 1.25% and forties was 0.3%. (source)

Now, the reason for a higher mortality rate among elderly individuals can be chalked down to two contributing factors -

• Declining immunity
• Underlying illnesses

A weakened immune system and multiple chronic illnesses reduces an individual’s ability to fight off the infection. This ultimately leads the person to develop the more severe symptoms of Covid-19 like pneumonia and acute respiratory distress, ultimately resulting in death.

Did you know that the death rate for individuals with no underlying health conditions is approximately 1%? (source)

However, there have also been cases of elderly individuals recovering from this disease. For instance, Italy reported a case of a 101-year old man recovering from COVID-19, the oldest-known person to have survived the coronavirus disease. (source)

Now, while there have been exceptions, young and healthy individuals have mostly experienced milder symptoms and recovered without any serious medical intervention. It is also noteworthy that this particular strain of the coronavirus disease is relatively less harmful for children below 10 years of age. (source)

However, there is no specific treatment for coronavirus. That is why it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact reason why some people are recovering from it while others are not.

What is the Recovery Period from Covid-19?

Even though the exact period for recovery from Covid-19 is unknown, WHO has published a report which provides us with the estimates.

As per this report, compiled from the available preliminary data, for mild cases the period from the onset of the disease to its recovery is approximately 2 weeks.

For severe and critical cases, this period can range between 3 and 6 weeks. For severe cases, the development of the coronavirus disease from its onset takes 1 week. (source)

However, each case can be different from the next and as a result, the recovery period can also vary from one person to the other.

Read: Learn more about the advantages & disadvantages of Coronavirus Insurance in India

Following are a few facts about the novel coronavirus disease to dispel some of the rumours doing rounds.

Recovery from this disease is possible. If your symptoms are mild, chances are that you will recover without any complications. Hospitalised individuals with severe symptoms have also recovered from it.

• There is no vaccination for Covid-19, as of yet. Treatment for it includes supportive care.
• The disease can affect individuals belonging to any age group. However, senior citizens are more at risk from it.
• The mortality rate from the disease is quite low.
• China, Europe, Australia and New Zealand have managed to contain it and are slowly returning back to normal.

Thus, under the current scenario, it is crucial to remain calm and make sure that you are informed about the disease’s progression. It is also more important than ever to focus on the positives and undertake precautionary measures to reduce the risks of this infection.