Stay safe

Last update:  July 2021

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered virus named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). 

All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, change over time. Most changes have little to no impact on the virus’ properties. However, some changes may affect the virus’s properties, such as how easily it spreads, the associated disease severity, or the performance of vaccines, therapeutic medicines, diagnostic tools, or other public health and social measures. Several COVID‑19 vaccines have demonstrated efficacy as high as 95% in preventing symptomatic COVID‑19 infections. As of April 2021, 13 vaccines are authorized by at least one national regulatory authority for public use. However, access to vaccines is still very limited and unequally open. Nationally, most marginalised people are not prioritised nor targeted in national measures, and worldwide, only a few number of countries gets a fair shot accessing it. We still have a lot to discover and learn about COVID-19 and new information regarding the pandemic is continuously being shared on the WHO coronavirus pages. 

The most efficient way to collectively work to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to take local warnings seriously and to follow basic protective measures:

• Wash your hands frequently (with soap and warm water for at least 25 seconds or with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol);
• Maintain physical distancing (at least 3 metres/6 feet) between yourself and others;
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth;
• Practice respiratory hygiene (cough or sneeze in your elbow or use tissues and throw the tissues away immediately after);
• Stay informed about your local situation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.” Serious symptoms include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Based on WHO’s recommendations, if you develop:

• Mild symptoms (headache, slightly runny nose): Stay at home, or at the safest place where you can rest, until you recover;
• More severe symptoms (fever, coughing, shortness of breath): Seek medical advice as soon as possible. Follow the advice of your healthcare provider and stay hydrated by drinking water, especially if you have a fever. If you are able; try to get in touch with the people you might have been in contact with within the 14 previous days to let them know they may have been exposed. The virus symptoms usually appear after 4 to 6 days, but can in some cases range from 2 to 14 days.

The virus doesn’t affect only the elderly or people with a compromised immune system. Many young people and people with a good health condition are getting exposed too, and some of them are also dying. The virus is continuing to change, so please bear in mind that people of all ages need to take these preventive measures seriously. Not only are the effects of the virus still uncertain but also with the healthcare system becoming collapsed, resources and treatments may not be enough for all the people who need it. In some places, providers are having to choose who to treat and who they cannot take care of. Given our latest assessments, we have reason to expect trans people are not being prioritised, especially those who are the most marginalised within our community.