Frequently Asked Questions about coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
What you need to know about the virus to protect you and your family
- Available in:
- English
- Bahasa Indonesia
1. What is the novel coronavirus?
2. How does the novel coronavirus spread?
3. What are the symptoms of novel coronavirus?
4. How can I avoid the risk of infection?
5. What is the best way to wash hands properly?
6. Should I wear a medical mask?
7. Does the novel coronavirus affect children?
8. What should I do if my child has symptoms of novel coronavirus?
9. What should I do if a family member display symptoms?
10. What precautions should I take for my family if we travel?
11. Can pregnant women pass the coronavirus to unborn children?
12. Is it safe for mother to breastfeed if they are infected or suspect being infected?
13. Should I take my child out of school?
14. What is UNICEF doing to help?
15. Where can I get updated information and educational material about novel coronavirus?
What is the novel coronavirus?
A novel coronavirus (CoV) is a new strain of coronavirus.
The disease caused by the novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China, has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – ‘CO’ stands for corona, ‘VI’ for virus, and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as ‘2019 novel coronavirus’ or ‘2019-nCoV.’
The COVID-19 virus is a new virus linked to the same family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and some types of common cold.
How does the novel coronavirus spread?
The virus is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person (generated through coughing and sneezing), and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus. The virus may survive on surfaces for several hours, but simple disinfectants can kill it.
What are the symptoms of novel coronavirus?
Symptoms can include:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia or breathing difficulties. More rarely, the disease can be fatal.
These symptoms are similar to the flu (influenza) or the common cold, which are a lot more common than novel coronavirus. This is why testing is required to confirm if someone has novel coronavirus. It’s important to remember that key prevention measures are the same – frequent hand washing, and respiratory hygiene (cover your cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or tissue, then throw away the tissue into a closed bin). Also, there is a vaccine for the flu – so remember to keep yourself and your child up to date with vaccinations.
How can I avoid the risk of infection?
Here are four precautions you and your family can take to avoid infection:
Wash your hands frequently using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub
Cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of used tissue immediately
Avoid close contact with anyone who has cold or flu-like symptoms
Seek medical care early if you or your child has a fever, cough or difficulty breathing
What is the best way to wash hands properly?
Step 1: Wet hands with running water
Step 2: Apply enough soap to cover wet hands
Step 3: Scrub all surfaces of the hands – including back of hands, between fingers and under nails – for at least 20 seconds.
Step 4: Rinse thoroughly with running water
Step 5: Dry hands with a clean cloth or single-use towel
Wash your hands often, especially before eating; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; and going to the bathroom.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water, if hands are visibly dirty.
Read more about washing hands in this article: Everything you need to know about washing your hands.
Should I wear a medical mask?
Masks help stop the COVID-19 virus from spreading. To help you take the best decisions for your family, we’ve rounded up the latest expert information on masks and COVID-19, how to wear and look after masks correctly, and ideas on how to successfully introduce them to your family.
Does the novel coronavirus affect children?
This is a new virus and we do not know enough yet about how it affects children or pregnant women. We know it is possible for people of any age to be infected with the virus, but so far there have been relatively few cases of the novel coronavirus reported among children. The virus is fatal in rare cases, so far mainly among older people with pre-existing medical conditions.
What should I do if my child has symptoms of novel coronavirus?
Seek medical attention, but remember that the symptoms of novel coronavirus such as cough or fever can be similar to those of the flu, or the common cold – which are a lot more frequent.
Continue to follow good hand and respiratory hygiene practices like regular handwashing, and keep your child up to date with vaccinations – so that your child is protected against other viruses and bacteria causing diseases.
As with other respiratory infections like the flu, seek care early if you or your child are having symptoms, and try to avoid going to public places (workplace, schools, public transport), to prevent spread to others.
What should I do if a family member displays symptoms?
You should seek medical care early if you or your child has a fever, cough or difficulty breathing. Consider calling ahead to tell your health care provider if you have traveled to an area where novel coronavirus has been reported, or if you have been in close contact with someone with who has traveled from one of these areas and has respiratory symptoms.
What precautions should I take for my family if we travel?
Anyone planning a trip overseas should always check the travel advisory for their destination country for any restrictions on entry, quarantine requirements on entry, or other relevant travel advice.
In addition to taking standard travel precautions, and in order to avoid being quarantined or denied re-entry into your home country, you are also advised to check the latest COVID-19 update on the International Air Transport Association website, which includes a list of countries and restriction measures.
While traveling, all parents should follow standard hygiene measures for themselves and their children: Wash hands frequently or use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60 per cent alcohol, practice good respiratory hygiene (cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze and immediately dispose of the used tissue) and avoid close contact with anyone who is coughing or sneezing. In addition, it is recommended that parents always carry a hand sanitizer, pack of disposable tissues, and disinfecting wipes.
Additional recommendations include: Clean your seat, armrest, touchscreen, etc. with a disinfecting wipe once inside an aircraft or other vehicle. Also use a disinfecting wipe to clean key surfaces, doorknobs, remote controls, etc at the hotel or other accommodation where you and your children are staying.
Can pregnant women pass the coronavirus to unborn children?
At this time, there is not enough evidence to determine whether the virus is transmitted from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, or the potential impact this may have on the baby. This is currently being investigated. Pregnant women should continue to follow appropriate precautions to protect themselves from exposure to the virus, and seek medical care early, if experiencing symptoms, such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
Is it safe for mother to breastfeed if they are infected or suspect being infected?
All mothers in affected and at-risk areas who have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing, should seek medical care early, and follow instructions from a health care provider.
Considering the benefits of breastfeeding and the insignificant role of breastmilk in the transmission of other respiratory viruses, the mother can continue breastfeeding, while applying all the necessary precautions.
For symptomatic mothers well enough to breastfeed, this includes wearing a mask when near a child (including during feeding), washing hands before and after contact with the child (including feeding), and cleaning/disinfecting contaminated surfaces – as should be done in all cases where anyone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 interacts with others, including children.
If a mother is too ill, she should be encouraged to express milk and give it to the child via a clean cup and/or spoon – all while following the same infection prevention methods.
Should I take my child out of school?
If your child is having symptoms, seek medical care, and follow the instructions from the health care provider. Otherwise, as with other respiratory infections like the flu, keep your child well rested at home while symptomatic, and avoid going to public places, to prevent spread to others.
If your child isn’t displaying any symptoms such as a fever or cough – and unless a public health advisory or other relevant warning or official advice has been issued affecting your child’s school – it’s best to keep your child in class.
Instead of keeping children out of school, teach them good hand and respiratory hygiene practices for school and elsewhere, like frequent handwashing (see below), covering cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or tissue, then throwing away the tissue into a closed bin, not touching their eyes, mouths or noses if they haven’t properly washed their hands.
What is UNICEF doing to help?
In March 2020, the Government of Indonesia is rapidly scaling efforts to address the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the country. UNICEF is a key partner in the response to COVID-19, supporting national and local authorities with risk communication to provide prevention messages to communities, such as handwashing messages; supporting the preparation and roll out of health protocols to ensure continuity of essential health and nutrition services; developing guidelines for schools and homeschooling to ensure continuity of education; and providing child protection guidance to help authorities strengthen protection measures for children.
Health workers receive medical equipment at the Ministry of Health warehouse in Jakarta on 22 March, 2020. The medical equipment, including items such as masks, gloves, thermometers and personal protective equipment, is the first of two shipments from UNICEF Warehouse in Copenhagen to support Indonesia’s health authorities in the response to COVID-19.
UNICEF Indonesia is working with multiple partners - including Presidential Staff Office, Ministry of Health, WHO Indonesia, PulseLab, Mafindo, and others - to conduct social media listening, proactive message dissemination, and hoax detention & response for COVID-19 in Indonesia.
UNICEF Indonesia also worked closely with U-Report Indonesia to launch poll to reduce misinformation, providing young people vital information around the symptoms, transmission, and prevention of COVID-19. The poll gained over 3800 responses in three days.
Read more about the poll here.
Where can I get updated information and educational material about novel coronavirus?
- Website: WHO, Infeksi Emerging, Sehat Negeriku, Gugus Tugas Percepatan Penanganan COVID-19
- Hotline Emergency Operation Center (EOC): (021) 5210411 and 081212123119
- Hotline for DKI Jakarta area: 112, Whatsapp: 081388376955
- Twitter: @KemenkesRI
- Facebook: @KementerianKesehatanRI
- Instagram: @kemenkes_ri
Accurate information on Coronavirus is also available via U-Report's Chatbot on Whatsapp . Click here to register.