Is the novel coronavirus deadly and fatal?

The novel coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19, is a respiratory illness that could be fatal if not immediately treated. In fact, the virus has already claimed the lives of around 3,884 people. There have been 111,645 cases reported worldwide with 109 countries affected. 

There is no actual treatment for COVID-19—at least not yet. For now, patients are being treated with drugs used to cure seasonal flu. Some people who contracted the virus and have done self-isolation for at least two weeks came out of it successfully. The treatments done on patients are usually regular treatments for the symptoms of COVID-19: fever, cough and shortness of breath. In hospitals, COVID-19 patients are treated with anti-viral drugs. 

There is no vaccine against COVID-19 since as the name suggests, it is a novel strain of the coronavirus. However, large pharmaceutical companies around the world are gearing up to be the first to create the vaccine. It would take more than a year, though, as there will be research and testing involved. 

Some studies have estimated the fatality rate of COVID-19 to be around 3.4%. However, experts say that there may be people who have the contracted the disease but didn’t know it. As such, they have not been treated and have not been included in the official count. That means that the projection may be higher than its actual rate. 

Based on doctors’ experience, the disease is more deadly on the elderly because of weakened immune system. Children and adults, in general, have recovered fairly well.