Coronavirus

Learning objectives

After studying this module, assistants will: 

• Be aware of the wide variety of symptoms associated with Covid-19
• Understand prevention protocol
• Be able to share OTC advice and self care tips.

Introduction

In 2020 the world stood still, as coronavirus, commonly known as Covid-19 or ‘Covid’, spread to all corners of the globe. Covid-19 is a respiratory infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is thought that at least half of the UK population has had a Covid-19 infection since the start of the pandemic, with some studies suggesting that as high as 70-90 per cent of the population have had at least one infection.

Now, four years on, restrictions surrounding Covid such as social distancing and isolating – whereby a person avoids contact with others until they are no longer infectious – have been removed. These new parameters for the virus were on display this year, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the world watched athletes compete despite taking a positive Covid test. This was comparatively very different to scenes from that of the Tokyo Olympics, where athletes competed wearing face masks and no crowds were allowed to watch the events take place in-person.

Even as attitudes towards Covid relax, this ever-evolving virus continues to have a myriad of symptoms that vary from person to person and variant to variant. But, there is much pharmacy teams can do to support and reassure customers who feel they are coping with a bout of Covid.