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2019–20 coronavirus pandemic facts for kids

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2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
COVID-19 Outbreak World Map per Capita.svg
Map of confirmed cases per capita as of 9 April  2020 (2020 -04-09)
  1,000+ confirmed cases per million
  500–1,000 confirmed cases per million
  200–500 confirmed cases per million
  50–200 confirmed cases per million
  >0–50 confirmed cases per million
  No confirmed cases or no data
Coronavirus patients on ventilators at the Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran
Meeting of the Italian government task force to face the coronavirus outbreak, 23 February 2020
Taiwanese 33rd Chemical Corps spraying disinfectant on a street in Taipei
Passengers at Linate Airport in Milan have their temperatures taken
Almost empty supermarket aisle in Melbourne, Australia
(clockwise from top)
  • Hospitalized patients in Tehran
  • Disinfection vehicles in Taipei
  • Low stocks at an Australian supermarket due to panic buying
  • Health checks at Linate Airport in Milan
  • The Italian government's outbreak task force
Disease Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Virus strain Severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Location Worldwide (list of locations)
Date Nov / Dec 2019 – ongoing
(5 years, 6 months and 3 weeks)
Confirmed cases 1,196,553
Recovered 246,108
Deaths
 64,549
Territories
 209

The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic was a worldwide outbreak of a sickness called COVID-19. It was caused by a new virus named SARS-CoV-2. The first cases were found in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was a pandemic on March 11, 2020. This means the disease had spread across many countries and continents.

The virus usually spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Tiny drops from their lungs can carry the virus to others nearby. It can also spread if someone touches a surface with the virus on it, then touches their face.

To help stop the virus from spreading, people were encouraged to wash their hands often. They also needed to cover their mouths when coughing. Keeping a safe distance from others, especially sick people, was important. If someone thought they were infected, they needed to stay home.

The virus likely came from a type of coronavirus found in Bats. It might have then infected pangolins. The virus then changed, allowing it to infect humans.

Understanding COVID-19 Symptoms

Common signs of COVID-19 include a fever, a cough, and trouble breathing. Sometimes, people could get more serious problems like pneumonia. At the time, there was no special medicine or vaccine to cure COVID-19. Doctors mainly gave patients care to help them feel better.

How Kids Can Help During a Pandemic

Wash your hands at school
Wash your hands at school

Adults work hard to keep everyone safe during a pandemic. Kids can also help reduce the spread of viruses like COVID-19. Here are some simple but important things you can do:

  • Wash your hands properly: Use plenty of soap and rub your hands together. Make sure to clean all your fingers, under your fingernails, and between your fingers. Sing a short song like "Happy Birthday" twice to make sure you wash for about 20 seconds.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes: Always cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue. Throw the tissue away right after.
  • Keep your distance: Try to stay a safe distance from other people. This is especially important if someone looks unwell.
  • Avoid touching your face: Try not to rub your eyes or nose, or put your hands in your mouth. This helps stop germs from entering your body.

If you have to stay home, there are many fun activities you can do.

Helpful Resources for Kids

There is a great Coronavirus book for kids by the South Australian government. It explains what the coronavirus is and how kids can help stop its spread.

Coronavirus book for kids
Coronavirus book for kids

Other Related Pages

Images for kids

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    Deceased in a refrigerated "mobile morgue" outside a hospital in Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S., in April 2020.

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    Gravediggers wearing protection against contamination bury the body of a man suspected of having died of COVID-19 in the cemetery of Vila Alpina, east side of São Paulo, in April 2020.

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    A nurse at McMurdo Station sets up the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing equipment, in September 2020.

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    COVID-19 vaccine

  • Respiradores da USP utilizados do Incor (50119127303)

    A critically ill patient receiving invasive ventilation in the intensive care unit of the Heart Institute, University of São Paulo in July 2020. Due to a shortage of mechanical ventilators, a bridge ventilator is being used to automatically actuate a bag valve mask.

  • 20200410 Flatten the curve, raise the line - pandemic (English)

    Goals of mitigation include delaying and reducing peak burden on healthcare (flattening the curve) and lessening overall cases and health impact. Moreover, progressively greater increases in healthcare capacity (raising the line) such as by increasing bed count, personnel, and equipment, help to meet increased demand.

  • OCD handwash

    Person washing hands with soap and water.

  • COVID-19 highway sign in Toronto, March 2020

    A highway sign discouraging travel in Toronto in March 2020

  • Student during Coronavirus in Mexico (cropped)

    A student in Mexico wearing a surgical mask while taking classes at home. This occurred in April 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, when the risks of contagion were not yet well known.

  • Covid-19 SP - Santo Andre's hospital at peak of pandemic

    A temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients in Brazil in March 2021.

  • 塔子湖体育中心改造的方舱医院 07

    A temporary hospital constructed in Wuhan in February 2020.

  • Disinfection of Tehran subway wagons against coronavirus 2020-02-26 09

    Disinfection of Tehran Metro trains against COVID-19 transmission. Similar measures have also been taken in other countries.

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    Vaccinations at a retirement home in Gijón, Spain, in December 2020.

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    The hospital ship USNS Comfort arrives in Manhattan on 30 March 2020.

  • (2020.04.17) Higienização entrada estação da CPTM (49784811813)

    Disinfection of public area in Itapevi, Brazil, in April 2020.

  • Air Forces Africa delivers medical supplies to Ghana (49829156488)

    US Air Force personnel unload a C-17 aircraft carrying medical supplies in Niamey, Niger, in April 2020.

  • Empty shelves at Coles during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brisbane, Australia

    Empty shelves at a Coles in Brisbane, Australia, in April 2020.

  • China COVID19 test kit PH donation 8

    Donated medical supplies received in the Philippines.

  • Ukraine evacuates Ukrainian and foreign citizens from Wuhan 16

    Ukraine evacuates Ukrainian and foreign citizens from Wuhan, China.

  • 13981214000744637189356214810969 نشست مدیران شهری با نمایندگان سازمان بهداشت جهانی

    World Health Organization representatives holding joint meeting with Tehran city administrators in March 2020.

  • Religious service live-streaming during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic

    An American Catholic military chaplain prepares for a live-streamed Mass in an empty chapel at Offutt Air Force Base in March 2020.

  • امتحانات نهایی در شرایط کرونا 3470479

    Students take end-of-year exams in Tabriz, Iran, during the pandemic.

  • Pollutant Drops in wuhan china due to virus

    Images from the NASA Earth Observatory show a stark drop in pollution in Wuhan, when comparing NO2 levels in early 2019 (top) and early 2020 (bottom).

  • Wee Annie, Kempock Street, face mask

    The "Wee Annie" statue in Gourock, Scotland, was given a face mask during the pandemic.

  • Covid-19 new cases in top 5 countries and the world

    Semi-log plot of weekly new cases of COVID-19 in the world and the current top six countries (mean with deaths)

  • Covid-19 total cases per 100 000 population from selected countries

    Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people from selected countries

  • COVID-19 Active Cases per 100 000 population

    Active COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people from selected countries

  • Covid-19 daily deaths in top 5 countries and the world

    Semi-log plot of weekly deaths due to COVID-19 in the world and top six current countries (mean with cases)

  • COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 population

    COVID-19 deaths per 100 000 population from selected countries

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pandemia de COVID-19 para niños

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