When and where was the first Covid-19 cases recorded?
OLIVIA: The first cases of the virus
were in Wuhan in China at the end of last year.
Like other new coronaviruses, it was almost certainly passed
to a human from an animal, probably a bat.
How does it affect the human body or make you sick?
The symptoms might include fever, cough, runny nose
and shortness of breath.
In more severe cases, it can cause pneumonia,
which is an infection of the lungs
that can make it difficult to breathe.
But it's important to remember that most cases are mild
and not much different to a common cold.
In fact, some people who have tested positive for Covid-19
haven't had any symptoms at all.
Can face masks protect you from the coronavirus?
While masks can stop people from spreading the disease,
doctors say we shouldn't be wearing them if we're not sick.
MAN: Masks are pointless.
Your chances of walking past a person with the illness
or being on the same train or bus as them
are not much higher than winning the lottery.
So, by wearing masks,
you're unnecessarily using a resource
that's needed for health workers
who will be directly exposed to infected patients,
and needed for people with the illness
to cut the chances of them spreading it.
What is the mortality rate of the coronavirus?
Wow, that's a good question.
The mortality rate is the percentage of people who die
when they get the virus.
The World Health Organization says it's about 3.4%,
although it could be lower than that.
While it's still a fair bit more deadly than the seasonal flu,
most people who get coronavirus have a really mild case.
And the good news for you guys is that kids are much less likely
to get sick.
How long can the coronavirus live outside of the human body?
While it passes much more easily from person to person,
scientists reckon human coronavirus can live on surfaces
for up to nine days.
The germs can be killed pretty easily, though,
with common disinfectants.
As an Australian, should I be concerned about the coronavirus
spreading around Australia?
There are already cases in Australia
and the government says it is likely to spread,
which is why they're getting ready.
We've got ahead of this early.
We intend to stay ahead of this.
Authorities are trying to limit the spread as much as possible
by keeping close track of who's got the virus
and who they've come into contact with.
Are the government going to cancel school in Australia?
At the moment, that's not really necessary
because it hasn't spread that much in Australia, but it could happen.
A few schools have already been closed in Sydney
because students got the virus.
Should I stock up on water, food and toilet paper?
Yeah, so, last week, people got a little bit over the top
with the toilet paper thing.
Removing all of the lavatory paper from the shelves of supermarkets
probably isn't a proportionate or sensible thing to do.
While experts say it's not a bad idea
to have a couple of week's worth of food in the cupboard
just in case you need to quarantine yourself,
we won't run out of food and there is no need to panic.
How many people have coronavirus?
That's a tricky one because it's changing all the time.
But around the world, it's more than 100,000,
although heaps of those are now better.
What should you do if you get the symptoms?
The government says if you think you might have Covid-19,
you should talk to a doctor,
but make sure you call first and let them know
so everyone can take precautions and make sure you don't spread it.
The government says you should also put a mask on before you see anyone.
Will antibiotics help treat the virus?
No, antibiotics are used to kill bacteria,
and Covid-19 is a virus.
Is there going to be any cure for the coronavirus?
Hopefully.
All around the world, scientists are working to find a vaccine,
and they've already had some breakthroughs.
Researchers at the University of Queensland
are testing a new vaccine on animals
and there are also other tests going on.
It will be a while before anything hits the shelves, though,
so in the meantime, the best advice is to stay calm,
practice good hygiene and look after each other.