These days we all live in ever-growing fear for our own health and lives, those of our loved ones, and all of humanity. United, we wait for this nightmare to end and the coronavirus assault to retreat. Or will it become a seasonal illness that stays with us permanently? What can we expect?

The virus's symptoms. When infected with the coronavirus, you feel flu-like symptoms: fever, cough and laboured breathing, and in more complicated cases it progresses to pneumonia. If the form of the illness is mild, the symptoms can be confused with other illnesses or an ordinary cold. Although the symptoms of the coronavirus are very similar to those of flu, the mortality rate is incomparably higher. Huge difficulties in trying to control the infection are caused by the long incubation period and the long time it takes to be ill and recover. Treatment options are currently being actively sought, and it is hoped that effective medicines and a vaccine will be discovered as soon as possible.

Will the virus retreat once the weather warms up? It's thought that the wave of coronavirus will subside once the weather warms up, because in cooler temperatures viruses that affect the airways survive longer, so there is a greater chance of infection. Even if warmer weather brings changes, it's too early to rejoice. According to infectious-disease specialists, respiratory illnesses have a seasonal character. For example, dry and cool weather is favourable for the spread of flu, so during the cold season flu keeps returning. Thus, it's likely that the spread of coronavirus will calm down only for a while, but when the weather cools it will attack again and spread among community members. For now, the influence of weather changes on this virus is only unconfirmed conjecture. If scientists' hypotheses are confirmed, it's hoped that during the lull period effective and accessible diagnostic, preventive and treatment options will be found, and proper preparation will help control the next wave of coronavirus. For today's fight against the coronavirus to be effective, every one of us must take part in it. All you need to do is follow the recommendations officially announced in the country and adhere responsibly to the quarantine conditions; otherwise we'll face an extremely painful scenario. Let's do everything within our power to protect the health of ourselves and those around us.