The fast-moving and highly infectious nature of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, makes it difficult to get a handle on.

When something is this big and widespread, it has a tendency to cause panic, misinformation and fear, which is why it’s a good idea to keep the facts straight.

South Africa has been keeping a close eye on the spread of the virus, especially after Bill Gates made a terrifying announcement about what would happen if it reached Africa.

To help you make sense of the situation, the BBC put together a series of graphs, maps and infographics that put things into perspective.

Note that the information in the following graphs was accurate as of February 23. For a live update on the confirmed deaths and spread of the virus, go to the Johns Hopkins’ real-time map.

Symptoms Of Coronavirus

The virus presents with a fever, followed by a dry cough, and then shortness of breath.

But in more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

A report on the early stages of the outbreak by the Lancet medical journal said most patients who died from the virus had had pre-existing conditions.

To date there is not yet a specific treatment for the virus, so people diagnosed with coronavirus are being treated for their symptoms.

How The Virus Has Progressed

The Chinese Centre for Disease Control studied 44 000 cases of the virus and found that more than 80% were mild, with the elderly or sick most at risk. Only 4,7% of cases have been critical.

More than 18 500 people have fully recovered from the virus.

The Death Toll Has Levelled Out

The number of deaths reported each day has gone back to what it was before changes were made to the diagnosis. Recent numbers show fewer deaths reported on a daily basis after February 16.

How COVID-19/Coronavirus Compares To Similar Outbreaks

Coronavirus has proven far worse than the 2003 SARS epidemic in terms of both confirmed cases and deaths. SARS lasted eight months and claimed 774 lives out of roughly 8 100 confirmed cases.

The Rapid Spread Of Coronavirus In China

In response to the rapid spread of the virus, many companies elected to close, while employees worked from home.

Hubei province remains the worst affected, seeing by far the biggest number of cases of the virus as well as most of the deaths.

Its capital city of Wuhan, home to 11 million people, remains in virtual lockdown, with its train stations and airports shut and roads sealed.

The exact source of the outbreak has not been identified, although scientists suspect that it could be linked to illegally traded wildlife at Wuhan’s seafood market.

How To Reduce Your Chances Of Catching It

For more graphs and information, head here.

And, if you or someone you know thinks they may have come into contact with the virus, limit your contact with other people and seek medical attention immediately.

[source:bbc]