8 SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE STEPS TO PREVENT CORONAVIRUS

8 SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE STEPS TO PREVENT CORONAVIRUS 

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Coronavirus has been declared a pandemic and has emerged as a source of world-wide panic. Rather than playing the blame game, the Governments should focus on building confidence in people, allay fears, strengthen their health care infrastructure, back their health care staff and scientists and curb the deadly virus.

At personal and community level, what you can and should do is stay updated about the current global and local scenario. PRECAUTION IS SURELY BETTER THAN CURE !!!

Coronavirus, technically called COVID-19 (COrona VIrus Disease-2019) spreads mainly from person-to-person through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through contact of infected surface after which you touch your mouth, nose or eyes.

Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for some, especially in old age (above 60 years), and people with chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, cardiac illness, malignancy, asthma, COPD, etc.

Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following:

1.      The most important tip: Wash your hands frequently

This cannot be stressed upon enough. Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (ideally 1 minute). You can also clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub/sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Wait. Do you know how actually to wash your hands properly. Even if you do, there is no harm revising it. Follow the steps as shown in this small clip by WHO (World Health Organization)

2.      Avoid social contact: Handshaking is a strict NO

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Although personally speaking, I am pro-handshake normally. But the current scenario is in no way “normal”. Close contact can result in transmission of any virus. You should maintain a distance of at least 1 metre (3 feet) between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. When someone coughs or sneezes, it results in emission of minute droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are close enough, you can breathe in the droplets (including the COVID-19 virus, in case the person coughing has the disease).

3.      Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Any surface when exposed to droplets containing the virus, gets contaminated for a time period varying from 9 to 72 hours. Touching the contaminated surface leads to sticking of viruses to your hands, which get transferred to your mouth, nose or eyes when you touch your face (stressing once again the importance of handwasing frequently). It is thus advisable to avoid touching your face. 

4.      Follow good respiratory hygiene

You need to practice good respiratory hygiene, and encourage others also to do so. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow. JUST DAB ! Otherwise, simply use a tissue when you cough or sneeze and then dispose of the used tissue immediately. This is a simple but extremely effective habit.

5.      Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces

Surfaces like doorknobs, kitchen countertops, light switches, phones, taps, etc are frequently touched. They serve as potential source of infection of viruses. Just as you need to wash your hands frequently, you need to clean these surfaces also with an alcohol based disinfectant in order to efficiently curtail the probability of transmission of viruses.

 

6.      Sick ? Seek medical care early

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Follow the guidelines provided by the local health care authority if you have doubtful symptoms. Stay at your home. Call up some health care provider and give him/her the details of your condition. Do as advised – if he/she suspects, he may ask you to get examined and give your nasal/throat swab sample for investigation. This will protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.

The main symptoms to look out for are:

• a cough - usually dry
• fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above) or chills
• shortness of breath
• running nose (rare)

 

7.       Need of face mask ??

                                                          

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If you are not sick, you do not need to wear a face mask unless you are taking care of someone who is sick. you should, however, wear a face mask when you are around other people who might be infected and before you enter a healthcare provider's office, especially if the disease has been declared as an epidemic in your geographical area.

8.      Stay updated and follow advice given by your healthcare provider

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Don’t just believe the whatsapp messages. And please don’t assume that “household recipes” work. Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Pass on the information to others.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY

SOURCE: World Health Organization