Coronavirus - 6 things you can do to protect yourself and your community
In recent weeks, there has been an increasing number cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) across the world with there now being over 1,000 cases of the virus in the United States.
On the 3rd of March, the UK government announced their plans to tackle the coronavirus through a 28-page coronavirus action plan outlining what the Government will do to prevent the coronavirus from passing through its next stage, and then how it aims to stop the problems when it peaks.
Should the virus continue to infect more people, some schools may close as seen in Iran and Italy, with people working from home as a precaution. Major events have been cancelled, such Coachella, one of the world’s biggest music festivals which has now moved from April to October.
Schools in Kent have been affected by the coronavirus both directly and indirectly such as The North School in Ashford, with one student infected and now self-isolating to prevent further spread of the virus. Precautionary measures have been taken by other such as Sir Roger Manwood’s School in Sandwich, which has cancelled an exchange visit to China which was scheduled to go ahead in June.
Spot the symptoms
Knowing the symptoms of coronavirus can ensure that if you do pick up the infection, you will have a head start on facing it head to head. The virus seems to start with a fever and after a week, it could lead to a dry cough and shortage of breath.
The full list is as follows:
- Fever and Tiredness
- Cough
- Shortage of Breath / Breathing Difficulties
- Headache
- Muscle Pain
Additionally, anyone who has recently travelled to one of the affected areas or has any of these symptoms may need to self-isolate, avoiding close contact with other people and staying off school or work for a minimum of 14 days.
If you think you are infected, you should not go to a hospital or your GP, but instead call 111 to get medical advice or 999 for more urgent enquiries.
Wash your hands frequently
The droplets in coughs and sneezes can cause people to become infected. For example, someone who has the virus sneezing onto their hand, then touching surfaces such as a door knob.
An effective way to protect yourself is by frequently washing your hands with soap and water, or a hand sanitiser if inconvenient. Do wash your hands when you arrive home or at work, and before and after you eat food.
Washing your hands correctly is the right way to remove any dirt, bacteria and viruses which can cause you to become ill.
- Wet your hands with lukewarm water, then squeeze out a generous portion of soap onto your hands.
- Start by rubbing your palms together and washing the back of your hands as well.
- Clean the spaces in between your fingers with them interlaced.
- Continue by scrubbing the base of your thumbs followed by your fingernails and wrist.
- Finish by rinsing your hands and drying them with a towel.
Effectively washing your hands should take the same amount of time as it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.
Catch coughs and sneezes in tissue
Promoted by Public Health Mattes, the Catch It, Bin It, Kill It movement aims to promote people to dispose of all your germs immediately.
You should always carry a pack of tissues to sneeze or cough in, in order to get rid of it. Then thoroughly wash your hands in order to cleanse yourself from germs.
Do not touch your face
The most vulnerable part of your body is your face, as viruses can enter through your mouth, nose and eyes. If you desperately need to itch your face, make sure your hands are hygienic enough to do so.
Avoid close contact with people who are unwell
By avoiding people who are unwell, you are taking no risks as to what disease they may have, especially from those who have may recently returned from high-risk areas.
Cancel unnecessary trips to large public areas if you believe that there is a risk of catching the virus.
Spread the word
By telling others how to stay safe from the coronavirus, you are also protecting yourself from people who could potentially contaminate you in the future. One way to do this is to share this article with friends and family. We also recommend reading these articles from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and Public Health Matters.
By following these steps, you are significantly decreasing the chances of you getting infected. Stay safe!
Image by © CDC/Dr. Fred Murphy
