You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:
- Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands. - Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease. - Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick. - Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19. - Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I COME IN CONTACT WITH CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19?
First and foremost, DO NOT PANIC. Be calm!!! It is stated clearly in our previous article according to W.H.O. that about 80% of those infected with COVID-19 recovers without showing severe symptoms or even need for admission in the hospital.https://www.healthgist.net/covid-19-spread-the-fact-and-not-fear/
NEXT, Self-quarantine for 14 days by staying at home. If you begin to feel unwell, with mild symptoms such as headache, low grade fever (37.8 C or above) and slight runny nose, continue to self-isolate at home. If you need someone to help you get drugs that will relieve you symptomatically, make sure you wear your face-mask and sanitize your hands before coming in contact with him or her. At the end of 14 days on self-isolation, go for COVID-19 screening at IDH or authorised screening centre in your State of residence. Remember to tell them that you came in contact with confirmed case of COVID-19 and you have been on self-quarantine for 14 days.
If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly or contact Corona virus HELPLINE of your area, State or country as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition.
CULLED FROM W.H.O.
Dr. Adeyemo Olusola is a medical graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Nigeria along with certificate in advanced diploma in Principles of Nutrition, Management and Leadership, Dublin and Certificate in Global Health from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In addition to his numerous certifications, he is a certified Telemedicine Physician from Harvard Medical School, USA. He is an avid reader of books from different oases of life, expert in data analysis. “So many a time, I have seen people die avoidable death because of lack of knowledge or information, falling victim of fate. There is then a necessity laid on us to help arm our society to the teeth, as a healthy society cannot be detached from an informed one. Hence, there is need for healthgist.net. We hope you will have a wonderful stay on our website.”
