IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT COVID 19
2020 has been a rough year for almost all the nations across the world due to the spread of the coronavirus. The most dangerous thing is that the virus is new and people are not yet properly aware of it. There have been some rumors and conflicting information circulating that is making an understanding of the disease even difficult.
Hence, to stay protected from the disease caused by COVID 19, one of the most important things is to know some of the important facts about it. Recently, the John Hopkins Medicine website has released a set of answers to some of the common myths about coronavirus.
1. You can get protected from COVID 19 by even bathing in or swallowing alcohols, disinfectants, or bleach?
The answer is No. This can be deadly when swallowed. You should only wash hands properly with soap and should use sanitizers for cleaning hands or items that you come in contact with.
2. Can people get infected by the products shipped?
The answer is again, No. The products that are shipped travel for many days and are exposed to different levels of temperature and hence by the time it reaches you, the chances of having the virus are much reduced. This theory has been explained by the World Health Organization.
3. Is a vaccine for COVID 19 released?
Not yet. Scientists and other researchers are still working on it.
Apart from these myth-breaking answers, there are also some important facts regarding COVID 19 that people should know about.
6 Facts regarding COVID 19
1. COVID 19 – The Disease
COVID 19 is a virus-infected illness that is contagious. It is caused by a new type of virus named Coronavirus and has become a pandemic. The symptom of COVID 19 can be mild and can be also severe depending upon some factors such as the age of the person, immunity or the person, and many others.
2. How COVID 19 is spread?
COVID 19 is contagious and is spreading out rapidly in highly populated places. This means if you come in contact with an infected person, you are at risk of getting infected by the virus. You can also get infected by the virus if you are close to fewer than 6 feet of an infected person.
Apart from the touch, the virus spreads if you come in contact with the respiratory droplets or cough from an infected person, while the person has sneezed, coughed, or has even talked while you are within a radius of 6 feet around the infected person. Even if you have touched a surface that has been touched by an infected person, you can get the virus on your hands. Now, if you touch your eyes, mouse, or nose with the same hand, you can get the infection in your system too.
3. Protection from COVID 19
As currently, there are no vaccines introduced yet for treating or preventing COVID 19, the best thing is to reduce exposure to the virus by following some guidelines set by the experts of WHO.
a. Be safe at home so that you do not come in contact with an infected person who may be staying just in your neighborhood or so.
b. If you are in public, make sure to wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose.
c. Make sure to disinfect the surfaces that are frequently touched by different people.
d. Wash your hands with proper soap for at least 20 seconds, covering all parts of the hand. Also, you should make use of sanitizers with 60% alcohol to clean your hands quite often.
4. Social Distancing – The only way to break the chain
You can stay safe only when you are not coming in contact with an infected person. Hence, social distancing is the only mantra that can help in breaking the chain and reducing the spread. Here are some of the ways how you can maintain social distancing.
a. Use online options for all the necessary activities such as banking transactions, shopping for groceries and medicines, and others.
b. If due for some reason, you need to visit somewhere, maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from everyone around.
c. Try to get in touch with as lesser people as possible.
5. Preventing the spread of COVID 19
If somehow you have gotten infected by the virus, you can still help society by maintaining certain rules to prevent the spread.
a. If you are suspected of having COVID 19, quarantine yourself in your home and limit touching surfaces or items that are touched by the other people in the house.
b. It is not always necessary that having a cough and fever will lead to COVID 19. Instead of risking it, maintain distancing from other people at home for at least 15 days.
c. If conditions deteriorate severely, call the emergency contact number of COVID 19 in your city and the experts will take you to a hospital with proper arrangements.
6. The Risk Factors
A very common question that is still making rounds is about the people who can be at higher risk. COVID 19 is a contagious disease and hence everyone who is coming into contact with an infected person or even an infected surface can catch the disease. But yes, old age leads to reduced immunity in the body, and people with a weaker immune system are much more susceptible. COVID 19 can range from mild to severe. People who have medical conditions are at a much higher risk and can have severe illnesses that may even lead to death.
As of now COVID 19 has impacted almost all the big nations of the world and has caused a huge number of deaths. Understanding the facts and maintaining the guidelines set by the health experts is the only way to stay safe and keep others safe too.