PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF CORONA VIURS

   COVID-19-HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?    

     COVID-19 follows person to person transmission through coughing and sneezing. Public transmission is a primary site for its transmission. Incubation period for COVID-19 is between one to 14 days. Virus that cause COVID-19 mainly spread through animals as it is a zoonotic disease, but now is spreading person to person.

       Mainly spread in people who are closely connected to respiratory drop produced by any infected person, through cough or sneeze. It may be possible a person get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has virus on them and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes.

      Virus remains suspended in air for short time but is viable and contagious on metal or plastic. Usually virus remain in air for 3 hours, on metals like copper for 4 hours, on cardboard for 24 hours, on utensils made of stainless steel for 2-3 days and on plastics for 3-4 days.

      SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of COVID-19 are non-specific. Range from mild to severe. Aches & pain, sore throat, headaches, shortness of breath and fever are common symptoms while runny or sniffy nose, diarrhea and sneezing are very rare symptoms.

                       

      DIAGNOSIS: This virus is most commonly diagnosed by symptoms; ultimately the conformation is done by PCR taking sample from infected secretions.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS?

The US health center recommends people should wash hand with soap and water with at least 20 seconds minimum. The best way to wash hand is:

·         Wash hand with water. Add soap and scrub soap thoroughly to all surface including back of hands, between fingers and under nails for 20 seconds.

·         Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with neat and clean cloth.

Wash hands specially before eating, after blowing your nose and after coughing and sneezing. If soap is not available use alcohol based sanitizer. Good hand sanitizer should contain ethanol 825 ml, hydrogen peroxide 40 ml, glycerol 50 ml, sterile water 100 ml = total volume 1000 ml. If you see someone who is visibly coughing and sneezing you can chose to keep a distance of 2m to 0.5m. It will keep you safe from large droplets (mostly cause disease).

 Other precautions that should be opted are:

·         Avoid touching your eyes, nose with unwashed hands.

·         Avoid contact with people who are sick.

·         Personal protective equipment’s for corona virus like put a respirator or surgical mask. If respirator not available than wear mask N-95 before going to patient room. Mask N-95 provide high level of protection.

·         There is no proper treatment for COVID-19. Bio treatment depends on rate of symptoms.

·         Social distance should be maintained but many people misunderstood social distancing. Social distancing basically means avoiding close contact with others to prevent the spread of covid-19 and may include:

ü  Avoiding un essential trips in the community

ü  Limiting, postponing or cancelling gatherings

ü  Working from home, where possible

ü  Conducting meetings virtually

ü  Keeping kids away from group settings

ü  Avoiding visits to long term care homes and other care settings

And more importantly no vaccine can protect you from COVID-19. The best way is to take protective measures on daily basis.