Don't let the Coronavirus pandemic overwhelm you. Understand what are the best methods to stay safe and not put yourself or others around you in danger.
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We are currently facing a unique situation for our generation, one that has changed the routines of already millions of people across the globe.
For some of us, the worst part is not knowing what to do in this context, for others, not knowing what to expect.
Coronavirus a.k.a. COVID-19 has become in a matter of months the top priority for most country leaders, leaving the ordinary people wondering what the best ways are to cope with the new state of affairs.
As you probably already know, Coronavirus debuted in Wuhan, China and, at the time we are writing this post, counting the countries where it has been detected has become rather irrelevant.
There are several theories that explain this event, some of them reaching the state of high-level conspiracies.
However, there is no reason to dwell into the "whys", except for learning from them.
At this point, you might already be in isolation or quarantine or, if you are lucky, the virus has not reached your area.
In any case, having a good understanding of what COVID-19 means is important for either prevention methods or coping ones.
Before describing how Coronavirus affects people, let’s take some time to explain why it has become such a big deal for the world safety.
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), a virus becomes a pandemic when it is a new type of virus, to which people have not been previously exposed, therefore there is no pre-built immunity for it.
The infections is highly contagious and spreads across the Globe in a very fast pace.
This is the case of Coronavirus in 2019, as it has been for other previous influenza viruses like H1N1 in 1918, H2N2 in 1958 or the most recent H1N1pdm09 virus in 2009.
The symptoms of Coronavirus are like those of a common flu but do have some particularities that can make a rather clear difference and tell you if it is the case to request dedicated medical care.
According to the WHO, these symptoms are:
Common symptoms:
Fever
Tiredness
Dry cough
Occasional symptoms:
Body pains
Runny nose and/or nasal congestion
Sore throat
Diarrhea
Bear in mind that some people don’t manifest any of the symptoms although they are infected with the virus.
Now, for Coronavirus to become a pandemic, it had to pass through 5 previous phases of a virus infection lifecycle, but this happened in the short period of about 3 months, highlighting the level of contagion it carries.
Given this new context you are in, it is normal to feel scared, assaulted by different news or even helpless in front of the dangers.
Check out the video below: The Coronavirus Explained & What You Should Do by "Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell"
Prevention methods for COVID-19
You will find comfort knowing that there are prevention steps you can take facing the COVID-19 outbreak and you can start implementing immediately.
We would like to include them into two main categories:
Coronavirus Infection Prevention
Wash your hands regularly with either soap and water or alcohol-based cleansing solutions (such as antibacterial alcohol gels or simply alcohol)
Avoid touching your face (eyes, nose and mouth), especially if you are in public areas or observe people around you manifesting the symptoms
Avoid close-up contact with people with symptoms. The WHO recommends keeping at least 3 feet (1 meter) distance from people manifesting the signs of infection. Coronavirus spreads through droplets originating from infected peoples’ coughing and sneezing
Sneeze or cough correctly – in the back of your elbow or in a tissue that you will immediately throw away. Avoid covering your face with your hands when coughing or sneezing, as you might not be able to control what and how often you touch surfaces with them
Since it is not yet clear how long the virus resists on surfaces, always have with you an alcohol-based disinfectant to clean any surface you suspect is not safe and sanitized. If you are in isolation, this also implies avoiding, if possible, ordering products that origin from affected regions or countries
If you are in an affected area, isolate yourself if possible. Since the virus easily spreads from human to human interaction, the best way to stay away from it is by simply STAYING AWAY
If you manifest the symptoms and have difficulties accessing medical confirmation of the virus infection, stay at home and follow the instructions provided by your local authorities
Avoid traveling to affected areas, states or countries
Be mindful of the fact that there is a good reason the COVID-19 is accompanied by the word “new” when referred to.
This means that there is still ongoing research around its manifestation, causes, spreading mechanisms, prevention methods and cures.
Therefore, we recommend the following extra steps you should take to keep yourself safe in these times.
Understanding why Social Distancing helps reduce the spread of Coronavirus and why it's so important.
Staying Informed During The Pandemic
Any event at such a large scale is accompanied by a lot of coverage.
Different media, institutions or random people began spreading fake news, fake cures or intuition-based prevention methods that are only meant to raise the level of panic among people.
Stay informed, but do it wisely.
To make sure you are always up to date with the current situation we recommend the following sources of information around the Coronavirus pandemic:
The World Health Organization – you will find up to date and detailed information around COVID-19 on their website, including affected areas, new discoveries around its manifestations and hopefully soon, even a cure. Avoid consulting unreliable media sources or following the advice of your next-door neighbor who “conquered” a flu infection in the past
Your local and nationalauthorities - their instructions are based on well-informed decisions and are meant to keep you and your dear ones safe
Protect Yourself, Your Family and Community
It can be a rather difficult time if you are in a self-imposed or authorities-imposed isolation or quarantine.
Your day-to-day is most likely disrupted, which can affect your mental and physical condition.
There is no recipe to avoid feeling down or trapped in the situation, but you can take advantage of it to do things you like, practice sports – companies/entrepreneurs in the domain have already released at home workouts for almost any type of activity – and most importantly, taking care of the ones around you that are in the risk category for COVID-19.
We are especially talking about avoiding contact with elder people or people you are aware of having other medical conditions.
If you are not currently in an area where the virus spreads, try to carry on your life as closest to normal as possible, but don’t disconnect from the above sources of information.
Be vigilant and prepared to know how you can protect yourself if the situation will require it.
Ultimately, prevention and isolation don’t mean that you need to cut all contact with the world around you.
In times where it is rather difficult to satisfy the levels of Maslow’s pyramid of needs, we can still take advantage of the gifts of technology to fulfill the ones related to belonging and love.
As the Coronavirus pandemic develops, remember to stay informed, stay safe and be human!
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