Battling Coronavirus-19
Defense is the best offense.
Here are the facts:
Coronavirus is responsible for shutting down the planet.
The virus spreads very rapidly and effectively.
Close proximity between infected people is the prevalent mode of receiving infection.
Who is most at risk?
I am going to tell you the best ways to not becoming infected.
Where did it start?
The virus was discovered in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019. It is believed that the virus either escaped from a lab in Wuhan where testing and analysis was being performed, or as a result of someone taking a test animal and selling it on the Wuhan meat market.
The Chinese government acted quickly by effectively isolating the entire city of Wuhan from the rest of the world. Curfews were enforced, street barricades implemented and travel to and from the city was forbidden. As soon as it was realized that infection in the city was rampant a 1000 bed hospital was built in eight days!
Spreading of the virus.
Scientists working vigilantly quickly determined that the virus would spread even though extensive prevention efforts were in place to limit contagion.
Wuhan is a very large port city of 11 million people so in spite of the restrictions on travel the virus was spread to anywhere an infected person went.
Scientists also discovered that an incubation period of up to 14 days was possible although the typical incubation period is 4–6 days. An infected person could contaminate many people and objects without even being aware that they were infected. A person in obvious distress is the most likely to be most contagious.
Breathing the air shared by an infected person was generally considered to be the primary mode of infection transfer. This, however is not true.
What is the major method of transmission?
In over 80% of the cases infection is determined to be caused by being within 6 feet of an infected person.
The first thing that comes to mind is shaking hands. Yes, that is a frequent mode of transfer but that’s not all. The virus is very virulent and can live for a week on smooth surfaces like tables, telephones, dinnerware, currency, vehicle steering wheels, touch screen electronic devices, magazines, trash receptacles and so on.
It has been established that people touch their own face on the average of 400 times daily! If one has unknowingly picked up the virus by touching an infected surface or person we can reasonably assume the face of said person will be touched soon after. If the eyes, nose or mouth are touched the avenue of admittance is established.
Breathing the air shared by an infected person was generally considered to be the primary mode of infection transfer. This, however is not true. Touching is still the most prevalent means of transmission.
How dangerous is the virus?
Since most of the victims so far are from China, data has shown that the mortality rates can reach 12% of victims infected. However that figure is at the extreme end of the spectrum.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that a mortality rate of 4.3% was reasonable based on data from China as of late February.
Since then other countries have experienced varying mortality/recovery data. The World Health Organization has stated that they believe the overall percentage of mortality for CV-19 is about 3.4% (Worldometers). The more recent information is from early March, 2020.
By comparison, seasonal flu generally kills far fewer than 1% of those infected.
The symptoms.
If you have a runny nose and sputum, you have a common cold.
Corona virus produces a dry cough with no runny nose.
It will first infect the throat, so you’ll have a sore throat lasting 3 to 4 days.
The virus will then blend into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then to the lungs, causing pneumonia five to six days further on.
Prevention starts here.
If an infected person sneezes, the contents take about 10 feet before dropping to the ground.
If contents of a sneeze drop on any object the virus can live for another 12 hours — so if you come into contact with any surface — wash your hands as soon as possible with an anti-bacterial soap.
Normal laundry detergent will kill the virus.
Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for a few minutes, but — remember the average person touches their face 400 times a day!
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person mostly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Through the touching of surfaces where the virus is present.
THE SYMPTOMS
It will first infect the throat, so you’ll have a sore throat lasting 3 to 4 days.
The virus then blends into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then the lungs, causing pneumonia within five or six days.
With the pneumonia comes high fever and difficulty in breathing.
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed cases.
The following symptoms may appear 2–14 days after exposure.*
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
For those in close contact with an affected person you should engage in Self-monitoring. potentially exposed people should check their own temperature twice daily and monitor themselves for respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, sore throat). People who develop symptoms while under self-monitoring should immediately self-isolate themselves and notify public health authorities.
Self-monitoring means that potentially exposed people check their own temperature twice daily and monitor themselves for respiratory symptoms consistent with MERS (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, sore throat). People who develop symptoms while under self-monitoring should immediately self-isolate and notify public health authorities. If a person self-monitoring develops fever greater than 100.4 F or contracts respiratory symptoms they should contact their local or state public health authority at once.
Am I infected?
It has been stated from unconfirmed sources that breathing in and holding your breath for 10 seconds without any difficulty will confirm that an infection is not present.
This test is false and misleading possibly leading to a sense of false security.
The time to take action is now.
Apply anti-bacterial sanitizer to hands after touching anything outside your home.
Use gloves when you gas up.
Bring your own pen when signing a sales receipt.
Use a stylus to sign on an electronic pad, not your bare finger
Don’t use a face mask if you are healthy-
You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it or if you are caring for someone who is infected.
Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers, healthcare workers and those who are sick. A face mask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected.
Touching your face as little as possible is a good practice
Who are most at risk?
Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. You need to consult with your health care provider about additional steps you may be able to take to protect yourself.
One needs to use common sense and act accordingly. If some remedy or solution sounds strange to you it probably is not true.
Non of us can live in a bubble — Life goes on.
Thank you for reading.
Take care.
