Humanity is hit hard by the COVID 19 pandemic. The virus has affected a very great number of lives irrespective of their colour, region, religion or economic status. Only when we as a species make up our minds to fight against the disease, it could be eradicated.
The very first step in doing so, is preventing ourselves from catching the infection & spreading the same to our fellow humans ,unknowingly.
The SARS CoV-2 is highly contagious than a flu virus. It can spread human to human in one of the following most common ways.
- Droplets or aerosols. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, droplets or tiny particles called aerosols are released which carry the virus into the air from their nose or mouth.
- Airborne transmission. Researchers convey that this virus can survive in the air for up to 3 hours. It can get into your lungs if someone who has it breathes out and you breathe that air in.
- Surface transmission. One can get infected by the novel coronavirus when he/she touch the surfaces that someone who is been infected has coughed or sneezed on. You may touch a table top or doorknob that's contaminated and then touch your nose, mouth or eyes.
Now that we know how the virus spreads, let us learn about how to prevent ourselves from catching the infection.
Here are 7 simple ways that can keep you from catching the virus.
1. Avoid public gatherings.
As the virus is highly contagious & public gatherings could serve as a hotspot for the infection to spread. One cannot know whether they are infected or not as the disease can manifest in asymptomatic form. And these asymptomatic carriers have a good potential to spread the virus from person to person. Unfortunately the other person catching the infection could turn out symptomatic & even get worse.
Avoiding public gatherings, can prevent community spread of this deadly virus. Acting on this simple social responsibility will have a sophisticated effect in breaking the chain of this spreading virus.
2. Maintain physical distance.
As already mentioned, the novel corona virus can spread through droplets & aerosols and the airborne transmission is very common. These droplets/aerosols can project up to 6-8 meters from an infected person when he/she speaks or coughs or sneezes. The virus in these droplets /aerosols can survive in the air for several hours. This increases the chances of an otherwise healthy person catching the infection, when he/she comes in close contact with the infected or asymptomatic person.
Hence, maintaining a physical distance of a minimum 4-6 meters, during those necessary public gatherings, plays a crucial role in preventing the contagion.
3. Always use a face mask.
Whether you are infected or not, using face masks will stop those aerosols/droplets from projecting out from the mouth & nose, at the first place, thus making the facial mask a potential shield of defence in this ongoing war against the SARS CoV-2.
Always use a face mask in public places such as grocery stores, medical stores etc. The masks need not necessarily be medical mask / N95 which are recommended at places with potential risk such as hospital or taking care of a COVID-19 positive patient at home.
A simple cloth mask(3 layered & homemade) will do the trick. This helps in situations where physical distancing is not feasible.
Note: Proper disposal of used face masks is as important as using a face mask. Do not litter them as the can be contagious. Make sure they are disposed at the right place & are taken care by the concerned authorities
4. Keep yourself from touching your face.
Touching your face with hands, which could be contaminated unknowingly, when been in close contact around an infected person, has the potential to make you sick. The novel coronavirus can contaminate your hand when you touch a surface or anything such as a door knob which is possibly touched by an infected person.
Touching your face with such contaminated hands can give the virus a way to enter the body & make you it’s host.
So Avoid touching your face, especially eyes, nose, mouth & ears.
5. Wash your hands often.
Washing hands with a soap for at least 30 seconds, will kill most of the viruses accumulated on the hands unknowingly. Make it a habit to wash hands with soap & rub on an alcohol based sanitiser to make sure the hands are not contaminated anymore.
6. Don’t share your personal belongings .
Personal items like Bags, Mobile phones, handkerchief, towels, makeup etc can get potentially contaminated & could spread the virus person to person. Cleaning them often & not sharing them with anyone else can help in control of the disease spread.
Bonus tip : Use alcohol-based cleansers or disinfectants with 5% sodium hypochlorite to clean households like tabletops, countertops, furniture, door knobs etc. Regularly used items like phones & laptop should be cleaned often.
7. Eat right & stay healthy.
Inspite of taking all the protective measures, the virus can still somehow manage to enter our body & start multiplying , trying to make us sick. Then Only our immune system would be able to fight off this virus from the body. Hence, eating the right food & strengthening our immune system plays a key role in tackling the novel corona virus.
Avoid eating in public places like restaurants, cafeteria,bars, roadside shops etc. Always prefer freshly prepared , thoroughly cooked home foods.
To know which food supplements can boost the immunity, click here
With these 7 preventive measures, the spread of SARS CoV-2 can be kept under check. Stay safe & stay #healthyathome .
If you think you are infected & showing mild to moderate symptoms, connect with your healthcare professional as early as possible.When advised for home care, learn how to tackle the COVID 19 at home click here
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