COVID – 19
The most discussed topic at present around the world is ongoing pandemic disease “Coronavirus” which has infected hundreds of thousands of people and killed thousands. The virus would spread rapidly in the coming days and weeks if the world community does not take precautionary measures immediately by enforcing total city lockdowns, persuading the public to stay at home and follow prescribed hygiene. People over the age of 65 and kids less than 10 years of age are more susceptible to this virus and are advised to stay at home.
Coronavirus is a disease originated in Wuhan, China around December 2019. The likely source of the virus is Bats or snakes and then got spread from humans to humans. The World Health Organization “WHO” announced the coronavirus disease as COVID-19 on February 11, 2020. The disease was epidemic within China until WHO declared it to be a pandemic on March 11, 2020 after it spread across over 100 countries.
Symptoms of COVID-19:
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Dry Cough
- Shortness of breath
The incubation period of the virus is between 2-14 days from the time of exposure
Treatment for COVID-19:
Currently, there is no vaccine/medicine to treat or prevent COVID-19. It would take atleast a year for scientists to develop a vaccine to treat Coronavirus.
The symptoms of coronavirus range from mild to severe. In mild cases, the doctors recommend the patients to home quarantine themselves for a period of 14 to 21 days depending upon the test results. In more severe cases, the patient requires hospitalization and in acute cases, they are admitted in the ICU. Emergency hospitalization warning signs include:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips or face
Precautions from COVID-19:
- Thoroughly wash hands with soap or alcohol-based sanitizers. Rub thoroughly for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Maintain atleast 6 feet social distance between yourself and another person
- Not to move around in crowded areas
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wear facemasks so that you are protected from sick people when you are moving in public and always use tissues whenever you sneeze or cough so that your droplets don’t get transmitted to other persons. The droplets from the infected person infects the other people around them.
- Regularly clean and disinfect your house and office premises, doorknobs. lift buttons etc
People who are at higher risk
- People aged 65 years and older
- Pregnant women who may also be at risk
- People of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions like
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- People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
- Heart patients with complications
- Cancer patients
- People with severe obesity may also be in risk
- People with hypertension diabetes, renal failure, or liver disease might also be at risk
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Situation in United States:
The COVID-19 has rapidly spread across US and currently, there are around thousands of confirmed cases with deaths in hundreds. US is the 3rd country after China and Italy with a greater number of COVID-19 infected patients in the world. It’s an alarming situation in US and the government has taken strict precautions by state lockdowns and waiver programs to help infected persons for early and easy treatments.
Coronavirus Guidelines for America: 15 days to slow the spread (Reference: coronavirus.gov)
IF YOU FEEL SICK, stay home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider
IF YOUR CHILDREN ARE SICK, keep them at home. Do not send them to school. Contact your medical provider
IF SOMEONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAS TESTED POSITIVE for the coronavirus, keep the entire household at home. Do not go to work. Do not go to school. Contact your medical provider.
IF YOU ARE AN OLDER PERSON, stay home and away from other people.
IF YOU ARE A PERSON WITH A SERIOUS UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION that can put you at increased risk, stay home and away from other people.
***Stay Home Stay Safe is the mantra until the situation eases***