Hello dear Steemians! Since the Coronavirus outbreak is going on right now, I thought of making a post on how to prevent the transmission of this newly found deadly virus.
The information that I will be sharing is based on my own reading and some of the things that I have heard from a doctor and the local radio station.
How to Prevent Coronavirus
- Wear a mask
- Wash your hands
- Use a sanitizer
- Avoid touching your face
- Wear gloves
- Wear goggles
- Sanitize the products you receive via shipping
- Cook animal food products well
- Avoid touching wild animals
- Avoid crowded places
- Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough
- Seek immediate medical assistance if you fall sick
As it is commonly known, wearing a mask does prevent the transmission of the virus to an extent.
This is what most people wear. However, this is a surgical mask. While it does act as a barrier and prevents the transmission of the virus to a certain extent, it is not the best mask. It is loose-fitting and only merely provides a barrier to large airborne particles. Thus, it does not provide a reliable respiratory protection.
The correct type of mask
This is the N95 mask. This is the best mask to prevent the transmission of the virus. It is tight-fitting and filters out almost 95% of both large and small airborne particles. Therefore, it gives a reliable respiratory protection.
Always wash your hands with soap after using the washroom. Wash your hands before you eat if you eat with your hands.
Always carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you. Use it after you touch or use public utilities such as the escalator or the holding bars in public buses and trains.
Try not to touch your facial area especially your mouth and nose unless you have sanitized or washed your hands.
If you want to add an extra line of safety, wear gloves especially if you are working in the field that involves dealing with people.
This may seem like an exaggerated step of prevention but it is not. The corona virus has been found to have spread through the eyes. So, if you would like to do your absolute best in protecting yourself especially if you are living in Wuhan, wear a pair of goggles for your eyes when you go out.
I read this today on the Twitter page of a Malaysian Health page which is managed by the government. They posted an excerpt of prevention method by the Malaysian Health Ministry. Many people especially Malaysians, including myself, often order products from China. Hence, it is recommended to sanitize the products if you are worried of transmission in case it is being shipped from China, especially the city of Wuhan.
It is suspected that corona virus might be from animals. Therefore, it is best to cook any animal products such as eggs, chicken and and red meat well before consuming them. This way, you will be able to safeguard yourself to an extent by avoiding from consuming contaminated food.
Another issue related to this virus is that it was suspected that it all started from consuming exotic wild animals bought from a wet market in Wuhan. Thus, it is best to avoid touching wild animals. If you are a veterinarian or an assistant who find this unavoidable, then use preventive methods such as wearing a pair of gloves on and always sanitizing your hands after your work is done.
It is best to avoid crowded places such as the cinema and theme parks as much as possible. The main reason is because there is no medicine or vaccine for this newly found virus. You may argue that sick people do not involve in such leisure activities but the point that you are missing is, the incubation period of this virus can be up to a week. It shows almost no symptoms at all until it gets severe.
This is a general health practice that I think most people know. Always keep a tissue paper or handkerchief in your pocket or a small pouch so you can quickly reach for it when you get the urge to sneeze or cough. This may not be a protection for yourself but you can avoid spreading your flu, common cold or in the worst case scenario, the coronavirus, to other people especially little children whose immune systems are still developing.
It is best to seek immediate medical assistance if you develop symptoms of this virus. The symptoms may seem like common illness and you may think that it is just common cold but we can never be too careful. It is important for you to take quick steps to prevent it from getting worse and from transmitting it to others around you.
The above are some of the preventive methods that I came across of. In case I have missed any, please share them under the comment section below. I hope that you find my post helpful. Do share it to others that it might help even if they are not on Steemit. Thank you for reading and take care.
Sources
World Health Organization-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
World Health Organization-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) advice for the public
National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health
Face Masks – Do They Really Help With Haze / Air Pollution?
KKM Putrajaya