The world is never quite the same again because of a novel coronavirus that has infected over 200 countries and derailed the global economy. During these precarious times, we are seeing new trends which are reshaping the society and economy.
Our First Line of Defence – Personal Hygiene
There is no known anti-viral or vaccine available to treat patients with COVID-19 at the moment.
World Health Organisation (WHO) urges everyone to ‘Do the Five’.
Do these five simple things to help stop coronavirus (COVID-19).
DO THE FIVE
1️⃣ HANDS: Wash them often
2️⃣ ELBOW: Cough into it
3️⃣ FACE: Don’t touch it
4️⃣ FEET: Stay more than 3ft (1m) apart
5️⃣ FEEL: Sick? Stay home*General public health information* pic.twitter.com/7SNGV1ROxZ
— Google (@Google) March 14, 2020
1 – Hands. Wash them often
2- Elbow. Cough into it
3- Face. Don’t touch it
4- Feet. Stay more than 3ft apart
5- Feel sick? Stay home
The coronavirus contagion continues to thrive globally. There are over 750,000 confirmed cases in the world as of April 1.
Just why is this virus so extremely successful when they can be easily destroyed within 20 seconds of thorough handwashing?
The Virus Need Bodies, They Can’t Survive On Their Own.
A recent study from National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA and Princeton University scientists in The New England Journal of Medicine have tested how long the virus can remain stable on different kinds of surfaces within a controlled laboratory setting.
The findings show that the virus can survive for no more than a day on cardboard and about two to three days on steel and plastic. To put it simply, the virus cannot endure in the world, it needs a host—the human body.
If you read about the symptoms of COVID-19, it is identical with those of the common cold, allergies, and the flu. That explains why COVID-19 is tricky to diagnose and as a result caused a larger outbreak.
Understand the Importance Of Social Distancing a.k.a Safe Distancing
We have been told to #stayhome, #self-isolate, postpone our travel plans to lower the risk of a public health crisis. Most recently, public health officials from governments around the world are preaching the art of social distancing or safe distancing to slow the pandemic.
Social distancing is essentially breaking the chain of virus transmission. Remember the virus needs the human body to thrive. With social distancing, it means that people stay far enough away from each other so that the coronavirus – or any pathogen – cannot spread from one person to another. You know the drill, when one co-worker is ill but reports to work in the office, he/she is actually leaving a trail of germs in the space.
With COVID-19 a highly infectious pathogen that has a longer incubation period, social distancing helps to limit the number of people an infected person comes into contact with– and even for a person that is not exhibiting any symptoms he/she can continue to spread the virus before they are tested positive.
Another study has revealed that one person who had no symptoms of infection actually passed the virus on to five other people.
Social Distancing Can Break the Chain Of Virus Transmission
While social distancing is not protecting us 100% from the virus, it helps to break the chain of virus transmission so that the number of cases doesn’t overwhelm our health care system.
According to the experts, it’ll take 12 months to 18 months for a vaccine to be developed. Thus, the best tool we have to prevent a tidal wave of cases is social distancing.
Then again, social distancing can only work when everyone is compliant with the rules.
There is no going back to pre-virus times. While the health care workers are trying to do their best, we ought to do our part as well. Much of how the COVID-19 outbreak unfolds in Singapore really boils down to our behaviours and choices.
“…there’s no question of heroism in all this. It’s a matter of common decency. That’s an idea which may make some people smile, but the only means of fighting a plague is – common decency.” ―
