The constant battle between viruses and scientists has been recognized as a key driver of the new medical invention. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) forge pandemic, the first nightmare of the 21st century, humans have a deep history of battling viruses, at the beginning of this year, and there is another active outbreak of a novel coronavirus- (COVID-19) in China, originated from the Wuhan region. However, COVID-19 affected at least 210 countries and territories around the world and so far, there are approximately 33,49,786 cases and 2,38,628 deaths occurred globally due to this deadly virus and the COVID-19 outbreak has been labeled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). In current situation, what can we apply for the risk reduction of COVID -19.
Be prepared. Be very prepared. Getting Covid-19 is almost inevitable. Knowing how to prepare for this will reduce risks.
What to do if you get Covid-19. These recommendations apply to young adults with no medical conditions. If you have medical conditions or any concerns it is best to speak to your doctor for specific advice. This is particularly important if you have a pre-existing lung condition or are taking immunosuppressant medications.
Prepare for a nasty chest infection.
Things you have to hand
• face tissues,
• Acetaminophen; for a fever over 38°c, take acetaminophen rather than Ibuprofen.
• Generic, cough medicine to thin mucus (check the label make sure that it does not contain paracetamol; otherwise you could double dose and get side effects)
• vaporub for your chest is also a great suggestion.
• humidifier would be useful; however, turning on a hot shower and breathing in the steam in the bathroom may also help.
• Food: soups are ideal
• Drink: stay well hydrated, water is fine
• Rest and do not leave your house. You could be infectious for fourteen days. Avoid elderly people and those with pre-existing health conditions.
• Wear gloves and a mask to avoid transmitting the infection
• If you do not live alone. Isolate yourself in your bedroom. Ask those you live with to leave things outside to avoid contact.
• Wash your bed linen and clothes frequently. Clean your bathroom with sanitisers.
The vast majority of Covid-19 cases in healthy adults can manage at home with rest, hydration, acetaminophen, cough medicine.
Go to hospital if you are having trouble breathing or your fever is very high (over 39°C) and not settling with acetaminophen and cooling with ice packs or if you are worried, in distress or feel your symptoms are getting worse
It is also important to know the risk of developing Severe or Critical Covid.
This paper describes a risk calculator.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2766086
By following CDC recommendations especially hand washing,social distancing & decontamination.@
The best way to prevent or decrease the risk of COVID-19 infection is to avoid contacting infected people and the places they have visited. Infected people can help minimize the chance of infecting other people by strict quarantine procedures that keep the infection isolated from others. Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent infection. Also, there is no antiviral drug available to prevent or treat the infection. Some individuals suggest that taking zinc and/or vitamin C tablets help, but such data for preventing COVID-19 is lacking.
The CDC has specific recommendations for COVID-19 prevention that it constantly updates. The following is modified from the CDC (as of March 11, 2020). Remind everyone in your household of the importance of practising everyday preventive actions that can help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses:
- Avoid close contact with sick people; distance yourself 6 feet or more from other people (also termed social distancing).
- Stay home when sick, except to get medical care.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. Cough and sneeze into your elbow if you can't cover with a tissue.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily (for example, tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles) using regular household detergent and water.
This information shared by Mr.Talha is beneficial and effective for risk reduction
We should follow the WHO instructions strictly till some effective vaccine and treatment is available. My humble suggestion will be do ablution as we the muslims do five times daily before prayer. During ablution we wash hands then rinse our mouth with gurgling the throat, clean nose, wash face, wash both hands upto elbow and lastly both the feet upto ankle. This process will clean repeatedly all the places where the corona virus likely to be present. It may be better if we use warm water. In addition we can do steam inhalation also to take care of the respiratory system. Thank you all the participants.
On a personal level it's important to reinforce our immune system by getting more vitamine D, i.e. possibly expose ourselves to a sun rays.
You can notice this link and it gives a good answer to your questions which is title:
COVID-19 pandemic risk reduction
https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/71329
Zubair Ahmed Ratan
Using mask and social distancing alongwith increasing immune systems will be helpful in fighting COVID 19 pandemic.
Possible ways of COVID-19 risk reduction 1)Sensitization be done effectively
2)Develop effective vaccine against COVID-19
3)Find out new effective drug entities against COVID-19
4)All top researchers in the world , Microbiologists , Chemists , Biochemists and Pathologists ,Doctors should come together to resolve this problem.
COVID-19 risk can be reduced by practicing spatial distancing, maintaining good hygiene, and taking anti-oxidant rich diet.
Social distancing, the practice of personal protective measures and a balanced diet might be helpful.
For the moment it is necessary to introduce and maintain the required and approved prevention measures to avoid the virus contagious.In the near future probably we can have a vaccine that it´s trying to introduce and produce in several countries.
If there is no lockdown then self protection is the best policy so far.
There are certain simple measures, such as use of face mask, social distancing, staying at home, frequent washing of hands with soap and water or alcohol based sanitizer, consumption of immunity boosting foods etc., can certainly be helpful to minimize the risk due to COVID-19 that has caused a great havoc in the world.