COVID-19: A Guide To Safety
An understanding of what needs to be done to fight the COVID-19 pandemic at the grassroots level.
The stakes are high and the morale is low; almost everyone seems to have fallen prey to fear. Panic prevails and a lot of wrong decisions can be made in the spur of the moment. In times like these, our capacity to retaliate must and has to be massive in order to ensure the situation does not blow out of proportion and lay waste to the entire world.
John F Kennedy once said, “For time and the world do not stand still, and those who look to the past and the present, are certain to miss the future.”
Missing the future does not seem very lucrative, does it?
The current situation might seem irrationally intimidating and vehemently vicious, but in reality, all it takes to stay safe is playing every single move by the book.
Precautionary Safety Measures
The imposition of a nationwide curfew last week was indeed a pivotal moment and this move is well backed by scientific and statistical data. It is of utmost importance that everyone adheres to this decision. Given the amount of boredom everyone is suffering from, it is very natural to experience the urge to head outside to explore a newly found paradise. Every road seems to lead to Shangri-la, but it is essential that one controls these thoughts and stays home, heading out only for emergencies and essentials.
The significance of social distancing cannot be understated. The WHO states that the virus spreads through close contact. So it is a good idea to maintain the prescribed minimum safe distance of 1 meter and also to refrain from any sort of physical contact with other people. Another vital consequence of social distancing is “flattening of the curve”, which is beautifully explained in this Washington Post article.
The next thing — arguably the most important measure — is hygiene. Maintaining proper hygiene is a must.
When you touch railings or use door handles, there is a possibility of acquiring the virus as it resides on these surfaces for long periods of time. Keep your hands clean at all times with alcohol-based soaps or sanitisers. Touching the eyes, nose and the mouth with unclean hands risks the chance of infection.
So, it is time to purge the desire to physically examine the features of your brilliantly constructed visage. Looking into a mirror will suffice. The usage of a safety mask is highly recommended with emphasis on proper usage. One must keep in mind that these masks are not to be reused. They must be worn to cover the nose and the mouth, and must be discarded in a trash can after removing them carefully without touching their exposed side.
Consuming Vitamin-C rich foods can help improve the overall immunity, thus reducing the overall severity of the symptoms. Though eating meat does not cause infection, it is advisable to avoid eating it for a while as the processes involved in meat production are not entirely hygienic. It is advised to eat home-cooked food in order to prevent the risk of infection due to the consumption of food prepared in unhygienic conditions.
Staying safe is now entirely in your hands, both literally and metaphorically speaking.
Rumours
There cannot be order without chaos. Rumours — some people hate them, while others thrive on them. With proper insight, these rumours can be made into something useful that will help people get through this pandemic. Here is a comprehensive list of rumours proven to be false:
- COVID-19 virus cannot be transmitted in areas with extreme temperatures.
False. The COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in all areas regardless of their climates. Wherever you are, your body maintains a temperature between 36.5 and 37 °C and that’s all the virus requires. So, unless you’re planning on turning yourself into a reptile while there, don’t consider moving to Greenland or Saudi Arabia.
2. The coronavirus can be transmitted through mosquito bites.
False. The coronavirus spreads primarily through droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze. One cannot be infected through a mosquito bite. If you feel sick after getting bitten by one, don’t fret, it definitely is not COVID-19, but consider getting tested for other possible diseases which may have been transmitted to you.
3. Spraying chlorine or alcohol all over your body will kill the virus and protect you from it.
False. Spraying chlorine or alcohol is, in fact, harmful to your body and could cause irritation and other severe side effects. The virus that has entered your body cannot be flushed out using disinfectants as such. You’re advised not to ingest or spray these on your body.
4. Thermal scanners are the most effective way to test the presence of coronavirus in a person.
False. Thermal scanners detect those with a fever. But let’s not forget that you could have a fever without having COVID-19. Moreover, after contact, it takes about 2–10 days for an infected person to fall sick and develop symptoms. Thermal scanners merely test for any abnormalities in temperature and are not the only testing methodology for the virus.
5. Vaccines against pneumonia protect you from the coronavirus.
Well, the answer, unfortunately, isn’t that simple. These vaccines do not provide protection against the coronavirus.
The virus is so different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against the 2019-nCoV, and the WHO is supporting their efforts.
6. Antibiotics help in the prevention and treatment of coronavirus
False. Remember these simple formulae:
Antibiotics + bacteria = Effective.
Antibiotics + viruses = Ineffective.
The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is, as the latter part of the name suggests, a virus. Therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.
However, if you are hospitalized for the 2019-nCoV, you may receive antibiotics because a bacterial co-infection is possible.
7. Eating garlic helps prevent the virus
False. You would have probably heard this from your Indian uncle, who turns out to be a part of the ‘Fighting coronavirus through Indian tradition, food and practices’ WhatsApp group. Despite its antimicrobial properties, garlic cannot protect you against the coronavirus. But do consume copious amounts of rAsaM on a daily basis.
The ‘Glass is Half Full’ Perspective
In the darkest of times, when every road seems to be a dead-end, catharsis comes in two ways — depressing poetry or by meme-ing the entire situation. The majority have chosen the latter and it appears to be for the better.
It’s the little things that make us happy in life. The language of memes is global, and this pandemic hasn’t been spared by them either.
Memes give us the very necessary, albeit temporary, escape route out of this grim world. Here are a few relevant ones for you to blow out air forcefully from your nostrils:
Laughter is the best medicine, indeed. But the boons of coronavirus don’t end with just a few laughs.
With schools adopting new techniques of teaching in the form of online classes, technology is being incorporated in unimaginable ways in several places around the world.
The concept of working from home has been redefined, with people making the best use of the available resources and time to maintain work efficiency even while at home.
The imposition of quarantine has ensured that people stay indoors, giving wildlife an opportunity to flourish. Reports say that there has been a significant increase in the number of birds in places otherwise thronged by people. The ginormous drop in the number of vehicles has contributed to a hefty reduction in pollution levels. This has given the Earth the much-needed break from constant human exploitation, which over the long run, might reduce global warming.
Natural disasters and this pandemic have one thing in common — both have reminded us that the human heart isn’t entirely devoid of humanity. There exists a spark, and it takes a bit of time and maybe a world-threatening pandemic to kindle it.
Conclusion
This pandemic has taken a toll on the entire world and has everyone shaken, but we must remember that when this entire episode passes, we will all emerge as refined human beings adept in the art of survival. There will be bitter memories, but we will be remembered as the generation that survived the COVID-19 pandemic by making the hard choices and sacrificing a lot that mattered to us. So stay strong, remember the fundamentals, and persevere, for even in the darkest of times, there exists the ray of hope which will guide us to safety, as it always does.
This piece was penned with Nikilesh V, Puvada Sreevarsha, Pujan Yadav in collaboration with the Festember Social Responsibility team.
