Staying safe is the most important thing right now with the pandemic far from being over. A lot of information has been released on how to stay safe and prevent being infected. A good number of this information are not based on tangible or reliable facts, thereby leading to the misleading of people.
Through this article, we have been able to deliver sound and trusted facts about Coronavirus and how to prevent being infected. If you wish to find out more, you can visit our clinic or ask your doctor at Medical Express Clinic London.
An introduction to coronavirus
Coronavirus refers to a type of viruses that are known to affect the respiratory system of humans and animals. Coronavirus belongs to a family known as Coronaviridae and a subfamily of Coronavirinae. There are various types of coronavirus; however, the most common ones include the following
- 229E (alpha coronavirus)
- NL63 (alpha coronavirus)
- OC43 (beta coronavirus)
- HKU1 (beta coronavirus)
There are rare strains of the coronavirus that have been known to be responsible for the outbreak of some very serious diseases. Some of these rare strains include
- MERS – CoV, responsible for the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2012
- SARS – CoV, responsible for the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002
- SARS-COV-2, which is the most recent strain, and is responsible for the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019
Mode of transmission
Primarily, the recent infection is transmitted through respiratory droplets from the mouth and nose generated when someone speaks, sneezes or coughs. These droplets can settle on the eyes, nose and even mouth, leading to infection.
Transmission is also possible when contaminated hands touch the face. The droplets can land on nearby surfaces and remain inactive for a while. When these surfaces are touched, the hands become contaminated. Contact through those hands lead to infection.
In general, the common ways by which one can get infected with the COVID-19 is outlined below
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Getting in contact with someone who has been infected with the virus.
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Getting in contact with objects or surfaces that have been exposed to the virus and touching the face with those hands.
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Coughing or sneezing without covering your mouth with a face mask. This will spread the droplets containing the virus assuming you are infected.
Preventing an infection transmission
If you have been infected and diagnosed with the infection then there is an option of whether you will remain at home or get admitted into the hospital. Your health care provider will determine this, and even if you get to remain at home, you will still receive treatment and be monitored by the state health care department. If you have been diagnosed, you must follow the steps below to be able to return to your normal daily activities
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If you live alone, good. If you don’t, stay away from everyone who lives with you, including your pets. If possible, isolate yourself in a room and use a separate bathroom as well if you can. Avoid hugging and sharing food with your pets or members of your family.
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If you have to go out, always wear a face mask when you are outside or around people
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Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time. If there is no water or soap available, use a hand sanitiser with 60- 95% alcohol.
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Clean and disinfect surfaces that are prone to transmit the virus. Surfaces like tabletops and door handles should be cleaned all the time, especially if you have to share them with others.
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Restrict your activities to indoor activities and avoid going out as much as possible. Avoid public transportation and only go out when you are going for medical care.
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Always inform your doctor before you visit, even if you have an appointment. This will help them prepare beforehand so you won’t have to infect others.
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Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing with disposable tissue. Throw them away afterwards, and wash your hands thoroughly.
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Avoid sharing personal items like dishes and towels including drinking glasses with your family, pets or friends.
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Monitor your symptoms. After a while, you should be feeling better, especially if you follow the rules and regulations. However, if you don’t feel better, contact your health care provider for more checks.
Until the risks of secondary transmission are low, your health care provider will advise you to remain indoors and in isolation.
Tips to avoid getting infected
Besides the person who is infected or who has been diagnosed, other members of the family should follow these tips to prevent getting infected with the coronavirus.
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Stay away from the infected person or members of the family and do not share rooms or bathroom with them. Keep the pets away from them as well.
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Ensure there is enough ventilation in the home, especially with the infected person. Open up windows and use air conditioning if you can
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Avoid touching your face or parts of it all the time
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Always wear a face mask and protective gloves before coming in contact with an infected person,their stool, blood and their body fluids
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Also, wear gloves when dealing with clothes and items of an infected person. Wash all laundry thoroughly and dispose of clothing and materials contaminated with blood, stool or body fluids
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Ensure that the infected person follows all rules and regulations to the latter. If symptoms persist or show no signs of improvement, contact the health care provider.
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Avoid visitors
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Maintain proper hygiene by washing your hands thoroughly and frequently after handling the infected person’s items. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time. Use a hand sanitiser with 60-95 %alcohol if there is no water or soap available.
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Always wear a face mask if you are in the same room with an infected person
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Do not reuse face masks and gloves. Dispose of them immediately, starting with the gloves first. Wash your hands afterwards
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Call the health care provider in case of any doubts or confusion. They will put you through on any other information you may need.
Conclusion
If there are any further questions or information, you need to gather concerning and staying safe, visit our clinic or ask your doctor at Medical Express Clinic London. We would be glad to help.