What is Covid-19 (Corona virus)?
Corona viruses are a large group of viruses that are common in people and many animals. Since corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified and named in January, there has been a flurry of news articles and social media posts about the respiratory illness, also known as COVID-19. The flood of information can make it difficult to separate fact from fiction, and in a rapidly evolving situation such as this, rumors and misinformation can be dangerous. This is particularly true for people living with cancer, who may already have weakened immune systems that place them at higher risk for developing serious complications from the disease.
This new strand of coronavirus is a respiratory disease that was first detected in China and has now been detected in almost 180 countries, including in the United States & India. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “Coronavirus Disease 2019” (“COVID-19”).
How does it spread?
The virus is thought to be spread through respiratory droplets produced by an infected individual. Individuals can contract the virus by inhaling these droplets from an infected person coughing or sneezing, by sharing eating or drinking utensils, or by touching a surface that has the virus on it then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose.
Avoid close contact.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for cancer survivors and people with other serious chronic conditions, who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
- Avoid crowded locations like malls, theaters, and sports venues.
Today, those who are been diagnosed with COVID-19 report a range of symptoms from mild to severe. These symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
Steps take to prevent becoming sick and/or infecting others:
The best way to prevent getting sick is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid touching high-touch surfaces in
public places—elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with
people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you
must touch something.
- symptoms of acute respiratory illness (including a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing)
- any recent travel to another country or high risk area
- any possible exposure to an infected individual
Instructions for contacts being home quarantined
The home quarantined person should: Stay in a well-ventilated single-room preferably with an attached/separate toilet. If another family member needs to stay in the same room, it’s advisable to maintain a distance of at least 1 meter between the two.
- Needs to stay away from elderly people, pregnant women, children and persons with co-morbidities within the household.
- Restrict his/her movement within the house.
- Under no circumstances attend any social/religious gathering e.g. wedding, condolences, etc.
He should also follow the under mentioned public health measures at all times:
- Wash hand as often thoroughly with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Avoid sharing household items e.g. dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or other items with other people at home.
- Wear a surgical mask at all the time. The mask should be changed every 6-8 hours and disposed off. Disposable masks are never to be reused.
- Masks used by patients / care givers/ close contacts during home care should be disinfected using ordinary bleach solution (5%) or sodium hypochlorite solution (1%) and then disposed of either by burning or deep burial.
- Used mask should be considered as potentially infected.
- If symptoms appear (cough/fever/difficulty in breathing), he/she should immediately inform the nearest health Centre or call 011-23978046. or visit https://www.mohfw.gov.in/
Instructions for the family members of persons being home quarantined
- Only an assigned family member should be tasked with taking care of the such person
- Avoid shaking the soiled linen or direct contact with skin
- Use disposable gloves when cleaning the surfaces or handling soiled linen
- Wash hands after removing gloves
- Visitors should not be allowed
- In case the person being quarantined becomes symptomatic, all his close contacts will be home quarantined (for 14 days) and followed up for an additional 14 days or till the report of such case turns out negative on lab testing
We will beat the Corona. Stay at home, be safe, keep social distancing.