Some of the Symptoms of Corona are:

• Difficulty in Breathing, Cough, Runny Nose and Fever.
• Not everyone with Corona gets ill and is hospitalized, most of the infected people stay at home and with time, they get better.

How to Prevent Yourself and Others from Corona Virus;

*Currently, there is no vaccine available.

1. Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 15- 20 seconds. Practicing Good Hygiene methods. If Soap and Water are not available, use hand sanitizer and letting it dry on your hands.
2. Avoid touching your face (eyes, nose and mouth) with unwashed hands to prevent yourself from inhaling germs.
3. Avoid crowded places and close contact with people who are sick.
4. If you have been in contact with someone with the virus, isolate yourself to prevent spread of the virus. Isolation period of 14 days is adequate once exposed.
5. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
6. Standard household cleansers and wipes are effective in cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

How to Keep Safe

You can keep safe by;

1. Getting a good rest every day.
2. Hydrating well and getting plenty of fluids in you.
3. Eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
4. Isolating oneself if exposed.

Brief History of Corona Virus

• Coronavirus was 1^st identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019.
• Mortality rate ranges between 2-3%. It is significantly less severe than 2003 SARS or 2013 MERS.
• Risk of death is higher in older people and people with pre-existing health conditions.

     Disease Process

• Symptoms of COVID-19 appear within 2-14 days after exposure.
• Almost 80% of people have mild symptoms and recover from the disease in 2 weeks. Most coronavirus led illnesses are generally mild, especially for children and young adults.
• Most of the symptoms can be treated with timely medical care.

Demystify Some Facts:

1. Masks;

• If you are not sick with coronavirus, you do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring someone who is sick, who is not able to wear a facemask.
• If you are sick, wear a facemask when you are around other people and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask because it’s difficult to breath in it, then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Misuse of masks should not be the case because they should be saved for caregivers.

NB: 3-layer Disposable surgical masks are good enough to contain the virus. N95 or N99 masks ar not recommended.

2. Corona Testing;

• Should everyone who claims to have a high grade fever, cough and difficulty in breathing have Corona? No, testing of corona will be done as recommended by the doctors only if someone falls under the definition of suspected case.
• Testing of Coronavirus can’t be done at home independently, because the virus is a very contagious pathogen. Thus designated labs with biosafety level 4 (BSL4) should handle the Covid-19 samples.

3. Treatment and Cure;

• Those who have been diagnosed in the world, 80% have recovered from the disease without needing special treatment.
• Symptom- based medical care is given and has proven really effective.

4. Weather and Foods

• Heat and warm weather is likely to decrease the spread of COVID-19.
• The virus survives up to 8-10hours over all kind of surfaces.
• Eating healthy is paramount. But no kind of food e.g. eating garlic can prevent one from Coronavirus.

By: Dr. Christine Mugambi, Medical Director, E-Plus

Source: WHO