Precautions from Novel Coronavirus (COVID – 19)

Novel Coronavirus (COVID- 19) was originated in China. It has affected India and other parts of the world. Six months back the coronavirus has emerged and has taken the face of pandemic worldwide.

Questions generally raise in our minds like, What is Novel Coronavirus (COVID -19)? and How does it spreads?

COVID – 19 is a contagious infectious disease. This means it is a communicable infection. According to the World Health Organisation report, the spreading of COVID – 19 in the human body is mainly through hands, eyes, mouth, ears and nose. When you come in contact with a person having symptoms of coronavirus, the virus is transmitted through your respiratory system to the body. The virus spreads first in the form of respiratory droplets in the air which later is easily transmitted to the other person when in contact.  Those infectious virus are increasing and affecting every one of us faster than our imagination.

COVID – 19 has locked everyone in their homes as the best solution to fight against the dangerous virus. It has not only affected the routine activities but also our lives. Now the normal life cannot be imagined without a face mask and hand sanitizer. It has disturbed our daily schedule of going to school, colleges, office work, household shopping, relaxing in parks and playgrounds, weekend trips and many more.

India’s government has announced the end of national lockdown. The things are changing to normal but slowly and gradually. The message of the government is clear that no relaxation in taking your precautions until the vaccine or medicine of the virus reaches you. This is a hard time for every one of us. But not to worry from COVID – 19 but think wisely for yourself and your loved ones. It is, therefore, necessary to take some precautions in your routine preventing the naughty germs from affecting you and your little ones.

Teach your little ones the necessary precautions to keep the naughty germs away. Spread awareness about the current pandemic situation too. For example, It is very difficult for you to wear a face mask continuously for a good time interval when outside or in contact with the third person. The situation is the same or even more difficult for children. Therefore, teach and ensure that children wear a mask properly.

I always keep motivating myself to protect me and others from COVID -19. Some of the precautions that are easy to adopt in routine are discussed below. These steps help in maintaining proper hygiene and keep our body healthy, fit and fine. 

1. Sanitize your hands at frequent intervals when going outside. Precautionary keep the extra pair of it in your carrying bag. If possible wash your hands with warm water and soap. Washing your hands properly is most important to kill the germs. While washing rub your hands on the sides, front and back and in between fingers.
   

2. Avoid touching your face, eyes, ears and nose without sanitizing your hands when you are outside. Because Coronavirus is a communicable infectious disease. An infectious disease which is easily transmitted from one person to another when coming in contact.

3. Use the fabric mask or non- surgical mask when going outside. Wear the face mask throughout when you are out. Also, ensure the same when your kids are out to play or for a park. Ask your friends to wear one too to minimise spreading of the virus. Cover your face properly from nose to chin to avoid spreading of the virus.
   

Many health experts and most importantly the Worl Health Organization recommends too. Wearing a mask reduces the chances of transmitting the infection to a greater extent. Ensure that the mask you are using is meeting the filtration standards set up by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

4. Maintain social distancing when in public. Social distancing means keeping a physical distance in people. It is an important measure to reduce the chances of coming in contact with the virus.
   

5. On returning from outside wash your hands, face and feet thoroughly with soap and warm water. If possible take a bath. Leave your footwear outside the house and take them inside after been sanitized or washed. Change all your clothes and put them to wash immediately.

6. Thoroughly wash and clean vegetables and fruits before making them use. Because clean food is good for health. During the pandemic phase, I have been soaking the vegetable and fruits in baking soda or sodium bicarbonate. It is necessary to soak them completely for 30 mins. Later wash them under lukewarm water thoroughly. Set them aside to dry and then use these.
   

7. Keep the grocery and other household products left outside the house for 2 to 3 days. Sanitize them before taking into use. Also, maintain a safe distance from the shopkeeper when out to purchase. I keep the household products in car dickey for 3 days to avoid spreading of the sneaking little germs. As per different coronavirus research (COVID -19) but nothing is proven that germs remain on everything for a different time frame. Therefore, to be on the safer side prefer keeping aside the products for 3 full days.
   

8. Sanitize the house appliances at frequent intervals. Wipe kitchen shelves, refrigerator, doors, door handles, almirahs, table, chairs etc using a cloth. This helps in removing the germs transmitted from fingerprints. Use a good quality disinfectant to clean the floor.
   

9. It is a good manner to cover your nose with a napkin while sneezing or coughing. Say “excuse me”. Ensure to throw the napkin after use in the dustbin. Further, sanitize or wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.

10. Keep a safe distance from the person who is sick from cold, cough or fever. Maintain a safe distance. Suggest a visit to the doctor for a health checkup.

11. If you don’t feel good and think of falling sick. Do not panic. Check your mouth, body temperature and your body oxygen level. Visit a doctor, take medicines and rest. Have healthy food and soup.

12. It is safe and recommended to complete the office work from home. Similarly, students take online classes sitting at their homes to avoid spreading the germs.
    

13. When allowing any outsider to your house take extra precautions. Give shoe guard, hand gloves and face mask before entering of the outsider. Sanitize the hands properly. Check the body temperature and oxygen level through oximeter.
    

14. Take extra care of your elders. Because they have less immunity to fight against the virus. We must keep them smiling in these gloomy days.

15. To keep yourself healthy, fit and fine exercise Include fruits and green leafy vegetables in your food plan. Avoid eating junk food. Although nothing is proven that coronavirus spreads from food or food packaging.
    

16. Drink lots of lukewarm water in routine. Although no study confirms that drinking lots of water pacifies the effect of the virus. It is suggested because the coronavirus is attacking the respiratory system of the human body. Water helps in flushing out the virus to our stomach easily.
    

17. Take complete rest and go to bed early. This makes your body stronger too.

18. Best is to stay at home to avoid those germs and virus around to spread. Play fun games and discover other things at which you are good at.

19. Do not fall into the web of fall myths. Keep yourself informed and updated with news on coronavirus (COVID – 19). Download and use Aarogya setu phone application on your mobile phones. This application is very useful when going out. It is developed under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Main features of the application are contact tracing, syndromic mapping and self- assessment.
    

20. It is best to follow AYUSH ministry tips for boosting your and your loved one’s immunity. Personally following the ministry for the past 5 months. This has helped me in coming up with immunity booster khada for my family. Also, provide detailed information for other health tips.

21. Keep yourself positive and cherish the beautiful movements with family members. Must is to have faith in God.

My request is to take care of yourself, your family and your friends in this uncertain pandemic situation. If we all be healthy, fit and fine then will be away from diseases.