It all started on 31st December, China alerted the WHO, or World Health Organization, about pneumonia-like flu that was gripping the district of Wuhan, in the Hubei province in Central China. It had a population of 11 million, and the origin of the outbreak was rounded in on the seafood market, which was shut down soon after. The common viral infections like SARS, MERS, and bird flu were ruled out, and Chinese authorities identified the virus as Coronavirus, later named as COVID-19.

On 11th January, authorities reported the first death due to Coronavirus in Wuhan. From Wuhan in China, the COVID-19 has spread to Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the US, Singapore, Canada, Nepal, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Germany, UAE, UK, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Malaysia, Belgium, India… amongst the 141 countries affected.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19 Coronavirus?

The symptoms begin with fever, aches, dry cough, and breathing difficulties. These symptoms can advance to shortness of breath, and with complications lead to pneumonia and multiple organ failure. There have been cases that reported sore throat, headache, fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea. The incubation period of the virus is 14 days and is contagious even before the symptoms begin to manifest. Consequently, some patients may not display the symptoms; however, they become carriers of the virus and spread it to others. Therefore, such asymptomatic cases are far more dangerous since they aren’t sick enough to be hospitalized or quarantined and may pass on the infection to any person who comes in contact with them.

It’s a frightening time in the world. Everywhere you turn, it seems, there’s bad news and worse news, from supply shortages to job losses to economies on the brink.

However, in times like these, safety is more important than ever. To stay safe indoors, you need to understand the most important and basic preventive tips of Coronavirus. Careless behavior towards health can be vicious.

There’s currently no vaccine for COVID-19 Coronavirus. In such a case, the best and only way to fight the virus is through prevention. And, the first step towards prevention is by avoiding direct exposure to the virus. The COVID-19 Coronavirus initially spread from animals to humans. However, the mutated virus can now transmit from person-to-person through close contact. The spread occurs vis-a-vis respiratory droplets produced through the coughs and sneezes of an infected person. These may come in contact with people surrounding or even through inhalation through our lungs.

So let’s bounce on what possible precautionary measures we can take during this unfortunate pandemic.

#1: Wash your hands often:

Ensure that you cleanse your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, especially after you’ve been to a public place, or during sneezing and blowing your nose. Hand sanitizers with an alcohol content of at least 70% is also an excellent alternative. Make sure that you wash and clean the surface between your fingers and avoid touching your face, nose, or eyes.

Pro Tip:

Sing a song while washing your hand and cleanse for around 20 seconds as recommended by CDC. The popular ‘Happy Birthday to You’ song, when sung in normal speed, lasts for this duration. Sing and cleanse, folks!

#2: Disinfect Surfaces:

Finally, washing your hands won’t do much good if you immediately touch something covered in germs (your phone, for example, which is ten times dirtier than a toilet seat). To that end, you should regularly disinfect surfaces in your own home.

Pay extra attention to objects and surfaces that are touched often, such as phones, door handles, tables, faucets, desks, light switches, keyboards, and toilets. Use soap and water before disinfecting them – most common EPA-approved household disinfectants will work.

#3: Maintain social distancing:

One of the most effective preventive coronavirus tips can be practicing social distancing. You must maintain a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from people who have issues of cough or are sneezing. Because of the cough, or sneezing, the virus may get transmitted through droplets via the mouth or nose. Not maintaining a distance from the person who is sneezing or coughing may let the virus travel to your body and infect you. You must follow these coronavirus tips and maintain distance and only connect with people employing technology like social media, video calls, etc.

#4: Disinfect your belongings:

Recent reports claim that one of the most dangerous coronavirus causes is its presence in the air and surfaces for a long time like a few hours to a couple of days. To understand the virus’s effect, you may take the example of copper, where it can stay for 4 hours. Cardboard holds the virus for 24 hours, on plastic, and on steel, the virus sticks for almost 72 hours. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting the surfaces that are frequently touched, such as phones, tablets, remotes, fridges, etc. is an effective way for coronavirus prevention.

#5: Wear a facemask if you’re sick (or not):

If you’re sick, then wear a facemask around others and while you visit a healthcare facility. If you are looking after someone who cannot use a facemask, for instance, due to breathing difficulties, then wear a mask around them. Visitations are strictly not recommended during this time. Cover your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing. Try making it a habit to wear masks whenever you step out of the house as patients are not labeled and you can’t keep asking everyone you meet. Also, washing and keeping that mask is equally important so make sure you clean and disinfect the mask by end of the day every day.

#6: Boost your immune system:

Why should we wait to be infected with this terrible virus? The better option is to focus on coronavirus prevention. Boosting your immune system can help you here; with fresh food like veggies and fruits, involving oneself in indoor exercises, intake of essential nutrients like Vitamin B12 with Methylcobalamin, Magnesium, Minerals, Vitamin C, etc. For coronavirus prevention, many basic tasty drinks have immune friendly and healthy ingredients in them like turmeric, lemon, and ginger.

#7: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth:

Taking protective measures for COVID-19 is everyone’s responsibility. Being a respiratory illness, it can travel from human to human. You might unintentionally touch a person or a surface that is infected with Coronavirus, and that’s how you invite the disease inside you. Following this protective measure for COVID-19, you must keep washing your hands.  Also, avoid touching your face as it may increase the chance of coronavirus infection.

These common preventive tips of Coronavirus can effectively safeguard you while you are staying indoors. From maintaining distance to washing hands, all the preventive tips are important. Stay home and Stay Safe. Following these easy but highly effective tips, you can create a barrier between yourself and the disease.

We are in a period of extreme crisis. True. The pandemic has tested us in ways that we never imagined and will continue to change the way we think about daily life. However, like everything, we shall overcome this as well. Therefore, stay safe, distance socially, and take this time to retrospect and connect.