Coronavirus COVID-19 Notification
Mar 15, 2020 10:02:57 GMT
m1a1x1i1m1s1h1a1t, Sturzkampf, and 3 more like this
Post by Mavromichali on Mar 15, 2020 10:02:57 GMT
Important. Please read.
Obviously, the news has been running non-stop now about the new Coronavirus or COVID-19 that is going about worldwide. I know that a good number of our members here have health issues, or are in the older age bracket. As such I'm concerned enough that people need to take precautionary steps to keep themselves safe and well.
I'm going along with as much science as I can here, and it's important to note that various governments are taking different approaches and that you should keep to whatever laws and procedures are enacted in the country in which you find yourself.
Having said that; within those laws there is a great deal of scope and it's very important that you take precautions according to your own specific health needs, age, medical history etc.
This is NOT 'just' the Flu
It's been pretty much 99% confirmed by multiple governments, scientists, healthcare officials etc that this is a serious disease much worse than the regular Flu virus.
What's this virus like?
What you can do about spreading the virus.
How can I be prepared?
NOTE: Edited for subsequent 16th March 2020 UK advice to extend 7 day isolation to 14 days and to isolate the whole family rather than just themselves.
Obviously, the news has been running non-stop now about the new Coronavirus or COVID-19 that is going about worldwide. I know that a good number of our members here have health issues, or are in the older age bracket. As such I'm concerned enough that people need to take precautionary steps to keep themselves safe and well.
I'm going along with as much science as I can here, and it's important to note that various governments are taking different approaches and that you should keep to whatever laws and procedures are enacted in the country in which you find yourself.
Having said that; within those laws there is a great deal of scope and it's very important that you take precautions according to your own specific health needs, age, medical history etc.
This is NOT 'just' the Flu
It's been pretty much 99% confirmed by multiple governments, scientists, healthcare officials etc that this is a serious disease much worse than the regular Flu virus.
What's this virus like?
- It is VERY spreadable. We're not quite sure how spreadable as numbers are varying wildly between different countries, but it certainly seems to be higher than Flu and other common diseases. It is thought to be passed on by personal touch, touching infected surfaces, in the air (aerosol-borne, not just from coughs or sneezes) and from human waste products (urine/faeces). The numbers vary again for how long the virus can live on hard or soft surfaces, so it's best to just assume that things you touch might have it.
- It's a sneaky virus. The symptoms can be absent during the incubation phase when you are infectious to others. You may well feel perfectly well for 1 or 2 weeks (and in a slim number of cases even 3 or 4 weeks) before coming down with symptoms.
- Once symptoms come into effect, you may have a high temperature, fever, a sore throat, a dry (non-mucus) cough, and difficulty breathing. You may have national helplines you can call if you have definite symptoms and need advice, however DO NOT overwhelm them with frequently asked questions. Check your healthcare website instead for answers to these. If your breathing becomes laboured or significantly difficult you should dial the emergency services on the number for your country (USA 911, UK 999, EU 112 etc)
- Children CAN catch the virus, but so far we appear to be seeing very high resilience to major symptoms/effects in the younger population. Most have only had a minor illness and recovered well. This does not mean they are not carrying the disease though, and can still spread it about. Use common sense in keeping children away from the elderly, sick or vulnerable.
What you can do about spreading the virus.
- The virus enters your body through areas such as the mouth, nose or eyes. You should minimise the number of times you touch your face, especially after touching other objects. Face-masks are of minimal help, unless you have a full air-tight mask, and full eye protection. They will only prevent you from coughing all over other people. It's best to simply keep a good distance between you and other people. Leave the face-masks for the healthcare professionals unless you have existing breathing disorders or severe medical issues; or unless it is mandated by your country / locale.
- Social-distancing is now in effect in most countries. This means you should cut down the times you mix with other people to a minimum and keep at least 2 metres from other people while out and about. Travel between countries has been limited in many places. Some countries have shut down areas within their countries that you should not travel to and from. Many events where large numbers of people would attend have been cancelled. Some unnecessary businesses have been closed.
- As you are most infectious around the period a week before and a week after the symptoms start, the UK government has advised that people should self-isolate themselves and their household for
7 (seven)14 (fourteen) days once either of the following 3 symptoms appear. 1: A High Temperature or 2: a new continual cough or 3: a new loss of sense of smell or taste. This is to help slow down the spread, and keep you away from the most vulnerable people during the most infectious period of time. You should do this (if you are able to) EVEN IF you have not been tested positive for the virus, or think you may have something else. - Listen to your local or national advice for what to do in further situations. You may be asked to quarantine yourself, or your whole family at a future point. You should follow advice for the timings of these things, as countries are trying to do things at the most effective time to allow their health services to cope with this.
How can I be prepared?
- Look out for the vulnerable. While everyone on the news is running around panic-buying inedible toilet rolls please take a note of the sick or elderly who live around you. They may need to self-isolate or social-distance due to their health conditions. Some of your neighbours may have had to self-quarantine due to travel or work. They may be unable to go shopping or collect prescription drugs and have NO WAY to get vital supplies. If you are personally unable to help, please notify the Red Cross or similar services, your local council or even the police so that someone can go round and check on them.
- People ARE panic-buying. Ideally you should always make sure that you have a reasonable stock of food and supplies in: you ought to have some sort of a pantry. But do remember that it's only a limited number of items currently that are out. We're not starving to death from food shortages. Think about alternatives. No hand-sanitiser? Look out for methylated spirits in camping stores, surgical spirit in pharmacies, or high proof gin in off-licenses. You can mix them with a little aloe-vera gel (or regular liquid hand soap), but make sure not to drop the alcohol content too much (it needs to remain above 60% proof to be effective). Use cleaning products like Dettol, thin Bleach or Pool Shock. Out of toilet roll? Use kitchen roll, wipes (but don't flush them), or any of Robert Murdoch's newspapers. Get a bidet attachment for your toilet from online. There's lots of food in stores that needs some preparation or is from a culture you don't know. Look at recipes online for how to use them. Out of self-raising flour? Get plain and some baking powder. Out of baking powder? Mix bicarbonate of soda with cream of tartar. No regular flour at all? Look at cornbread or flat-breads etc. Be creative!
- Soap kills viruses. All these alcohol sanitisers that say anti-bacterial do not actually have any additional magical virus-killing ingredients (bacteria are different to viruses). It's just the alcohol (must be above 60%) that denatures the proteins in the virus' folding to stop it being effective. Soap (saponins) on the other hand destroys the fats (lipids) which make up the outer 'skin' of the virus and break it apart. Don't forget to sing happy birthday twice to ensure you're washing for long enough. Your healthcare websites should have hand-washing guides online.
- Wipe down hard surfaces in your home with a soap, cleaner or alcohol product. Remember that door handles and light switches are a particularly bad contact point for viruses. Don't forget the handle on the outside of your front or back door too.
- Talk to your healthcare professionals about your prescription drugs, and if you may need to have extra on hand. But PLEASE do NOT visit a GP surgery, walk-in centre or the Accident & Emergency department of your local hospital if you think you may have Coronavirus symptoms or have been in contact with someone who may; or have travelled abroad recently. This is how we get services shut down. Book a telephone appointment instead.
NOTE: Edited for subsequent 16th March 2020 UK advice to extend 7 day isolation to 14 days and to isolate the whole family rather than just themselves.