Coronavirus Disease 2019 is a disease caused by the coronavirus which was identified in December 2019 in China. The name comes from a large group of illness-causing viruses that can affect animals and humans.
The most common symptoms include cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Due to its exceedingly contagious nature, the virus can tend to be ruthless and cause more grave problems such as pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and, even death if left untreated.
How Can I Protect Myself?
It is essential to keep yourself aware of the news related to the COVID-19 outbreak, available at the WHO and your local and national public health authorities. These authorities will have the most latest developments regarding the COVID-19 and will be able to keep you informed regarding safety measures in your area.
Following are some of the steps you can follow and advise your family members to do the same to make certain that you and your loved ones stay safe from the COVID-19.
STAY HOME!
Like many countries advise their citizens to do, stay at your home as much as possible to stay safe.
If you cannot stay at home, at least avoid visiting the outbreak zones. Do not, under any circumstances, visit those areas, states or countries which are affected by coronavirus.
Now the corona disease is still spreading over the world. There is no place we can assume it safe anymore. Unless you have an emergency or a family member in trouble, avoid travelling to ANYWHERE at all.
If you have just arrived from the affected places, it is important that you get yourself quarantined for at least 14 days and checked from a hospital just in case. After all, it's better to be late than never!
Wear mask
If you are a regular traveller, whether international or within your town, it can be tremendously beneficial for you to wear a surgical mask. One of the ways coronavirus spreads is by the virus particles in the air originating from the coughs and sneezes of people who are already infected with the disease.
The mask acts as a barrier and protects your nose and mouth from being a pathway to the COVID-19 virus. In addition to this, you are also protected from general dust particles and other harmful substances which may be lingering around in the environment.
Nonetheless, it must be kept in mind that just a mere mask will not be capable of safeguarding you completely. You must allso follow the other preventative measures mentioned here to keep yourself out of harm's way.
Wash your hands
Keep your hands clean by rinsing them on a regular basis with an alcohol-based hand wash or soap. Doing so can ensure that any viruses that may have landed on your hands are exterminated immediately.
Try to be as thorough and patient as possible when washing your hands and follow the doctors' recommendation of lathering for at least twenty seconds.
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Strengthen your immune system
Our immune system is designed to protect us from infections and harmful diseases. It is capable of detecting and destroying anything suspicious or foreign to our bodies. This includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and even harmful cells such as those of cancer.
Taking good care of your immune system is not only essential, therefore, but also mandatory at all times. So while it can be a definite help in guarding you from developing the symptoms of coronavirus, it can also improve the quality of your life.
Here are some of the measures you can take to ensure a healthy and strong immune system:
- Reduce stress: it is capable of weakening your immune system. If your stress levels are too high, your body's resources will be depleted and you will become more vulnerable to diseases and infections, especially something as contagious as coronavirus.
- Don't smoke: smoking can increase your chances of getting pneumonia and influenza. The former is one of the symptoms of coronavirus and can lead to much more complicated problems if it is being influenced by unhealthy habits such as smoking.
- Eat a healthy diet: make sure you are consuming a reasonable portion of fruits and vegetables everyday. Vital micronutrients such as zinc, iron, folic acid and vitamins A, B6, C and E can strengthen your immune system and decrease your chances of developing coronavirus symptoms.
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Visit the doctor if you feel discomfort
If you suspect any kind of symptom in your body which correlates with coronavirus, wait no more and visit a hospital immediately.
Keep in mind the common symptoms of the virus such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. Even if you consider the cause of these in your body to be something different and definite to you, don't take chances.
Conclusion
The coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the whole world and it doesn't seem to be vanishing anywhere in the near future. As individuals, it is our responsibility to take care of our health by adhering to the necessary guidelines that are given to us by our local health authorities.
Although the COVID-19 is not as deadly as it may seem, it can be devastating to those who fail to take the precautionary measures and do not follow a basic hygiene routine.
Regular visits to a doctor is a basic recommendation of the WHO to ensure you do not develop a disease while being unaware of it. A healthy diet, on the other hand, is one of the foremost factors that determine how strong your body's natural defense system is.
In the end, it all depends on the healthy habits of each of us. Coronavirus is not the end of the world as long as we keep giving our body the care and attention it deserves.