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2020-03-20      Comments : 0

What has happened with the spread of the COVID-19 virus?
Most countries across all the continents, with the exception of Antartica, have closed their borders to tourists and any non-essential travel. Nearly all governments across the world have issued travel advisories to its citizens, to avoid travel as much possible and remain at home, practicing social distancing from public spaces, offices, places of entertainment & shopping, etc.

Airports are conducting detailed scrutiny of all passengers, with quarantine in place for those who come from countries on high alert-like China & Italy.

Whether directly or indirectly, all major economies have witnessed a major fall-our Indian Stock Exchange included, due to the impact of the sanctions on exports and imports of goods from affected countries, as most countries reduced & stopped trade through physical channels.

Hospitals are on high alerts, and citizens of all countries have been advised to follow certain guidelines for health, life & travel-the prevention of the spread of this virus is the primary concern for all governments.

The practice of work from home for all non-essential personnel has been enforced by most companies so as to reduce the risk of the people getting infected, the impact of which can be ascertained gradually in the future, but is a necessary preventive move.

In Bangalore, public places like malls, cinema halls, restaurants,
schools and colleges have closed operations and people have
been advised to stay at home and maintain proper hygiene
practices to avoid the spread of the virus.

How does it spread?
The virus that causes COVID-19 is called SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 spreads from person to person through droplets that an infected person sneezes or coughs out.
These droplets carrying SARS-CoV-2 can enter your body through the mucous membranes (wet parts) of your face-your eyes, nose and mouth - which provide a direct pathway to your throat and lungs. It cannot spread through skin or your hair.
You can pick it by via sneezing, coughing, kissing, sharing vessels and utensils, water bottles, and cosmetics.
IT DOES NOT SPREAD THROUGH AIR.

What precautions to use?
To maintain personal hygiene and physical distancing, here are some Do's:

• Practice frequent hand washing. Wash hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rub. Wash hands even if they are visibly clean.
• Cover your nose and mouth with handkerchief/tissue while sneezing and coughing.
• Throw used tissues into closed bins immediately after use.
• Maintain a safe distance from persons during interaction, especially with those having flu-like symptoms.
• Sneeze in the inner side of your elbow and not to cough into the palms of your hands.
• Take their temperature regularly and check for respiratory symptoms. See a doctor if you feel unwell (fever, difficulty in breathing and coughing). While visiting doctor, wear a mask/cloth to cover your mouth and nose.
• For any fever/flu-like signs/symptoms, please call State helpline number or the 24x7 helpline number of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare at 011-23978046.

Some DONTS

• Shake hands.
• Have a close contact with anyone, if you're experiencing cough and fever.
• Touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Sneeze or cough into palms of your hands.
• Spit in Public.
• Travel unnecessarily, particularly to any affected region.
• Participate in large gatherings, including sitting in groups at canteens.
• Visit gyms, clubs and crowded places etc.
• Spread rumours or panic

Who to contact in case you need help?
For all updates, please follow only government provided information, do not get alarmed by Whatsapp forwards, Facebook posts or any unverified sources. The best you can do for yourself and your family, your colleagues and rest of the public is to maintain caution in all ways and not panic about transport, food and other facilities.
The government website for authentic information is
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/
The Helpline Number for Corona-virus : +91-11-23978046 Toll Free No: 1075
Guidelines for notifying individuals affected by virus, Private Institutions

How do we proceed now?
Stop reading up about it constantly, sending each other forwards on social media through memes - usually about urgent instructions or dystopian graphics - these have become efficient vectors of bad advice about how to fight the coronavirus, and health care professionals are working to stop the spread of misinformation.

Brief history about the virus
Let's take a brief recap of this situation - what is the COVID-19 virus and what can we do in these times of a global pandemic:

• What is coronavirus?
  The coronavirus is a family of viruses that can cause a range of illnesses in humans including common cold and more severe forms like SARS and MERS which are life-threatening. The virus is named "coronavirus" because its shape takes the form of a crown with protrusions around it.
• How did the recent outbreak occur?
  The recent outbreak of coronavirus is believed to have occurred in a market for illegal wildlife in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
• What is being done to limit the spread?
  Chinese health authorities and the WHO, along with individual countries, have taken very strong measures to ensure the virus spread is controlled and the affected persons are treated properly, to control the extent of impact.
• How is India responding to the outbreak?
  India has expanded very efficiently in this outbreak, conducting screening of international travellers. Indian travellers who were found with the coronavirus strain have been isolated and treated before their release.
• How has it affected the economy?
  Concerns about the prolonged quarantines, supply chain disruptions and a sharp reduction in tourism and business travel have increased, as these actions have weakened the global economy leading to a recession.

The sectors that will suffer most are those exposed to consumer discretionary spending and those with global supply chains that are being disrupted. These include sectors like airlines, transportation, leisure and gaming, hotels and restaurants, and retail, with lots of impact on auto manufacturing and capital goods.

Follow the government guidelines strictly, consider your actions for the greater good of the society, and be patient.

prathigna.com wishes all its readers a safe and secure future, let us all help each other in these times and take all precautions necessary to fight this outbreak.