How to Overcome with stress during the Covid-19 outbreak

The better way to stay at home during 2019-nCov lockdown by spending time with family, friends also if get extra time try to brush up your skills.

Stay at Home - 2019-Cov

Talk to Friends, Relatives - It is normal to feel sad, stressed, confused, scared or angry during a crisis.
Talking to people you trust can help. Contact your friends and family. Just call daily choosing from your phone contact list and best way start from alphabet wise first call to name start from A-alphabet and so on.

Eat Healthy Stay Healthy - If you must stay at home, maintain a healthy lifestyle including proper diet, eat veggies, salads, nuts, pulses, take proper eight-hour sleep.


Avoid Alcohol and Smoking - If you're planning to quit drinking and smoking in the past but for some unknown reason you're unable to make a decision but during the lockdown, you can avoid alcohol and smoking and spend quality time with family.

Acquire Skills and spend Hobbies - Draw on skills you have used in the past that have helped you to manage previous life’s adversities and use those skills to help you manage your emotions during
the challenging time of this outbreak.

5 Surfaces that Coronavirus (COVID-19) Will Last On

As per the report of National Institutes of Health that on five Surfaces that Coronavirus (COVID-19) will last on for more than one hour.

1. Air (3 hours)

2. Copper (4 hours)

3. Cardboard (24 hours)

4. Stainless Steel (2-3 days)

5. Plastics (3 days)


Coronavirus Covid-19 is a fast-evolving pandemic,  On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) office in China received a report of 29 pneumonia cases of unknown aetiology in Wuhan city in Hubei province, central China. Within 1 week it became clear that the initial cases were associated with a seafood market where live poultry and wild animals were also sold. The virus was quickly identified as a novel beta-coronavirus and the genetic sequence was shared on 12 January 2020. The infection is now officially termed COVID-19 and the virus SARS-CoV-2. News of this outbreak gave many public health officials an involuntary shudder as they recalled the parallels with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak that arose in China in November 2002. That outbreak was also caused by a novel coronavirus spilling over from an animal reservoir and transmitted by respiratory droplets. SARS spread to many parts of the world through international air travel, caused more than 8000 cases and 774 deaths and cost in the region US$20 billion to control.

Within less than a month COVID-19 had spread throughout China and to neighbouring countries, even to the USA and Europe. It became clear that the new virus was highly transmissible from person to person but was considerably less virulent, with less than 20% of cases being classified as severe. It has the clinical features of atypical pneumonia with fever, dry cough, fatigue, dyspnoea and myalgia and is more often severe in those with comorbidities and the elderly. Since there are no specific therapies or vaccines available, standard public health measures appropriate for a virus spread by droplets, close contact and on environmental surfaces were instituted. The Chinese authorities conducted active case finding and testing, contact tracing and quarantining of cases and contacts. The public was advised to stay at home if sick, in an effort to control the spread of the virus. On 30 January 2020 the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, their highest level of severity, at a time when there were almost 10 000 confirmed cases, more than 200 deaths and it had spread to 20 countries.

The Chinese authorities had by then instituted highly stringent control measures, including stopping flights and public transport in Wuhan and other major cities, closing animal wet markets, extending the New Year holiday period in an effort to prevent mass travel, reducing movements within cities, minimizing mass gatherings, keeping schools closed, staggering office and factory working hours and restricting movement on the streets. The wearing of face masks became compulsory and, in effect, the population of Hubei province, more than 50 million people, were in quarantine. The authorities also built two new hospitals with more than 2500 beds within 2 weeks to cope with the surge in demand for medical care.

By the middle of March, less than 3 months into the epidemic, there had been more than 200 000 cases confirmed worldwide with more than 8000 deaths, vastly surpassing the SARS epidemic. The number of cases reported has been highest in China, although cases have now been reported in 159 countries and territories on six continents. Over 70 countries have instituted travel restrictions. The main initial battle to control this epidemic has been in China, where heroic public health measures have bought the rest of the world time and may have reduced the effective reproduction number to close to 1, thereby bringing the epidemic under control. However, the rest of the world needs to maintain high vigilance, as this virus is highly transmissible and can cause severe disease and death, as has been seen in countries such as South Korea, Iran and Italy. Indeed, the number of new cases is now highest in Europe. Containment through case finding and isolation and contact tracing and social distancing remain the key public health approaches to controlling the epidemic in all parts of the world.



Source: Jimmy Whitworth Professor of International Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar

Common Coronavirus Diseases (COVID-19) Myths Busted and Get Away with It

As per the WHO report, it is advisable to the common public about how coronavirus harms your body and some of the myth which is viral on the internet that can save you from COVID-19.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

1. COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in areas with hot and humid climates - From the evidence so far, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in ALL AREAS, including areas with hot and humid weather.

2. Cold weather and snow CANNOT kill the new coronavirus.

3. Taking a hot bath does not prevent the new coronavirus disease.

4. The new coronavirus CANNOT be transmitted through mosquito bites.

5. Even hand dryers are not effective in killing the new coronavirus (COVID-19).

6. The new coronavirus CANNOT be transmitted through mosquito bites.

Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kill the new coronavirus?

The myth of spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kill the new coronavirus?

As per WHO, No. Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth). Be aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations.

Alcohol

How to Produce a Hand Sanitizer?

Step by step direction to produce a Hand Sanitizer:

1. Turn all the required ingredients into a clean bowl. A bowl with a pouring spout is most recommended.

2. Mix with a turning stick to blend everything together.

3. Turn the mixture into an airtight bottle or an old sanitizer container, but remember to remove the original label from the container. You can then label it "My home-made hand sanitizer" or ignore labeling it.

A similar formula was also shared by Jagdish Khubchandani, Ph.D of Ball State University.

Find his composition below.

1. Ethanol or isopropyl alcohol (two parts) (91% to 99% alcohol).

2. Aloe vera gel (one part).

3. Clove / eucalyptus / peppermint
essential oil.

Does handwashing with soap and clean water work against coronaviruses?

Does handwashing with soap and clean water work against coronaviruses?

 Yes, it does. Frequent hand washing is one of the effective measures to prevent viral infection such as rhinovirus and coronavirus. Rubbing hands with soap and water can effectively remove dirt and microorganisms on the skin, and rinsing out the soap under running water can also relieve irritation to the skin. Therefore, authoritative organizations such as the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all recommend washing hands thoroughly with soap and running water.

How to wash your hands correctly?

 Step 1: Apply soap to hands and scrub palm to palm with fingers interlaced.
 Step 2: Put one palm on the back of another hand and scrub your fingers. Change hands.
 Step 3: Scrub between your fingers.
 Step 4: Rub the back of your fingers against your palms. Do the same with the other hand.
 Step 5: Scrub your thumb using the other hand. Do the same with the other thumb.
 Step 6: Rub the tips of your fingers on the palm of the other hand
 Step 7: Rub the wrist of one hand with the other hand while rotating it. Do the same with the other hand.
 In each of the above steps, do each step no fewer than 5 times, and finally, rinse your hands under running water.

How to clean hands if clean water is not available?

 You can clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Coronaviruses are not resistant to acid or alkali but are sensitive to organic solvents and disinfectants. 75% alcohol can inactivate the virus, so alcohol-containing disinfection products of an absolute (100%) concentration can be used as an alternative to washing hands with soap and running water

How to keep yourself away from the novel coronavirus?

How to keep yourself away from the novel coronavirus?

 (1) 2019-nCoV is mainly transmitted by droplets and contacts, therefore medical surgical masks must be worn properly.

 (2) When sneezing or coughing, do not cover nose and mouth with bare hands but use a tissue or a mask instead.

 (3) Wash hands properly and frequently. Even if there are viruses present on hands, washing hands can block the viruses from entering respiratory tract through nose or mouth.

 (4) Boost your immunity, and avoid going to crowded and enclosed places. Exercise more and have a regular sleep schedule. Boosting your immunity is the most important way to avoid being infected.

 (5) Be sure to wear the mask always! Just in case you come in contact with an infected person, wearing a mask can prevent you from inhaling virus-carrying droplets directly.

Can a mask block such small coronaviruses?

 The masks are effective. Because the purpose of wearing the mask is to block the ‘carrier’ by which the virus is transmitted, rather than directly blocking the viruses. Common routes for transmission of respiratory viruses include close contact over a short distance and aerosol transmission over a long distance. Aerosols which people usually come in contact with refer to respiratory droplets from patients. Wearing a mask properly can effectively block respiratory droplets and therefore prevent the virus from directly entering the body.

 Please be reminded that it is not necessary to wear a KN95 or N95 respirator. Regular surgical masks can block most virus-carrying droplets from entering the respiratory tract.

What are the clinical criteria for quarantine release and discharge?

(1) The condition of the patient is stable and fever has subsided.

 (2) Lung imaging shows a significant improvement with no sign of organ dysfunction.

 (3) The patient has had stable breathing, clear consciousness, unimpaired speech, normal diet and body temperature for more than 3 days. Respiratory symptoms have improved significantly, and two consecutive tests for respiratory pathogenic nucleic acid have been negative (at least one day in-between tests).

How to treat COVID-19?

How to treat COVID-19?

 (1) Put patients to bed rest, provide with supportive care, maintain good hydration and electrolyte balance, internal homeostatis, and closely monitor vital signs and oxygen saturation.

 (2) Monitor routine blood and urine test results, C-reactive protein (CRP), biochemical indicators (liver enzyme, myocardial enzyme, renal function, etc.), and coagulation function accordingly. Perform an arterial blood gas analysis when needed, and regularly review chest X-ray images.

 (3) According to the changes in oxygen saturation, provide timely effective oxygen therapy, including nasal catheter, oxygen mask, transnasal high-flow oxygen therapy, and noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, etc.

 (4) Antiviral therapy: There are currently no antiviral drugs with good efficacy.

 (5) Apply antibacterial drug treatment: strengthen bacteriological monitoring, and start antibacterial treatment when there is evidence of secondary bacterial infect


How to choose a medical institution for treatment?

Isolation and treatment should be performed in a hospital with proper conditions for isolation and protection. Critical cases should be admitted to an ICU as soon as possible.

Are there any drugs or vaccines against COVID-19?

 At present, there are no specific antiviral treatments against COVID-19. Patients generally receive supportive care to relieve symptoms. Avoid irresponsible or inappropriate antimicrobial treatment, especially in combination with broad-spectrum antimicrobials.
 There is currently no vaccine against the new disease. Developing a new vaccine may take a whil

What should I do if I am possibly infected with COVID-19?

What should I do if I am possibly infected with COVID-19?

 Promptly go to the local designated medical institution for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment. When a seeking medical attention for a possible infection of 2019-nCoV, you should inform your doctor about your recent travel and residence history, especially if you’ve been to the epidemic areas recently, and any history of contact with pneumonia patients or suspected 2019-nCoV cases, and animals. It is extra important to note that surgical masks should be worn throughout the visit to protect yourself and others

What is the difference between COVID-19 and other pneumonia?

(1) Bacterial pneumonia. Common symptoms include coughing, coughing up sputum, or exacerbation of the original respiratory symptoms, with purulent or bloody sputum, with or without chest pain. It is generally not considered a contagious disease.

 (2) SARS/MERS. Although the novel coronavirus is in the same family as SARS and MERS coronaviruses, a genetic evolution analysis shows that it belongs to a different branch of the same subgroup. It is neither a SARS nor a MERS virus, based on the viral genomic sequences. Due to the similarities between COVID-19-and SARS/MERS-caused pneumonia, it is challenging to distinguish them with clinical manifestations and imaging results. Therefore, a pathogen identification test by rRT-PCR is needed.

 (3) Other viral pneumonia. Pneumonia caused by influenza virus, rhinovirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus and other coronaviruses.

New story in Health from Time: Limited Access to Clean Water Among India’s Poor Spawns Coronavirus Concerns

(NEW DELHI) — Dharam Singh Rajput can’t afford to buy hand sanitizer, which could help ward off transmission of the coronavirus in his community.
The Rajput family could opt for something more basic — soap and water — to achieve hand hygiene. But sometimes there is no clean running water in their neighborhood, which sits next to open sewage canals and mounds of garbage in the heart of New Delhi, India’s capital. “The kind of water we have access to has the potential to cause more diseases instead of warding off the virus if we use it to wash our hands,” Rajput said.

Experts say keeping hands clean is one of the easiest and best ways to prevent transmission of the new coronavirus, in addition to social distancing. But for India’s homeless and urban poor who live in thousands of slums across major cities and towns, maintaining good hygiene can be nearly impossible.
About 160 million — more than the population of Russia — of India’s 1.3 billion people don’t have access to clean water. That could leave impoverished Indians like Rajput and his family at risk during the virus outbreak.
Read more: India Is the World’s Second-Most Populous Country. Can It Handle the Coronavirus Outbreak?
“It could prove disastrous for people who don’t have access to clean water,” said Samrat Basak, the director of the World Resource Institute’s Urban Water Program in India. With India being the world’s second-most populous country, and having weak health care facilities and growing concerns that there may be an undetected communal spread of the virus, the risks associated with the lack of clean water aren’t being overstated. UNICEF said last week that almost 20% of urban Indians do not have facilities with water and soap at home.
What could make things worse, experts say, is that social distancing is nearly impossible in many Indian cities that are among the world’s most densely populated areas. So far, the government has apparently been able to keep a lid on community transmission of the virus. Authorities have confirmed 147 cases and three deaths, all linked to foreign travel or direct contact with someone who caught the disease abroad.
While the coronavirus can be deadly, particularly for the elderly and people with other health problems, for most people it causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. Some feel no symptoms at all and the vast majority of people recover.
India’s government has made fervent appeals to the public to practice social distancing and good hand hygiene. India also was one of the first countries to essentially shut its borders and deny entry to all but a select few foreigners. But in a country as big as India, community transmission is all but inevitable, experts say.
“Clean water is the first line of defense,” said V.K. Madhavan, India chief executive at WaterAid, a global advocacy group for water and sanitation. “If there is no access to clean water, the situation could worsen.”
Read more: Mapping the Spread of the Coronavirus Outbreak Around the U.S. and the World
India’s clean water problem isn’t new. Hundreds of thousands of people wait in line every day to fill buckets from government water trucks. Hospitals and schools struggle with clean water supplies. People are forced to wash utensils and clothes in dirty water.
About 600 million Indians face acute water shortages, according to government think tank NITI Aayog.
The water crisis hits the poor particularly hard since wealthy people can pay for water from private sources that those living in slums can’t afford. The mortality rate due to inadequate or unsafe water is also high. About 200,000 people die each year in India from diseases related to unclean water. Insufficient water also leads to food insecurity.
“When clean drinking water runs out, people will have no choice but to rely on unsafe water,” said Dr. Anant Bhan, a global health researcher. “It could expose India’s huge population to extreme vulnerability.”
Government promises to provide clean water to many Indians have so far failed despite efforts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that have been internationally lauded.
“Access to clean water is a basic human right,” said Madhavan. “No one should fear losing their life because they couldn’t practice the first line of defense, which is hand washing.”