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In these trying times of the pandemic, the decision one makes can determine whether they will be safe or be an agent of spreading this virus. With tougher times drawing in as the virus continues to spread, there is indeed a significant change in our lives. A change that not only impacts us socially but also economically
But even in trying times, we can still make conscious decisions that will see us through these hard times. – And especially those who are fortunate enough to have a place to call home. Take this time to your advantage and use it wisely. You can spend it with your loved ones at home, or perhaps come up with a new online business idea.
On that note, let’s take a look at the following Coronavirus stay-safe guide. It comprises of all necessary measures that will ensure you stay free of this virus throughout this pandemic. Whether, it’s staying safe and well at home or how to stay safe while you’re isolating, you will get all the information you need in this Coronavirus stay safe guide. So, let’s begin:
Overview
The world health organization (WHO) on 11-03-2020 made a declaration that COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak is pandemic. Currently, the WHO (world health organization) is working together with the European Union and member states to contain this disease.
Even though health authorities all over the world are working together with the world health organization to contain this virus, personal measures also play a vital role. Therefore, every section of the society should work together and enforces the measures provided to contain the spread of this virus.
The employers and businesses can also take a further step in advising their employees on the best means to stay safe and prevent the spread of this virus during working or personal hours, For instance, the MTC Removals protective guideline provided to workers includes. “Guidelines for Covid-19”
What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that originates from a recent strain of Coronavirus. This disease was uncovered in 2019 and relates to the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) family of viruses as well as some class of common-cold.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
When you contract this disease, your symptoms may take up to two weeks to manifest. When that time comes, you will exhibit:
However, these symptoms are indistinguishable to those of common cold or flu. Thus, you need a medical diagnosis to confirm whether you have contracted Coronavirus if you are exhibiting the above symptoms.
This disease is spread by getting into contact with respiratory droplets from an infected person. The contaminated droplets can be spread through sneezing or coughing. Directly, you can get this disease when an infected person sneezes or coughs within one meter from you. Indirectly, you may touch surfaces contaminated by respiratory droplets from an infected person.
Spread through contacts involves touching surfaces contaminated with this disease then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes without disinfecting or cleaning those hands.
How long does the virus survive?
The duration which the virus survives is limited by the following factors:
Generally, the virus will survive up to 72 hours and decrease gradually thereafter. Also, this virus can be spread from one person through contaminated hands. and it’s for this reason, that regular hand cleanliness is encouraged. Also, disinfecting surfaces can come in handy as they can be contaminated easily through touch or directly by respiratory droplets.
Who is at risk the most?
Much is yet to be discovered about COVID-19. This includes how it affects people of according ages, health, or even gender. But one thing is for certain, if you are older or suffering from chronic illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes, it appears you are more at risk experiencing severe symptoms.
And since it’s still a new disease, how it affects children is yet to be discovered. But the infections are known to affect people of all ages. But at the extent at which it has spread, there are only a few reported cases of the virus among children.
Therefore more research should be done on the effects and spread of this virus among children. But so far, the fatality has been among people with preexisting chronic illness and older people.
Treatment
Currently, there is no vaccine for this disease, however, there is been reported clinical trials and progress towards formulating one. But currently, it’s only the symptoms that are treated. Furthermore, you need to seek medical services earlier when you experience symptoms of this disease. This will reduce its severity and raises the chances of you getting better.
How to slow down the spread of Coronavirus
Like other respiratory illnesses such as common cold and flu, following measures provided by public health is critical in fighting this pandemic. These measures are regular preventing actions that anyone can follow to prevent the spread of this disease. Some of these measures include:
How to prevent and protect yourself from this virus
This is vital as it ensures you protect yourself from direct contact with the virus. While in the public, ensure the person next to you is at least three feet or one meter away from you. This is especially necessary when you encounter people with flu or cold-like symptoms.
With social distancing, you will not inhale contaminated droplets from a person who is a confirmed case. Thus, at that distance, you are safe from coughs and sneezes from persons with Coronavirus.
Every time you are in a public domain or have touched surfaces that may be contaminated, you should clean your hands. To do this effectively, you need clean running water and soap. Alternatively, alcohol-based sanitizer is also handy. Whichever of the two methods that use, you need to clean and rub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
By doing the above, any trace of this virus on your hands will be destroyed or dislodged. It’s therefore crucial that you make this a daily routine every time you are exposed to places with the potential to host or spread this virus.
Seek medical assistance immediately you notice any of your family members or you with difficulties in breathing, coughing, and fever. You can take precautions and follow the guidelines provided by your local health authority.
By doing this, you will be protecting the rest of your family members or friends from contracting this virus. Also, you will be contributing to the fight against the spread of this virus. And finally, you will be getting a better chance of recovering sooner and avoid severe symptoms of this disease.
Apart from the direct inhalation of contaminated droplets from a person with this disease, your face is another portal of entry for an indirect contraction of this virus. Thus, when you are out in the public, avoid using your hands directly to rub your face.
Furthermore, use disposable tissues or your elbow when you want to cough or sneeze. This will protect people close to you from contracting this virus in case you have it but unaware. But when you feel the need to touch your eyes, clean your hands first with the above-outlined procedure for hands hygiene.
Face masks are necessary especially when you are in the public or a crowded place. Since this disease has the asymptomatic phase where you can’t tell whether a person is infected or not, a face mask is the only protection against this invisible enemy.
Furthermore, through wearing face masks you will be protecting the people close to you from contracting this disease. However, these masks are only necessary when in public where there is a higher chance of a person being infected may be close to you. Also, when caring or looking after a person affected by this disease, a face mask is essential.
But remember, the use of face masks alone is not sufficient protection from this disease alone. You need to use it along with other protective measures mentioned above. Lastly, you need to dispose of your masks very well after use. This will prevent the spread of this virus by contact.
Face masks guidance
Face masks should serve as a complementary measure and not a practice to replace the preventive practices put in place. Therefore, even with the mask on, you should exercise social distance and exercise sneeze and coughing etiquette. What’s more, you should not forget to maintain regular hands hygiene while avoiding touching your face.
The UK now has the highest number of deaths from Coronavirus in Europe and the 2nd highest in the world
This is such an unfair reflection of all the NHS staff who are doing their very best at this awful time
They are not failing, they are being failed – please RT if you agree pic.twitter.com/mPGUrOqNrq
— NHS Million (@NHSMillion) May 5, 2020
The following are face mask guiding tips that will come in handy in ensuring you stay safe and contain the spread of this deadly virus.
The best means to avoid infection or contracting the virus from another person is through good hygiene. Additionally, social distancing is important in crowded places including at the workplace.
Staying Safe and Well at Home
If you are used to being busy and moving from place to place, it’s about time you exercise staying at home. These are trying times and sacrifice is expected from anyone to fight this pandemic effectively. If you are wondering how you can contribute to this war against this deadly virus, then staying safe and well at home is one of the means.
By doing this, you will be preventing community infections as well as keeping your friends and family safe. Therefore, if you have no urgent matter to do out in the public, then staying safe at home is a good strategy to help contain the spread of this virus.
Tips on Staying Safe at Home
COVID-19 Safe Ways of Working
This pandemic has indeed crippled many businesses. With lockdowns and curfews put in place to contain the spread of this deadly virus, businesses that greatly depend on physical labor and market have taken the hit most. But all hope is not lost. By applying safety measures to protect both your workers as well as clients like MTC Removals , you can still run your business effectively. Let’s take a look at the following ways to stay safe while working – Removal Firms.
Preparing your workplace in case of a community infection
As a business or company, you need to put in place a continuity and contingency plan before the outbreak of this pandemic hits your community.
Shift your job operation to the home office
If your work requires physical attendance, then you need to follow the safety and protection guidelines provided by your local health authorities. But for those whose business can be done online. Setting up a home office is the best means to stay safe. Furthermore, this will also be valid with health emergency plans of containing the virus and stopping the spread.
What’s more, you don’t have to move a muscle when moving some items from your office back at home. Contact : MTC London Removals Company and everything will be done for you. all you will have to do is organize an office room in your home where you can set up your office and continue to run your business/company.
Regular cleaning of the environment
If you are unable or it’s not possible to operate your business at home, then regular cleaning of the environment is essential. Ensure you organize cleaning services that are in line with the preventive measures of WHO, CDC, or your local health authority in containing this virus.
FAQs on COVID-19
What should you do if your colleague at work becomes ill with flu-like symptoms?
If you notice your colleague at work is feeling ill with flu-like symptoms, the first cause of action maintains a two-meter social distance. Thereafter, you can isolate them in a separate room from other staff. If it’s possible, the windows should be wide open for air circulation.
Once you’ve done the person feeling ill should call the relevant health services to come and take them. If they are very sick, you can call the emergency service and explain to them the situation.
As you wait for the medics to arrive, ” everyone should maintain a 2 meters distance from one another “. You never know who has contracted the virus from the ill colleague in case they are positive. Other measures include avoiding touching surfaces or your face. Meanwhile, the ill person should not touch any surface or objects that don’t belong to them. You can encourage them to use disposable tissue while coughing or sneezing.
As a staff, encourage everyone to stay in a given section until the emergency unit arrives. Testing will be relevant to ensure each one of you is safe. And that’s not all, a two weeks self-isolation will come in handy in protecting your work colleagues and family at home from contracting the virus in case you might have been infected by the ill colleague.
What if you suspect a patient of COVID-19 was at your workplace before being admitted?
In case of such a situation, follow the national health authority guidelines on dealing with such a case. The work management should get in touch with the relevant authority and discuss on the way forward. There will be risk assessment done by the public health service in the presence of a member from the management team.
The health experts will also contact the affected person and seek clarity regarding the people they might have come into contact with. Thereafter, those people will be contacted and then give them relevant advice on how to contain the spread in case they might have contracted the virus.
If one of the workers is positive, the employer is entitled to inform other colleagues but maintain the confidentiality of the affected person or persons. Workers with possible exposure need proper guidance on self-isolation among other measures to prevent further spread of this virus.
Lastly, cleaning or disinfection of the whole working station is necessary to prevent indirect contraction of the disease. This can be done with appropriate cleaning guidelines provided by the national health authority.
How do you clean up a public or office space where a confirmed case was found?
As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to that of common cold or flu. These include coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath, fever, sore throat, and tiredness. When one is symptomatic, they tend to contaminate surfaces around them with respiratory droplets or by contact. Therefore, cleaning will be required to ensure all surfaces that this person may have come into contact are disinfected. Such surface may include:
In case of public spaces like corridors where the confirmed case might have gone through, but with nobody fluid contamination needs no disinfection.
But if the confirmed case was found in a shared space like an office, then thorough cleaning of those spaces is necessary. Disposable washing pieces of cloth and detergent will be needed as per the guideline of the national health service.
Lastly, all disposable wastes that might have come into contact with the confirmed case should be packaged in a plastic back and sealed well when full. Thereafter, you can add another plastic bag and seal it again. afterward, the load should be stored well while awaiting instruction on how to dispose of from the health authorities.
Additional tips on COVID-19
If any of your colleagues’ tests positive for this virus, do not panic. The relevant health services will advice:
NOTE: when you are a contact, you are not considered as a COVID-19 case; instead you are likely to be released when you are feeling well with no signs. Furthermore, it’s unlikely that you have spread the virus to others if you are well with no signs. However, you will have to follow the guidelines provided by the national health authorities to guarantee you are safe to mingle with your family at home.
Travel Advice
Flights can be banned but people may be allowed to cross borders. Therefore, if you are returning from a neighboring country with reported cases of COVID-19, you need to self isolate for two weeks. It’s only afterward that you can report to work or be close to your family members. If you are unaware of the isolation criteria, you can consult your local health authority for more details.
Staff arriving from any part of the country
These staff cannot be treated the same way as a person arriving from a country with reported cases of Coronavirus. Therefore, they can resume work immediately unless notified that they might have come into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.
FINAL REMARK
Avoid misguided information and always stay updated throughout this pandemic. You may not be a doctor, nurse, or medical experts who are in the frontline battling to end this disease, but you have a special role to play.
Which is, containing the spread of the virus by staying safe and exercising the protective and preventive measure provided by National Health Service. Without cooperation between you and the government, there is no chance of defeating this virus.
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