The spreading of the coronavirus throughout China and at least other 10 countries, including Japan, South Korea, and the US, has led health experts and authorities to advise us about how to lower our risk of contracting the disease.
The 80 reported deaths happened in Hubei province (all, but 4 of them happened there).
However, around 100,000 individuals may be infected, which is much more than the 2700 cases reported by the National Health Commission in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
According to the WHO, there are several precautions we can take to lower our exposure and possible virus transmission for which there’s no vaccine or a cure.
Here’s How to Protect Yourself from the Coronavirus
According to advice by the UN agency, you should do the following things to lower your risk of the virus:
- Wash your hands with alcohol-based hand liquid or warm water and soap
- Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you’re coughing or sneezing
- Don’t be in close contact with a person who coughs or has fever
- If you experience fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, ask for medical help and share your history of travels with the medical personnel
- Stay away from direct and unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces that are in contact with animals if you’re visiting live markets in the impacted areas
- Don’t eat raw or undercooked animal products
- Be extremely careful while handling raw meat, animal organs or milk
Can Face Masks Protect Us from the Coronavirus?
Even though the sales of face masks have increased because of the outbreak, experts are divided in terms of whether they help avert transmission and infection of this airborne illness.
Some data suggests that the masks can help avert hand-to-mouth transmissions as a large part of people tend to touch their faces numerous times per hour, according to one study.
However, Dr. David Carrington from the St. George’s University of London notes that they’re not a good protection from airborne bacteria and viruses in the air. This is because they’re too loose and are without an air filter.
And, the eyes are unprotected.
Nonetheless, masks could help reduce the chance of catching a virus from a sneeze or a cough.
The WHO advises against gloves because hand washing is much more important and because people who wear gloves will wash their hands less often.
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