Travelling Soon? Worse Affected Areas from Coronavirus & its Treatment & Prevention
In case you are planning to travel anytime soon, then you must take heed of the necessary precautionary measures and protocols announced by the authorities against coronavirus. Coronavirus is more widespread in some countries than in others. Hence, planning a travel without knowing which areas are most affected may result in putting yourself at stake.
Unplanned travels or a general lack of awareness may lead you to countries which are the most affected by corona. Such countries are also one the verge of a lockdown and this may result in any travellers getting stuck without lasting provisions in an affected area. Therefore, one must have a considerable understanding of the virus and about any necessary steps that must be taken to mitigate the risks of catching one yourself.
What are Coronaviruses?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases in humans. It is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. Coronaviruses are zoonotic in nature, which means that they are transmitted between animals and people.
Common Symptoms of Coronavirus Include:
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. The people who are the most vulnerable to corona or those who have died or not have completely recovered from it include old people, above the age of 50 years or children below the age of 5 years. Further, if you are already in poor health or have an immune system which is weak, then the virus is most likely to attack and you must follow the advised precautionary measures meticulously.
However, most of the visible or easily observable symptoms of coronavirus appear about 7 to 8 days after the virus has been contracted. Hence, by the time the affected person is aware about his or her condition, there is a chance that they may have already passed it on to others. (Source: WHO)
Coronavirus symptoms are generally experienced in the following pattern or order:
- During the first three days after having contracted the virus, the individual may experience a high fever and a mildly sore throat
- On day four, the symptoms may worsen and the individual may experience a hoarse voice in addition to having a sore throat. Their body temperature may further rise and they might even start to experience headaches and have diarrhea.
- On day five, the individual may experience fatigue, muscular pain and dry cough.
- On the sixth day of having contracted corona, the affected person may have a mild fever (about 37 degrees centigrade), increased coughing and some even experience difficulty in breathing. The diarrhea and vomiting is also expected to worsen at this stage.
- On day seven, the temperature further rises and body ache and pains increase. The vomiting and diarrhea persists.
- On day eight, all of the symptoms become more intense and with the help of a blood test and a chest x-ray the patient can find out for sure if they are COVID-19 positive or not.
Basic Protective Measures against Coronavirus Include:
According to the World Health Organization and physicians, the basic precautionary measures against the coronavirus are:
- Washing your hands as frequently as possible
- Drinking water frequently so that even if the virus does get into your throat through your eyes, nose, mouth or ears, it gets washed down to your stomach. Once inside the stomach, the acids present inside our stomach manage to kill the virus; however, if it keeps sitting in our throat or esophagus, it may make its way into the lungs and potentially disrupt the breathing.
- Sanitizing hands as frequently as possible if soap and water are not readily available. You may use a hand sanitizer which carries about 60% alcohol.
- Avoiding handshakes
- Practicing respiratory hygiene
- Maintaining social distancing (at least 3 feet)
- Avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth
- If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
- Practicing general hygiene measures when visiting animal or meat markets
- Avoiding consumption of raw or undercooked animal products
How Does the Coronavirus Spread?
As of now, there is no vaccination which could prevent us or strengthen our immunity against the virus. However, once we understand how the virus is spread, we have a better chance at protecting ourselves from it.
The best way to prevent the virus from spreading is by limiting our exposure to it. It is spread mainly from person-to-person through close contact with one another and through respiratory droplets from the infected persons when they cough or sneeze. These droplets can be inhaled by the people exposed to the affected person or land on their hands or face.
How to Protect Others from Being Affected by Coronavirus:
At the time of a global crisis such as this, it is very important that humanity prevails. We must all be watchful and protective of others as well as ourselves. If you fall sick, please make sure that you follow the protocols and observe care to prevent others around you from catching the virus as well. The best thing to do at first, if you experience any symptoms is to self-quarantine yourself. Stay home if you’re sick and avoid going to any public places at all. Even the hospitals may not be safe especially in the major affected countries.
If you are sick, please cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue paper or with the inside of your elbow. Please make sure that you throw your used tissue papers in the dustbin and do not leave them lying around.
Moreover, please do ensure that you wear a facemask if you are sick; especially, if you are sharing a room or a vehicle with others or stepping into a hospital or a clinic. In case you are having trouble breathing and cannot carry a facemask on you, then you should wear full sleeved clothes which allow you to cover your coughs and sneezes and absorb any droplets from the body.
Further, if you are caring for a person who is sick, then you are also required to wear a facemask. In case you are neither sick nor a caregiver, then you can skip wearing any facemasks as they may be in short supply and should be saved for caregivers.
It is also highly recommended that you clean and disinfect any surface or space which is frequently touched. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. You may use household bleaches, alcohol solutions, disinfectants, detergent or soap for the cleansing.
Please note that all facts and figures mentioned above are quoted from the mentioned sources and all recommendations are purely advisory. If you feel any flu-like symptoms or high temperature, then you are advised to consult a medical expect on top priority.
Which Countries are the Most Affected by Coronavirus?
So far, the total death toll reported is 5,833 people and a total number of 73,968 individuals have managed to recover from the virus. Further, the confirmed cases of coronavirus by country are as listed below. Hence, in case you are planning to travel to either of these countries, then you might want to reconsider your travel plans and check whether the country is quarantined or in a lockdown.
Source: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
