How to Protect Ourselves from Coronavirus

What started with a few strange illnesses has now travelled the world. The outbreak of the terrible coronavirus!

It has triggered many new changes in our peaceful world. From nationwide lockdowns, wearing masks, to speculative conspiracy theories! We are witnessing a swift difference in our daily lives.

Yet, things are settling down in many parts of the world. Some countries are removing the barriers of lockdowns. They are allowing citizens to enjoy their lives like before. At the same time, some countries are taking a safe approach.

So, does that mean we all broke the chain and defeated the Covid-19 outbreak? Unfortunately, the answer is – not sure!

Covid-19 and its variants are still posing a severe health risk. Thus, it is crucial to know the facts and safety measures.

So, What Is the Coronavirus?

The term ‘coronavirus’ is not new. In scientific terms, experts use this word to denote different viruses. They can cause illness, disease, and infection in living beings.

Sometimes, these viruses can cause non-fatal and general illnesses like fever or colds. But, at the same time, others can pose a severe health risk. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is one among these health risks.

Being zoonotic, the spread of the coronavirus takes place from animals to humans.

Unfortunately, the new coronavirus, i.e. Covid-19, spreads from humans to humans. As a result, a healthy person can catch the infection by coming into contact with an affected person.

What’s more, this virus constantly evolves itself, and new versions come out. This continuous mutation makes this virus even trickier to understand and study.

That’s why scientists believe that this virus can spread faster than any other threat we saw in the past.

How Does Coronavirus Transmit or Spread?

We get to see new cases of the coronavirus getting reported across the world. Thus, health executives are focusing more on slowing down the pace of transmission.

Even though it seems tricky to cure this disease, it is pretty simple to stop its transmission. We can follow simple guidelines to prevent the spread.

Well, it is crucial to understand how coronavirus transmits or spreads among the masses. After knowing the facts, you can take proper steps to safeguard yourself and others.

Human-to-Human Transmission

Many health officials believe that the Covid-19 virus mainly spreads from one person to another. Yet, it can transmit in many ways.

Droplets

One of the most familiar forms of transmission is aerosols or droplets. For example, an infected person sometimes coughs, talks, or even sneezes in front of another person. In this case, tiny particles or droplets bring the virus into the surrounding, mainly in the air.

Anyone standing within the 6 feet of surface can catch the virus through breathing. That’s why we have to wear a mask each day when we go outside and some public places.

Airborne Transmission

Many reports claim that this virus is pretty strong as it can sustain for around 3 hours in the air. That’s a vast enough timespan!

Moreover, the virus can enter your lungs whenever someone carrying it breathes, and you take that air into your body.

Yet, there is an ongoing debate among the experts regarding this spread. As a result, they are unable to conclude how often the Covid-19 transmits through airborne route. Even more, it is still uncertain how much this airborne virus contributes to the pandemic.

Surface Transmission

The droplets might leave behind on the surface whenever an infected person speaks, coughs, or sneezes. It can be floor, desk, lift door, handle, or something else. So, you might catch the infection by touching these contaminated objects.

The transmission occurs when you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes right after touching the contaminated object.

Experts say that the virus can sustain on plastic and metal objects for up to 3 days. So the best way is to clean and disinfect all such objects in your house.

Remember, the transmission mainly occurs through people who have the potential symptoms. Yet, it can also pass from those who have no signs of the infection.

Many people don’t understand that they are carrying a virus since there are no symptoms. As a result, they can raise the spread, which we call asymptomatic spread.

Community Spread

In many cases, one can trace how they caught the infection since they remember being in contact with a sick person.

But what if the person doesn’t know the source and still gets the virus? It is what we call community spread. In this, the virus spreads in crowded, public places.

How to Protect Yourself During This Pandemic?

To help reduce the coronavirus spread, you can take a few significant steps. These precautions can safeguard you, your family members, and others against this virus.

Keep Social Distancing

As you can see, ignoring social distancing practices is the primary reason behind the virus spread. Yet, this virus affects different people differently.

Some people show symptoms, while others look entirely normal. Even more, some people have mild symptoms.

No matter how fit the person looks, always maintain social distancing in public places. Besides staying at home, you should also limit the entry of visitors into your house.

Of course, it is impossible to detach yourself from the rest of the world. But at least you can maintain a safe distance of six feet in public places.

You can avail the benefits of technology during this time. For example, you can prefer video calling over in-person meetings.

Practice Good Hygiene Everywhere

As said earlier, this virus can sustain for hours and even days on certain surfaces. Thus, avoid touching surfaces unnecessarily.

You can follow a few safety measures to protect yourself in public places.

Wearing a mask can protect you from airborne virus spread. Moreover, washing your hands more often is another way out. Sure, you cannot have access to water and soap everywhere.

Here, you can use a hand sanitizer to make your hands clean. Make sure the sanitizer has 60% alcohol.

Stay at Home if You Feel Sick

Staying at home is an excellent way to protect yourself from getting infected. The necessity of this rule increases even more when you feel sick.

Even if it is a normal flu or regular cold, consult a doctor and test yourself. After that, make sure you stay at home for at least two weeks. This act will protect both you and others.

Don’t Share False Information!

Of course, it is our responsibility to stop this virus from spreading. But, at the same time, we should equally think about data or message sharing.

People usually prefer to use the internet during the lockdown period. They receive misinformation regarding the virus on social media and other platforms. Then, they share the information with others without even crosschecking it against the facts.

This act is as dangerous as the virus spread. We must act as responsible people. Avoid sharing misinformation!

Let’s Fight Together!

That’s it! It is everything you should know about the coronavirus. Remember, we are a few steps away to win this fight against the virus. The virus is still showing mutations. There are new variants like alpha, beta, gamma, and delta.

Let’s follow the instructions, wear a mask, wash your hands more, practice hygiene in public places, and keep social distancing! Above all, try to get vaccinated!

We will beat this virus one day. Then, once again, our world will become a prosperous place for living beings. But, till that, stay home, stay healthy!