Covid-19: Prevention, Treatment, and Everything Else

What is COVID-19?

Coronavirus or COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease that was first in the city of Wuhan, China. Most people infected with the Coronavirus experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring any special treatment. Although it is important to note that old people and those suffering from medical conditions like diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer are more likely to develop a serious illness due to this virus. And that is why elderly patients must take greater precautions to avoid being exposed to the Coronavirus

The best way to prevent the spread of this disease is being well informed about the COVID-19 virus. It is highly contagious, so if we know how to slow and curb the transmission, we would be able to contain it. So, protect yourself and everyone around you from infection by following all the precautions carefully and vigilantly. Wash your hands and avoid touching your face. The virus spreads primarily through saliva droplets or discharge from the nose when someone coughs or sneezes, that is why you must practice respiratory etiquette like coughing into a flexed elbow and maintain social distance.

As of now, there is no specific vaccine or cure to the virus. However, there are several clinical trials going on to evaluate potential treatments. We will try and help provide you with all the information and developments regarding Coronavirus.

Based on the current guidelines of the government, we have implemented and recommended virus control protocols to protect visitors, patients, and our healthcare workforce. Our medical health professionals are trained in these protocols to ensure we provide personalized healthcare to everyone seeking help. With most parts of the country under lockdown, we provide telemedicine services. You no longer have to visit a clinic to get medical attention, our medical health professionals will provide consultation and prescription online via video chat.

Symptoms

COVID-19 has caused quite a stir all over the world. With so many people getting infected all over the world, it is important to be vigilant and understand the condition better so that we could get proper treatment. The COVID-19 virus affects every individual in a different way. It is a respiratory disease that develops mild to moderate symptoms, mostly requiring no special treatment. On the other hand, people with underlying medical conditions or those over the age of 60 have a higher risk of developing serious symptoms and can even be fatal.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, dry cough, and tiredness. People also experience aches, pains, sore throat, shortness of breath, and some even report having runny nose, nausea, and diarrhea. If you have mild symptoms and otherwise are not suffering from any underlying health conditions, self-isolate and contact a medical health professional. You can even contact your local COVID-19 information line for advice on testing and referral.

Respiratory Etiquette

Measures all over the world are being put into place to ensure that the Coronavirus pandemic can be arrested as soon as possible. This is an infectious disease that has come from a newly discovered Coronavirus. The usual symptoms of this virus are mild respiratory illness coupled with a fever, dry cough, and tiredness.

People suffering from COVID-19 are more at risk if they are above the age of 65 or have an underlying medical issue diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer.

What makes this disease unique or all that more lethal is that there is no known cure, no vaccine and no way to know if or not you are a carrier. It spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from an infected person. This is why special attention needs to be given to respiratory etiquette.

Prevention

During this crisis, it is important that everyone understands the urgency and need for people to be cautious of the condition. We must take preventive measures suggested by the health bodies of our country. With the number of Coronavirus patients rising everyday, we must do the following to prevent infection and slow transmission of COVID-19.

The World Health Organization has suggested people to take the following preventive health measures:

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or clean them with alcohol-based hand rub.
• Maintain at least 1 metre distance between you and people coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Stay home if you feel unwell.
• Refrain from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs.
• Practice physical distancing by avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from large groups of people.

Travel Advice

Traveling during this pandemic is a big headache. We advise you to refrain from traveling anywhere be it domestic or international during this crisis.Before embarking on your travels you must take care of certain things. needed.

Generally, CDC or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not issue travel restriction or advisories domestically. But citing the rising cases of the Coronavirus disease, they have issued an advisory that everyone must know. Cases of the disease have been reported in all the state and some have also experienced community spread as well. That is why if you are traveling, you must consider the following:

What is the situation of COVID-19 to the place you are traveling?

It is obvious that if COVID-19 is spreading at the place you are planning to travel to and not where you live, you may be more likely to get infected if you travel there than if you stay home. So, it is better that you stay home and avoid traveling as much as you can. Also, if you have questions about your destination, you must check your destination’s local health department website for more information. It is better to be prepared beforehand. We must not take this lightly and try and take all the preventive measures advised by the government.

Being in close contact with your travel partner

COVID-19 is highly contagious and that is why everyone is advised to practice social distancing. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like Coronavirus will increase in crowded settings, particularly closed-in settings with little air circulation. So, avoid these situations as much as you can. Especially if you are traveling for business or leisure you are more likely to attend such settings. Like conferences, religious gatherings, public places and transportation.

Chances of getting severly ill

Coronavirus may cause only mild symptoms if you are otherwise perfectly healthy. However if you are older and have any underlying condition, you may suffer from serious symptoms. Essentially, older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes are at a higher risk of catching the Coronavirus disease. The Centers For Control and Prevention recommends that travelers at higher risk for COVID-19 complications must avoid all nonessential air and cruise travel.

Consider being told to stay home for 14 days for self-monitoring or if you get sick with COVID-19?

Traveling during this pandemic, you must consider all possibilities. With so much pandemonium around the virus, there are several things to consider. And where nothing seems far fetched, it is better to be prepared beforehand. In case you have close contact with someone with COVID-19 during travel, you may be asked to stay home to self-monitor and remain in isolation or quarantine for up to 14 days after travel. Or if you get infected with COVID-19, you may be unable to go to work or school until you’re considered noninfectious. You will be asked to avoid contact with others (including being in public places) during this period of infectiousness. So, before you plan to travel, you must take this into account and decide if your travel is worth all this trouble.

Be responsible for people you live with

In case you are infected with the Coronavirus upon your return from travel, you will also be risking the health of everyone whom you live with. Because of the disease being very contagious your household contacts who are older adults or persons of any age with severe chronic medical conditions may also get infected. And they will be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 because of their health condition.

Protective Measures Against COVID-19

To best combat this pandemic, everyone must stay aware of all the latest information surrounding the COVID-19 virus. There are a lot of rumors going around so it is best that you find information from a trusted website. We suggest you to find the latest updates on the world health organization’s website or through your local public health authority. Although most people infected with the virus suffer from mild illness and recover, it can be severe for others. So, it is important you take care of yourself and others around you by doing the following:

Wash Hands

Clean your hands regularly and thoroughly using an alcohol based hand sanitizer or use soap and water. That is because using these would kill the viruses that may be on your hands. Wash for at least 20 seconds and do it as regularly as possible.

Maintain Social Distancing:

One of the most important things that you must practice is social distancing. Maintain at least 3 feet distance between you and the other person who is either infected or suspected to have the COVID-19 virus. That is because when someone sneezes or coughs, the liquid droplets that come out of their mouth may contain the virus. If you are in close vicinity of the person, you could breathe in the droplets that have the virus if the other person has the disease.

Avoid Touching Your Face

We have a tendency to constantly touch our faces. But this is something we need to change. That is because our hands touch a lot of surfaces and are really susceptible to picking up the virus. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus through our nose, mouth, or even eyes. From there, the virus can enter your body and make you sick.

Respiratory Hygiene

It is very important that you and the people around you follow good respiratory hygiene. This means that you must cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue whenever you sneeze or cough. Also, you must dispose of the tissue immediately. The COVID-19 virus is spread through droplets. By following this good respiratory hygiene you will protect the people around you from getting infected with the virus.

Seek Medical Attention if You Have Fever or Cough

Choose to stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough or experience difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority. You must not ignore this and follow proper precautions. Most of us generally take cough and fever lightly and do not seek medical attention. However, as the COVID-19 virus causes similar symptoms, you must remain vigilant and get proper medical attention.

National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.

Follow Advice of Healthcare Provider

You must stay informed of all the latest updates of the Coronavirus. Follow the advice given to you by a licensed medical health practitioner, local health authority, or the government. You can choose to get consultation online from medical health professionals through telemedicine.

Debunking Myths Surrounding COVID-19

Drinking Alcohol Does Not Prevent Getting Infected :

A common myth that has been doing rounds is that frequent or excessive alcohol consumption can help you protect against the COVID-19 virus. However, this is not true. It does not protect you against the Coronavirus and can be actually dangerous.

COVID-19 Can be Transmitted in Places With Hot & Humid Climate

From the evidence so far, the Coronavirus can be transmitted in all the areas irrespective of the temperature. Rather than having preconceived notions without any scientific backing, you must adopt protective measures if you are traveling to or live in a COVID-19 affected region. Follow all the preventive measures like cleaning your hands, avoiding touching your face, and practicing social distancing.

You Can Recover From COVID-19

Many people believe that catching the Coronavirus means that you will have it for life. But that is not true. You can recover from the disease and eliminate it from your bodies. If you happen to get infected, make sure you treat your symptoms. If you are suffering from fever, cough, or experience difficulty in breathing, seek medical attention immediately. Most patients recover from this thanks to medical health professionals who are working day and night treating everyone seeking help.

Taking a Hot Bath Does Not Prevent Getting Infected

Due to the pandemonium surrounding the new Coronavirus, there are several myths circulating around it. It is important that everyone knows any latest developments regarding the virus. You must check information from a trusted source like the WHO website. Taking a bath will not prevent you from catching the Coronavirus. Your normal body temperature remains around 37 degree Celsius, regardless of the temperature of your shower or bath. In fact, taking a bath with extremely hot water can be dangerous as it can cause burns.

COVID-19 Cannot be Transmitted Through Mosquito Bites

We live in an age where everyone uses social media. Where it is very useful in several circumstances, fake news and rumors often plague the social media often resulting in misinformation being spread across masses. That is why it is important that people learn about the virus from trusted sources. From the evidence so far, COVID-19 cannot be transmitted through mosquitoes. It is a respiratory virus which primarily spreads through droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Avoid being in close contact with the infected individual and you will be fine.

Eating Garlic Does Not Prevent You From The Coronavirus Disease

Garlic is good for your health. It is a healthy food that has antimicrobial properties. However, from the evidence so far, eating garlic does not prevent you from getting infected.

Get Medical Attention Through Telemedicine

Coronavirus came into limelight when the cases started to surge in late December and early January in China. The disease causes respiratory illness with symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing. You can protect yourself by constantly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your face, and following social distancing. The concerning part is that it is heavily contagious which is why it is really difficult to control. As of now, there is no cure to the disease.

Amidst the Coronavirus pandamonium, both health professionals and patients are put to risk while providing or seeking healthcare. In the past, several barriers to healthcare inhibited telemedicine but the escalating COVID-19 situation has given telehealth an opening to redefine healthcare like never before. As the disease spreads when a person is in close proximity to an infected individual, everyone is advised to stay at home in quarantine and use telemedicine.

With intensifying concerns surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic, telemedicine has become of paramount importance to ensure the safety of physicians and patients. The Trump administration has also sought telemedicine to ease the crisis and reduce the stress on hospitals. Telemedicine could actually be one of the winners in what one may fear could be a prolonged economic slowdown. The pandemic will also have long-term effects on this industry. It will expose telemedicine to a larger audience that remained distant till now. And deservedly so!

What we Are Doing to Combat The Situation?

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Online Medical Clinics renders full support to the United State’s Government to ensure the health and safety of people. During this crisis, our team strives to help you in every manner possible. We advise everyone to follow all the necessary precautions.

During this crisis, we urge people to stay indoors. If you are unwell and have cough, fever, and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Follow the rules and regulations of your local health authority. Avoid going outside and use telemedicine for any medical advice. In these difficult circumstances, hospitals are busy dealing with the pandemic. We render our full support to all the hospital personnels working on the front line to neutralize the situation. Telemedicine proves to be an effective tool during these difficult times. So much so that the President of our country is suggesting people to use telemedicine. We have employed medical health professionals specifically for this purpose - Help Citizens and Other Doctors. Let’s fight this together. Stay safe and Stay healthy.

Under these dire circumstances, you can trust us to help you with your medical condition. Our team strives to help you in every manner possible. We advise everyone to stay home under quarantine and follow necessary precautions regulated by your local health authority. Kindly work in tandem with us.