This is Bryan.
I am sure that everyone has some understanding about the Coronavirus situation now in US.
If you are still not sure what's going on, I strongly recommend you to look at this situation summary from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention - basically USA's government agency for illnesses).
For Pierce county, by far (3/11/20), there are totally 17 confirmed cases with cases been confirmed in Lakewood, Gig harbor area, Tacoma, University Place, and Puyallup. You can find more information in this web page.
For this week's blog post, I will talk about how to protect yourself and others from Coronavirus Disease and what to do if you feel sick.
Useful Information
Counselling, Health & Wellness Service Phone number: 253-535-7337
Email: hopperea@plu.edu
Disease Transmission for 2019 Novel Coronavirus
Coronavirus is transmitted through droplets (tiny liquid drop from mouth/nose), meaning if a infected person cough or sneeze, the tiny liquid drop will carry the virus around to other individual.
The virus can also be transmitted through contact if an infected individual has coughed on his or her hands and touched it.
Take a look at the picture below for how virus is spread:
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| This drawing clearly illustrate how virus is transmitted from infected individual to healthy individual through multiple pathways |
Preventative Methods
Since we know this coronavirus is spread through droplet, we need to cut the route of transmission.
1. Cough on a tissue/ your sleeve
The best way to cough is to cough on a tissue paper and throw it in the trash.
When you don't have a tissue on your hand, cough on your sleeve, because you can spread the germs around if you cough on your hand.
Be sure to look at the picture below for the proper technique of coughing and try to cover your mouth completely with your sleeve when coughing.
2. Wash hands VERY VERY OFTEN + avoid touching face
Washing hands can significantly decrease your risk of acquiring the virus.
Washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with hand soaps is recommended by CDC.
When to wash your hands? As much as possible, but definitely before you eat, before returning home, and after using bathroom.
Here is a link to hand washing information.
If that is not available to you, use hand sanitizes that contains at least 60% of alcohol.
Because coronavirus infects human body by contracting with human lung cells (you may want to look at this research article for detailed information), you should avoid touching your face, especially mouth and nose. If you have to, wash your hands before you touch your face.
3. Avoid close contact with people who are sick
Stay at least 6 feets away from people who are sick.
Personal opinion: try to avoid crowded public places. This is not recommended by CDC. However, infected individual can spread the virus without showing the symptoms (Reference), and infected individual can stay asymptomatic (no showing of symptoms) for 14 days (Reference). So an asymptomatic individual can spread the virus to you without you even noticing it. It's scary to think about it, and that's the reason why you should exercise extreme caution.
4. Disinfect household objects
If possible, you should clean your house daily with regular household disinfectants, alcohol, or bleach solution (5 tablespoon per gallon of water).
Thinks that you should clean include: tables, phone, hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets, sinks, and anything you often touch.
You can refer to this guideline for how to disinfect your house properly.
What to do if you feel sick
Feeling sick doesn't mean that you are infected by coronavirus!
Coronavirus disease is a respiratory (breathing) disease which infected individual often shows similar symptom as flu or common cold. Please be aware that we are currently in the flu season as well, so even if you are sick, you may not have the coronavirus disease.
According to research, most of the infected individual will develop fever (98% of patient) and cough (76% of patient). Other symptoms include fatigue and muscle aches (44%), difficulty breathing (55%), and coughing sputum (28%). Be aware that these symptoms are mostly similar to the symptoms of flu. (Link to research)
If you feel sick, stay home and avoid public places. This helps protect others from getting sick too!
If you have to go out, wear a face mask. CDC currently does not recommend healthy people to wear mask. (Personal opinion: this may be due to the shortage of mask supplies around the world, and the need to allocate resources for the hospitals.)
Call your doctor if you think you have been exposed to coronavirus and have developed symptoms like fever, coughing, or shortness of breath.
If you don't know who to go to, make an appointment with the PLU Health Center. Let them know about your symptoms beforehand, so they can be prepared for it.
You may want to consider using this Lute Telehealth app for health counselling.
As of this moment, the treatment for Coronavirus Disease has not yet to be developed. Hence, the best treatment for the disease is to not get it! Please exercise these preventative methods to protect yourself and others from 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Stay healthy and stay strong!
Best wishes,
Bryan Yuan
2020/3/11
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