What are the species of coronaviruses that have been discovered so far and that humans can be infected with from an animal source?
The SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans in 2002 in China and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. Also, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) had some link to the seafood and animal market in Wuhan, China.
What are Coronaviruses?
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
Coronavirus Symptoms
- Fever
- Cough
- Breathing difficulties
- Headache
- Chest pain
- Sore throat
How to protect yourself from the Coronavirus?
- Avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of Coronavirus, especially people exhibiting symptoms
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Stay home when you are sick
- Sneeze and cough into tissues and dispose of them right away
- Wash your hands regularly with water and soap for at least 20 seconds, or if water and soap are not available, make sure to use a hand sanitizer that contains alcohol
When to wash your hands?
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- Before eating food
- After coughing or sneezing
- Before and after caring for someone who is sick
- After using the toilet
- After changing the baby's diapers
- After touching an animal
Sneeze etiquette to reduce the spread of Coronavirus infection
- Sneeze and cough into tissues
- Dispose of them right away
- Or with your bent elbow
- Wash your hands with soap and water for 40 sec
Social distancing keeps you safe from the rapid spread and infection of COVID-19
- Keep at least one-meter distance from others
- Avoid gatherings
- Avoid unnecessary activities, traveling and using public transportation
- Stay at home when you are sick
Instructions for home quarantine
- Stay at home for 14 days, and do not go to work or public places. Maintain a self-isolation
- Avoid sharing food, drinks, or any household with anyone in the house
- Stay in a well-ventilated room and separate yourself from the people you live with
- Wash your hands with soap and water for 40 sec or alcohol-based hand sanitizers for 20 sec
- If you have more than one bathroom in your house, use a separate one and make sure to disinfect it after each use
- Prohibit visitors who do not have an essential need to be in the home
- Dispose of the garbage immediately
Corona virus infection transmission methods
- Through respirator droplets
- contact with contaminated surfaces
- Direct contact with infected people
Important instructions for
visiting IMC
Important tips for how to deal with respiratory symptoms
Coronavirus and
isolation
It is a method of isolating patients who have been exposed to infection. It restricts the movement of ill persons to help stop the spread of Coronavirus to other people.
What is quarantine?
It is for healthy individuals who do not show symptoms but are suspected of having the disease as they are quarantined while providing all their needs until the virus’s full incubation period is completed to ensure safety.
Home quarantine
A condition that does not require hospitalization as the person is isolated in a well-ventilated room in the house, avoiding contact with family members until the virus’s incubation period is complete. If communication is necessary, the person must wear a mask and maintain more than one-meter safe distance
when coughing or sneezing:
- Use tissues and dispose of them in the trash bin
- Cover your mouth with the elbow
- Wash your hands with soap, water, or sterile alcohol
When necessary, to communicate with others:
- Wear a mask when leaving the house or mingling with others
- Leave a space not less than 1 meter from others
- When symptoms occur, call health 937
Avoid traveling and public places (school or work)
Avoid receiving visitors at home
When:
- In case someone is tested positive for Covid-19 (hospital quarantine).
- Persons who have had personal contact with someone infected without showing any symptoms (home quarantine).
How?
- Staying home until the test of Covid-19 is confirmed negative (after the incubation period ends).
- For further inquiries, call 937
- Open windows and make sure you have proper ventilation always.
- Clean and sanitize all “high-touch” surfaces such as doorknobs.
- Avoid mingling with others and ban visitors who do not have an essential need to be in the home.
- Avoid sharing cutlery and household items with others. Use only disposable paper plates.
- Keep your communication with others only through phones and mobile applications.
- Avoid sharing personal items and make sure to disinfect them continuously.
- Start your day with supplications.
- Wash your hands with water and soap for 40 seconds.
- Exercise.
- Maintain a distance between you and other people.
- Consider distance learning via e-learning platforms.
- Eat healthy food.
- Watch movies.
- Read a book.
- Stay mentally sharp with brain exercises.
- Practice proper sneeze etiquette.
- Watch news from reliable sources and beware of rumors.
- Reassure your family and friends about your health condition.
- Get enough sleep.
The right way to
wash your hands
Wet your hands with water and dispense a single pump of the soap on the palm of your hand
Rub hands palm to palm
Rub right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa
Rub palm to palm with fingers interlaced
Rub left palm over right dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa
Rotational rubbing, backward and forwards with clasped fingers of the right hand in left palm and vice versa
Rinse your hands well under running water
Dry your hands thoroughly with a single-use paper towel
Use a paper towel to turn off the tap/faucet
Dispose of the used tissues properly
Because your health matters
DON’T
Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you have somehow come into contact with the virus, touching your face can help it enter your body.
DO
Consider taking extra precautions and staying out of public places if you are over 60 years old, or have a condition, as you have a higher risk of developing the disease.
DO
Practice social distancing: Avoid large gatherings and crowds in poorly-ventilated spaces, and try to stay at three to six feet away from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
DON’T
Go out except to see your doctor after calling first. And if you do have to go out, avoid public transportation, taxis, and ride-sharing.
