COVID-19 is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. COVID-19 often spreads among people nearby. When an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes, the droplets carry the virus in the air. You can get the disease if you breathe in these drops.
In some cases, COVID-19 can spread through the air and infect people who are more than 6 feet away. Small droplets and particles can remain in the air for minutes to hours. This is called airborne transmission, and occurs mainly in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation. However, it is more common for COVID-19 to spread through close communication.
Sometimes, the disease can spread if you touch the infected area, and then touch your eyes, nose, mouth or face. But this is not considered a major route for the virus to spread. The risk of spreading COVID-19 is even greater when you are in close contact with other people who are not in your home for longer.
Does COVID-19 affect children?
This is a new virus and we do not know enough about how it affects children or pregnant women. We know it is possible for people of any age to be infected with the virus, but so far there have been a few cases of COVID-19 reported among children. The virus is fatal in rare cases, so far especially among the elderly with a pre-existing health condition.
What should I do if my child has symptoms of COVID-19?
- Find treatment, but remember that it is the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, and the symptoms of COVID-19 such as a cough or fever may be similar to those of the flu, or flu – which are more frequent.
- Keep following the rules of hand hygiene and breathing, such as washing your hands regularly, and informing your child about the vaccine – so that your child is protected against other viruses and bacteria that cause disease.
- As with other respiratory diseases such as the flu, seek early care if you or your child have symptoms, and try to avoid going to public places (workplace, school, public transportation), to prevent the spread of infection.
Symptoms
These symptoms are similar to the common cold or flu, which is more common than COVID-19. That is why testing is needed to determine if a person has COVID-19. It is important to remember that the most important preventive measures are the same – regular hand washing, and respiratory hygiene. Also, there is the flu vaccine – so remember to update yourself and your baby about the vaccine.
What can I do to keep my immune system strong?
Your immune system is your body’s defense system. When a dangerous invader such as the flu or the Korona virus that causes COVID-19 enters your body, your immune system attacks it. Known as an immune response, this attack is a series of events that involve various cells and occur over time.
Following general health guidelines is the best step you can take to keep your immune system strong and healthy. Every part of your body, including your immune system, works best when protected against environmental attacks and enhanced by healthy living strategies such as:
- Do not smoke.
- Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Take a multivitamin if you suspect that you are probably not getting all the nutrients you need through your diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Control your stress level.
- Control your blood pressure.
- If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
- Get enough sleep.
Take precautionary measures, such as washing your hands regularly and trying not to touch your face, as harmful germs can enter your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Can COVID-19 be prevented?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved emergency use for some COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. The FDA has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, now called Comirnaty, to prevent COVID-19 for people 16 years of age and older.
What can I do to avoid getting sick?
If you have not received the COVID-19 vaccine, you can reduce your risk of becoming infected with the COVID-19 virus and reduce the risk of transmitting it to others. The CDC and WHO recommend following these precautions:
- Set at least 6 feet (2 meters) of distance between you and people outside your household.
- Avoid gatherings of people and indoors that have poor air flow.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you cannot wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Wear a mask in public places.
- Close mouth and nose with elbow or elbow when you cough or sneeze. Discard the used fabric. Wash your hands immediately.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
- Clean and kill germs on sensitive areas daily.
If you have a long-term medical condition, you may have a higher risk of serious illness. Contact your healthcare provider about other ways to protect yourself.
Why is covid-19 prevention important?
Scientists are still studying the coronavirus, so there is much that they do not know about it. But what they have learned shows that COVID-19 is a serious disease. It is important to take steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus because:
- Anyone can spread the virus. Research has shown that you can spread the virus even if you have no symptoms or up to 2 days before the symptoms start.
- There is still no treatment. If you are sick, doctors may try to alleviate your symptoms, but they do not have proven treatment for the virus itself.
- It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Experts are not sure if you can spread the virus after recovery.
You can get sick again. Your body produces substances called antibodies to fight infections. They can help protect you from catching certain germs again or prevent you from making you very sick. But researchers do not know if the COVID-19 antibodies will protect you or for how long.
Ways to stop the spread of covid-19
The best way to prevent the spread of the disease is to prevent it from becoming infected. Each of us plays a vital role in preventing the spread of COVID-19. There are several steps we can take to help prevent the spread of the virus within our own walls.
1. Maintain physical distance
The COVID-19 virus is especially prevalent when one person breathes in drops or aerosols that are released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks or breathes. Body distance refers to measures taken to stop or slow the spread of an infectious disease.
For an individual, it refers to maintaining a sufficient distance (six feet or more) between you and another person to avoid becoming infected or infecting another person. Instructions for working at home, and canceling face-to-face meetings and major events help to achieve physical distance at the community level.
2. Wash your hands effectively
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; and after handling anything that comes out of your home.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-free hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol, covering all parts of your hands and rubbing them until they feel dry.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water if your hands look dirty.
3. Reduce non-voluntary travel trips
As a general rule, travel can increase your chances of spreading and getting COVID-19, especially if you have not been vaccinated. Guidance from the CDC states that anyone traveling by public transportation, including airplanes, trains, or buses, must be covered during the journey, and at airports and train and bus stations.
Terms of vaccination and testing of COVID-19 may vary depending on the provider, geographical location and your immunization status. In addition to wearing a well-fitting bracelet, all travelers should be at least six feet away from others, avoid crowded gatherings, and wash their hands regularly. Anyone who is ill or who has been tested for COVID-19 should not travel by public transport if possible.
4. Do not touch your face
Your eyes, nose and mouth are a direct path to your body for viruses. Squeeze your nose, rub your eyes, or bite the hangnail, and you let the insects in. Maybe you touch your face all day without realizing it. Breaking such a habit requires practice. Try the following tips:
- Wear a perfume or perfume on your hands so that the scent will alert you whenever it occurs.
- Use rubber bands or a stress ball to keep your hands busy.
- Be sure you use them for itches or a runny nose or eyes.
- If your hand habits are tied to the way you sit at your desk, for example, try a new position.
5. Avoid the Crowd
Avoid crowded gatherings and airless spaces. Avoid close contact (stay at least 6 feet) with people who do not live with you, even if they do not look sick, in indoor and outdoor spaces. Some asymptomatic individuals may spread the coronavirus.
If you have not been fully vaccinated, the CDC recommends wearing masks in public places. Wearing a mask in public can help slow down the spread of the virus. They can help prevent people who may have the virus and are unaware of transmitting it to others by helping to prevent respiratory droplets from traveling through the air and infecting other people when you cough, sneeze or talk.
6. Clean and disinfect surfaces
You can also get COVID-19 if you touch something that is infected and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth. There is little chance of infection in this way, but it is still possible. Viruses can live in plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours, so you should regularly clean the areas that you and others are most likely to touch in your home.
Cleaning and disinfecting are two different steps. Cleaning removes dirt and germs, but it does not kill germs. To kill germs, apply chemical spray on areas you have already cleaned. Many of the antimicrobials you buy in the store should work to kill the virus that causes COVID-19 on the surfaces.
7. Sneeze or cough on your elbow
If you sneeze or cough in your hands, you put it with germs. When you do not cover your sneeze and cough at all, it throws your germs into the air around you towards others. Cover your mouth with the elbow of your hand to protect you and others. Wash your hands often afterwards.