COVID-19 and India: What To Do To Be Safe
This COVID-19 pandemic has become a part of daily life in India since last year. The mutant strains recently discovered have made the situation now more hazardous than before. Even now with so many affected by the disease have been unable to find emergency services. What’s astounding is the number of people in India who still don’t follow the COVID-appropriate norms created for everyone’s safety. It is clear that with a population density of India it is not possible to maintain social distancing at all times when in public. However many people still follow the basic requirements by wearing a mask. However, a sizable portion of the population is still in public view without masks. With the new revelation that COVID-19 primarily transmits through the air, it is necessary to wear a face mask. There may have been a time when N95 masks were in shortage in densely populated areas like Delhi. However, with N95 Face Mask Dealers in Delhi and other important cities manufacturing quality masks, it should no longer be an excuse.
The Current Situation
Even now India suffers from more than 300,000 active cases with daily death tolls of thousands. With the growing number of active cases and the lack of proper infrastructure to handle them, people have to be cautious. It has been established that COVID-19 particles stay suspended in the air for at least 3 hours after exiting an infected person. Even if there are no COVID-affected persons present in the area, the particles can still infect others for hours in a spot. It is essential for people to follow the right steps to protect themselves. It is now more necessary for people to take care to not spread it around their family.
How Does It Spread?
Everybody knows that the corona virus spreads from people to people when an infected person coughs, sneezes or even speaks. For the safety, it is important for everyone to maintain a minimum distance of six feet from others when communicating with them. Unfortunately, COVID-19 also spreads through touch, as the virus could spread from an infected person to surfaces through touch or when they cough or sneeze. Its primary mode of transmission remains to be droplets suspended in the air.
What Can Be Done?
As per the CDC, “The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.” It still stands correct in today’s scenario. The situation may have changed with the new evidence, but the steps haven’t. Maintaining social distancing may not be a possibility everywhere, but the right step still includes wearing masks and sanitising when possible.
Everyone understands that we can not sustain another lockdown. It is a daunting task ahead for both administrations and civilians to stay healthy and unaffected during the pandemic. After all, even though lockdowns can control the spread significantly, they can horribly affect daily wage workers who may suffer from malnourishment. This can make the COVID situation worse further. With no access to better health care and proper nutrition, immunity may be lower further and bring the risk of more fatalities. As such, it is important that people take care of themselves while following the appropriate steps. There are a lot of 3 ply mask manufacturers in India, and that means people can safely use disposable 3 ply masks without any risk of shortage for anyone in the society.
Sanitization
COVID-19 by nature can still infect after lying dormant on surfaces. People by nature can possibly contaminates the surfaces in which they are interacting. It is very important to always keep the hands clean from foreign contaminants which can can pick up from almost anywhere. Washing the hands carefully with soap is necessary to remove any virus on the hands. It is however not possible to access water everywhere. sanitizers are a close second option and the best alternative when water and soap are not available. However, every one should know we shouldn’t trust all the sanitizers. Any sanitizer manufacturer in India that creates sanitizers with more than 60% ethanol or ethyl alcohol, we can trust with personal safety against COVID-19. We should also know that sanitizers don’t work well on dirty hands, where soap water is the best option in that situation.
Restrict Travel
India may soon stop the international travel after this worsened situation When it comes to travelling locally, it’s best to halt any plans for that right now. Moving around can increase the spread of the virus more than staying in isolation from others. As per the CDC, “Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19.” It is also absolutely necessary to abstain from travelling for older people. Older people have a higher risk of being affected, as they have lowered immunity. Anyone with underlying health conditions may not recover from COVID-19. For others who travel, it is essential to take precautions and safety measures like wear face masks and carry sanitizers. Everyone should make sure to keep their faces covered whenever they are in a different environment. Awareness and the will to keep oneself safe can help keep others safe from corona virus.
What More Could Be Done?
Beyond avoiding travels, maintaining social distancing if possible, wearing a mask and keeping oneself clean, everyone should remain cautious and aware. People should be responsible and report any symptoms they observe on themselves or their family. Hiding one’s symptoms may seem reasonable for personal safety, but it is in the best interest of everyone to come forward and get a checkup. It may stop the spread of infection to others. That should be the duty of every Indian in the country.
Even though most people understandably don’t want to get virus and may hope that the symptoms it is necessary to do a medical check-up anyway. Hopefully, this information helps everyone in some way or the other. Here is a list of observed old and new symptoms that have been found in COVID-19 affected people:
Old Symptoms that everyone needs to stay aware of:
- Fever
- Loss of smell & taste
- Persistent cough
New symptoms that now being discovered and need to be cautious about:
- Aches & pains
- Sore throat
- Diarrhoea
- Discolouration of finger & toes
- Headache
- Rashes on the skin
- Conjunctivitis