Facts To Date
So much information is coming at us regarding the new novel Coronavirus, known as Covid-19 that originated in China in December of 2019. Since December, the virus has spread quickly globally and has affected 118 countries and regions, infected an estimated 126,000 people and caused over 4,600 deaths.
Initially, the virus was thought to be transmitted from animals to humans, however, we know that it is transmitted easily from person to person through droplets in the air when a person coughs or sneezes, through close contact with people, ie: being within 6 feet of someone, through touching and shaking hands and touching contaminated surfaces and then touching our eyes, nose or mouth.
Coronaviruses have been seen previously and usually caused mild respiratory disease, but the respiratory illness from Covid-19 can vary from mild to severe respiratory illness to possible death. What we have seen so far is that those most severely affected by the virus are the elderly or individuals with pre-existing underlying medical conditions.
This outbreak of Covid-19, now in the US has changed the very life we knew. As a nation, we have become used to daily briefings from the CDC and infectious disease experts on how to stay healthy and what infection prevention practices we need to follow to avoid contracting Covid-19. We have been introduced to terms such as "social distancing" which means to avoid mass gatherings, such as religious gatherings, movie theaters, and stadiums and to maintain a distance of six feet, from other people whenever possible.
In the past month, the World Health Organization (WHO), declared this to be a pandemic and called for all countries to implement the highest infection prevention and public health measures to contain the continued transmission of this virus.
Thinking Out of the Box
The U.S. has responded to this outbreak in a swift and efficient manner. Some may argue test kits were not obtained in a quick enough time-frame, but the public health strategies that have been enforced by the CDC and the current administration have had an impact on further transmission. Infectious Disease expert, Dr. Antony Fauci has reported that we will see more cases, but if we are diligent in following the outlined public health measures, further transmission of Covid-19 could be contained.
Some of the “out of the box” thinking and strategies that have been implemented will now include “drive-by testing stations” of potential Covid-19 cases. This is currently happening in New Rochelle, NY. Private sector businesses and healthcare giants, such as CVS, Walgreens, Becton Dickinson, Lab Corp, Quest, Roche, along with retailers Walmart and Target will create these “testing stations”.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), a healthcare governing agency has suppressed regulations that may have “tied the hands” of clinicians and opened up other methods of assessing a person that would be covered, such as telemedicine.
The government has also worked with tech giants, such as Google in developing an assessment algorithm so that individuals can determine, by their symptoms, if they meet the criteria for getting tested for Covid-19. This would be available soon on a website.
All of these non-traditional approaches to screening and treatment have come about because of this unique outbreak situation.
Be Alert, Knowledgeable But Not Anxious
There is so much we know about Covid-19 at this point that will help us to feel calmer and better able to deal with the epidemic.
First, we know how to test for the virus and identify what it is. We have also seen that the illness caused by Covid-19 can range from mild to severe. The experts who have studied the epidemic thus far are saying that 80% of the cases are mild, 14% of the cases may have serious pneumonia and 5% of the cases can be severe or fatal. We know people over 60, who also have underlying illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer can be severely affected.
We have also been shown that the virus is easily cleaned and killed with disinfectants such as bleach and by following good hand-washing practices. As people who can be potentially exposed to this virus throughout the day, there are actions we can take to prevent them from picking up the virus and getting sick.
Time to Talk about Prevention
As nurse patient advocates, one of the strategies we take with our clients is providing education on diseases and the prevention of them. Covid-19 is no exception to this strategy. As with any disease, information and prevention strategies will help a client feel calmer and more empowered when dealing with this new novel virus.
Here are some prevention strategies that we are sharing with our clients to protect themselves and their families and maintain their health in these times of uncertainty:
Maintaining and building a strong immune system, ie: eating nutritious meals, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly.
Being hydrated, drinking plenty of water every day.
Washing your hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds.
Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your face with your hands, especially your eyes, nose or mouth.
Stay home from work if you are sick.
Avoid being around sick people.
Avoid crowds and follow social distancing as recommendations.
Be prepared at home- if you are going to be home for the recommended 14 days of self-isolation be sure you have enough food, water, medication and other personal items that you and your family may need.
Providing some fun time and diversion- although we all take this outbreak with Covid-19 very seriously, bringing joy into our lives is still very important. Watch a fun movie with family if you are all home together, write to someone you love a note of gratitude, read a good book.
In times such as these, it is important to remember that our health is extremely important. Whatever actions we can take to protect our health and the health of our loved ones should be followed to avoid the transmission of this novel virus. Stay informed, listen to the experts and above all….Be Alert, Not Anxious!
Feel free to book a call to discuss any concerns.