How to stay protected from coronavirus?

Since COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic by WHO, I questioned myself why haven't I talked about it on my blog. So here it is. 

Firstly, what is a pandemic? 
Basically, a pandemic has nothing to do with the severity of an outbreak. It is purely related to its geographic spread. Any virus/disease that spreads almost all across the world can be called a Global Pandemic. To date, covid-19 has spread across 114 countries worldwide which is why the World Health Organization a short while ago officially declared it a Global Pandemic. Prof Nigel McMillan of the Menzies Health Institute in Queensland, Australia, says a pandemic declaration alerts health authorities to prepare to move beyond travel bans.

Is it time to panic?
Absolutely not. Panics only result in rash decisions. Be prepared, be alert but don't panic. There are websites created just to report the death toll, the media is banging the drums hard, don't fall for it. Thou it is spreading rapidly, it is curable. In fact, a large majority of diagnosed patients have been cured.

How deadly is covid-19?

Most people with covid-19 recover at home while some need hospitalization to fight the virus. Scientists aren't exactly sure what the fatality rate of the coronavirus is at the moment but they do have some estimates. I don't want to share any irrelevant information so I am sticking to the updates by WHO and recently WHO estimated the mortality rate of the new coronavirus to be around 3.4%. That's a very small number compared to the major outbreaks of the past including its closest relative, SARS. There is a widespread consensus that covid-19 is most dangerous for elderly patients and those with preexisting health problems that have weakened their immune systems. If you are aged between 16-70 y/o, haven't traveled recently to any of the seriously stricken countries, know that your chances of mortality by coronavirus are very low. You have more chances of winning the lottery, to be honest. 

Let us discuss some precautions to take in order to stay protected from this virus.

~ Keep your diet healthy: Avoid eating a lot from restaurants and cafes for some time. It is better to keep your diet clean and natural, and that's best done at home under your own supervision. Also, drink approx 2 litre of water daily since all this will keep your body functioning properly and increase your chances of viruses better.

~ Don't forget your daily workouts: Staying in optimum shape is the best way to fight every sort of problem. When natural defence systems are working properly, the chances of you getting a disease get significantly low. And like I mentioned above, people with very weak immune systems are the one at higher risk. Working out daily will surly keep your immune system in working order as well.

~ Wash your hands repeatedly: As is the case with all viruses, the first necessary step is hygiene, and more importantly your hands. Our hands can be the biggest carriers of diseases so it is important to wash them repeatedly throughout the day using alcohol-based hand rub or soap as alcohol-based rubs kill viruses. Make sure to rub your hands properly, cleaning the nails and the middle parts of your fingers. 

~ Keep a distance from those coughing or sneezing: Since sneezes carry tiny droplets of saliva which can contain viruses and if you are close enough, you can breathe them in. Stay roughly 3 feet away from anyone who is sick.

~ Don't touch your face often: Even after washing our hands, they may contain some viruses or germs so don't want them going into your mouth, through your eyes, nose or ears. 

~ Get a mask: Masks won't provide you 100% security against the virus but it will help you decrease the chances of getting it. Remember to dispose off the masks or wash them properly. Keeping them clean in extremely necessary otherwise, they can cause more harm than good.

~ If you have a fever, cold, coughing or breathing problems, seek medical health right away: The weather is changing so it can be seasonal as well but as a precaution, get yourself checked right away to save yourself as well as your close ones. Most countries have created a coronavirus helpline and Pakistan has as well. I am sharing their contact, they will be available to help you regarding any covid-19 related problems. 

Covid-19 Helpline - 1169
Sindh Helplines - 021-99203443, 021-99204405
KPK - Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Peshawar under the Secretary Relief Department
Online Information Portal - https://app.nhsrc.gov.pk

All district headquarters hospitals are equipped with the necessary equipment to detect coronavirus. Some private labs are also conducting tests and I am going to share some hospitals that are the main centers for dealing with the coronavirus cases.

Lahore: Services Hospital
Rawalpindi - Benazir Hospital
Multan - Nishtar Hospital
KPK - Police Services Hospital 
Muzaffarabad - Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan Hospital
Mirpur - Divisional Headquarters Hospital 
Karachi - Aga Khan, Indus Hospital, Dow University, Lyari General Hospital, Civil Hospital
Nawabshah - Peoples Medical University Hospital
Sukkur - Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College

Apart from these main centers, the majority of general hospitals and CMH in your city are capable of handling any cases of covid-19. Don't wait for the symptoms to get serious and reach out for medical help as soon as you feel cold or breathing problems. 

Stay ALERT, but DONT PANIC!