16 years after the first coronavirus case was reported, the virus strikes again, this time as the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19). COVID19 is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2(SARS-CoV-2) which is a novel coronavirus. According to WHO, the common symptoms of COVID19 include;
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Headache
- Fatigue
Serious symptoms include;
- Difficulty in breathing
- Chest pain
- Loss of speech and movement
1. On the Wearing of Face Masks
The CDC recommends that anyone above 2 years should put on a face mask and observe social distancing while in public. A popular myth surrounding this is that there’s no need to observe physical distancing while wearing a mask.
Covid 19 is spread from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets when one coughs, sneezes or speaks. The recommended physical distance of 1 meter is important to protect yourself from infection should the person next to you be infected by COVID 19.
It’s important to wear your face mask correctly and observe physical distancing even when around people you are quite familiar with as not everyone infected will show symptoms of infection.
2. On the prevention, and possible treatment of COVID 19.
As expected, many people have come up with home-made measures and solutions to respond to COVID 19. Many suggested that a mixture of ginger, turmeric, lemon, and honey (the popular, homemade Dawa) which has worked for other respiratory infections would cure COVID. Others claim that stomach acid plays a huge role in preventing COVID 19 and so refrain from drinking water to avoid diluting the acid. With hand sanitizers flooding the market, some are of the opinion that taking alcohol in very high concentrations would do the trick; they call it ‘sanitizing the throat’.
Scientific research, however, has proven that most of these claims, including the repurposing of drugs such as chloroquine to treat COVID 19, are unfounded. Garlic, turmeric, and lemon are only suitable for boosting one’s immunity and not curing COVID. Hydrochloric Acid (stomach acid), on the other hand, has no role to play in preventing CPOVID19 which, fundamentally, is a respiratory infection.
3. On the COVID19 Vaccine and Attaining Herd Immunity.
With the lives at stake, and despite difficult economic times, governments across the world had to invest in finding a possible COVID19 Vaccine. It’s all hands-on deck in various drug companies and institutions in countries such as the US, Russia, Germany, China, and the U.K.
Scientists moved fast through the clinical trials and by the 16th of December there were 56 vaccines in clinical evaluation, 13 in phase 3 trials, and 166 in pre-clinical evaluation. Several countries had already placed orders for billions of doses of the vaccines. This sparked conversations around the legitimacy of the vaccines, with many claiming that they cannot take a vaccine that has been developed that fast.
With new terms being introduced during the pandemic, most misunderstood the meaning of herd immunity against COVID19. It was believed that people should be allowed to contract the virus in order to attain herd immunity. This is not how it works. Herd immunity is achieved through immunization. This is seen in other vaccines such as Polio and Rotavirus.
Our responsibility as a citizenry
Digital media platforms have accorded us the privilege of accessing information without much strain. While efforts are being made to continually educate the public about the novel coronavirus, the possibility of fake news spreading and misinformation is high. It is important to fact check with the relevant authorities on what is accurate.
As always, prevention is better than cure in the fight against COVID19 and any other infections. At Ponea, we offer both COVID19 Antigen and PCR Testing at affordable prices. The samples are taken from wherever you are comfortable with, be it at home, hotel or hospital. For those who test positive our doctors can offer remote care throughout the isolation period together with the recommended medication. A psychological session is even available for those who may need that extra help.
Call or WhatsApp +254111013900 today to book an appointment for you and your loved ones.