Coronavirus-The Actual Facts?

Since the first reports of the coronavirus came out of China in January, there has been a media carpetbombing of coverage which seems to be doing more harm than good. Each 'expert' in the studio gives different answers to the same questions, and this seems to contradict what 'experts' on other channels say. Government ministers contradict each other and the medical officers, headlines scream of potential death totals. Each person interviewed has their own opinion as to what should or shouldn't be done and MPs and political activists in our country are using the crisis to point-score and slag off opposing parties rather than offer sensible solutions. I'm sure that is happening in other countries too.

The chief medical officer appeared in front of Parliament's health committee recently and I found his advice to be clear, calm and informative so I will be going by what he says. He agreed that the virus can live on certain surfaces for hours or days which can obviously be a risk but he was totally clear that even if you touch that infected surface, you are in no danger of catching it just through your skin. If you wash your hands thoroughly BEFORE touching your face, you are NOT at any great risk. You are only at risk if you touch the surface then touch your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands. That advice was much clearer than the scaremongering going around the media. 

Let's apply that to a real life work day. You get on a bus or train and touch the hand rails. If you have hand sanitiser, use it there and then, and when you exit the vehicle use it again. Don't touch your face with your hands until you can give your hands a good proper scrub at home or work. Don't shake hands with anyone who has a habit of sneezing into their hands. Be aware that door handles, sink taps, light switches and toilet flushes are touched by a lot of people so maybe use a sterile wipe to touch or clean things like that before you touch it. Same with communal kettles and fridges in staff rooms. If an outbreak occurs in your area and you do still have to go to work, latex gloves may offer protection from tainted surfaces if you or your employer have them. Also, ensure that older relatives have a supply of everything they need now as they are most at risk of the virus and you don't want them having to go out during a local outbreak.

I always plan ahead so last spring I bought in masks, gloves, elasticated sleeves, handwash for the house, sterile wipes and hand sanitiser for when I'm out of the house. This is my normal 'get ready for winter' routine. It meant that when this pandemic suddenly appeared, I already had what I needed. In October I stock up my freezer and cupboard with winter supplies, everything from food to cleaning products so I don't have to venture out in bad weather. It was January before I needed to replace any of that. I had already done my restocking before the virus was talked about in the media. My dad and I do it this way because we hate shopping and it cuts down on supply runs! It means I only need to hit the supermarket every 6-8 weeks to top up what I've used so I was in a good position when the virus was announced. I get bread, milk, biscuits, newspapers and things in our local shop a few minutes away by car.

At the moment there is no virus in our town but if it arrives, I'll wear gloves going to the local shop. When I come out I'll discard the gloves in a bin and use the hand sanitiser in the car. Once home, hands will be scrubbed at the kitchen sink. I'll also use sterile wipes on the inside and outside of the car doors and the front door. Simples! As my dad is in his 60's he'll drive me to the shops and I'll go in. I won't risk him catching it. As things stand, it's still ok to go to supermarkets so I may be able to do my next stock up later this month. If not, I'll switch to the local shop as long as there are no cases in our area. If I can't get out at all, I'm pretty relaxed about it as we have plenty to see us through any issues.

Face masks are one thing that people are arguing over. Experts say that they are effective in stopping the user passing the virus on to others if they cough or sneeze, hence those being taken to quarantine all have masks on. Experts differ on whether these masks can stop the user actually catching a virus from others and this causes a lot of confusion. My opinion? A flimsy barrier over my face may not provide full protection but it IS a small barrier if someone coughs on you and I would rather have it than not have it. It may reduce the risk even a little so I'll take it. If I need to go out in the worst of the outbreak later, I WILL wear a mask and gloves to the shops. I don't care if I look daft!

Experts are split on whether to avoid public places, some say outdoor events are safe but not indoor events, others say don't go out at all if you're over 70-it's a mess! I don't have this issue as I don't go to sporting events, concerts, conventions and rarely hit a mall or use public transport. I think the individual needs to take note of local cases of the virus and make their own decision on what to do, while checking government advice. If the virus spreads to your area, work from home if that is an option, take sensible precautions, keep an eye on elderly relatives and if you think you or a family member may be infected with it PHONE a medical expert or special phonelines if your country has such a system. Don't go to A&E or the ER. Self isolate and wait for testing. And don't go on a cruise.

Best advice? Keep calm, adopt basic hygience and be vigilant about local infection.