Why you don’t need to Panic about Coronavirus

In this time when a single person sneezing can make anyone’s blood run cold, how does one not panic about the Coronavirus? The truth is, a calm and sensible approach is the only way to handle the scariest epidemic witnessed by the global world. There are only few things one needs to understand about the spread of Coronavirus. Keep reading to get all the facts and bust all myths related to the Novel Corona Virus.

How Coronavirus or COVID-19 Spreads

Person to person Transmission

The first and the most basic thing to comprehend is that Coronavirus is not an air borne infection. The most common reason for its transmission is through person to person contact and spread. While coughing, sneezing, speaking or the like, the droplets/saliva of an infected person may get into a healthy person’s eyes, nose and mouth, making it the most common way of transmission of the disease.

Transmission Through Infected Surface

Sometimes a sick person’s saliva can get onto other surfaces and increase the chances of infection. The most common being their hands, door knobs, train straps or handles, digital devices such as laptops, mobiles etc, tissues, lift buttons, stair railings and worst of all even the outside of a face mask. If anyone touches these infected things by accident and eventually ends up rubbing his/her eyes, touching their face or blowing their nose, then chances are that the healthy person will catch the infection. Viruses can last for 24 hours on any object and the only effective way to get rid of them is to wash them off with soap. Thus, soap and water is truly your best friend, more than any sanitizer, face mask or even a pair of gloves.

Precautions

Follow these easy precautions to avoid the risk of infection

1. Do not touch your or your loved one’s face. If you really have to, then wash your hands thoroughly before and after. What is thoroughly? Wash and lather properly between your fingers, at the back of your hands and under your nails for twenty seconds at least, which is enough time to sing “Happy Birthday” twice in your head. This technique works like a charm with children as they can turn washing hands into a sing-song activity.
2. You really don’t need to wear a mask unless you are unwell and if you still do then make sure you don’t use one mask for more than a day, as it is very easy for the bacteria to grow on the inside of the mask and get infected, thereby becoming a source of transmission itself. More importantly, it is a healthy person’s duty to ensure that the mask is available for patients to protect others from risk of infection.
3. The age old saying of sharing is caring no longer holds true in the present scenario. Avoid sharing food, utensils, towels, cups etc. Dedicate separate towels for each member of the family and keep a separate one for guests.
4. Always carry a handkerchief in a public place and make identifiable marks on either side so that you don’t confuse which side to hold the handkerchief from. This will come handy to open doors and hold stuff in public places. However, make sure you wash and change them on a per use basis.
5. Take a shower as soon as you enter indoors and change your clothes after every visit to a public place.
6. Watch for symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath and even if you experience them on a very minor level, refrain from going outdoors. Stay indoors in the interest of your own health and the welfare of others.
7. Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated as this will let the liquid wash the bacteria down through your esophagus and into the stomach. Once in your stomach, the acid in your tummy will kill all the virus and will not allow it to enter your windpipe or lungs.

In the interest of the safety of all children, the following measures have been taken by the school to avoid spread of infection.

Safety Precautions to be taken at DPS Indirapuram

1. Holi break has been extended till 11th March 2020 for the students of Nursery and Prep as children of this age group are more prone to catching infection.
2. All children have been instructed to stay home in case of even minor fever or symptoms of flu.
3. Anti-bacterial hand wash is always available in all wash rooms and cafeteria. All children are instructed to wash their hands properly, specially before they eat.
4. Cough/Sneeze using a tissue and dispose off used tissue immediately into a trash can. If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough in the crook of your elbow and then wash your hands immediately.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and carry your own separate bottle for drinking water. Avoid sharing water bottles, lunch boxes and the like.
6. All surfaces are being disinfected on a regular basis. However, avoid touching handles and door knobs as much as possible. Keep doors open for the duration of the day to avoid opening and closing them again and again.
7. All staff members have been instructed to switch to face recognition mode of biometric attendance. Avoid using fingerprint to register the same.
8. Students are allowed to carry face masks and hand sanitizers in the exam halls in case they feel the need to do so.

Being self-aware and taking precautions is the only way to defeat the epidemic. Stay calm, stay safe and stay positive.