SOME FACTS FOR STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY
Posted on 3rd April 2020
We are now into our 3rd Week of the Movement Control Order in Malaysia. Many diverse views continue to proliferate about the efficacy of the measures being taken as well as the type of personal safeguards that we should observe to protect ourselves. Regardless, the following are facts we can all agree on:
1. Covid-19 is highly infectious and can spread through droplets that are emitted by an infected person. If the droplets are inhaled or come into contact with parts of our bodies that are vulnerable such as our eyes and mouths, we may get infected.
2. The virus does not survive indefinitely and in most cases will die after several hours. If it lands on a hard non-porous surface (such as plastic or steel) it could survive longer up to several days.
3. Transmission through the air is less likely but possible. This risk is highest in a closed environment and could be through talking or breathing where aerosolised particles linger in the air and not allowed to dissipate. These particles are believed to be less resilient.
4. Washing hands with soap or sanitising it with alcohol effectively destroys the virus from our hands and you should do this whenever you have touched any item outside safe surroundings.
5. If you have been outside safe surroundings, you should be conscious that the virus may have contaminated your clothing and other exposed parts of your body. You should therefore take a shower, wash your hair and put the clothes you were wearing to wash, each time you return to safe surroundings. Shoes should not be worn into the house unless they have been sanitised.
6. Keep a safe distance from other people when venturing out. A safe distance is generally accepted to be at least 2 metres.
7. Face masks do not offer complete protection if they don’t have a complete seal on your face and are not of the right quality. The virus will take the path of least air resistance and therefore may still be inhaled through the gaps between the mask and your face. You could also be infected through viruses coming into contact with your eyes if they are exposed. However, face masks offer a degree of protection and may be considered better worn than not worn. They should definitely be worn to prevent transmission to others.
8. The elderly and sick are more susceptible to the virus than younger, healthier people, but no one is entirely immune.
9. If you suspect that you have been infected you must immediately self isolate and get tested. Bear in mind that many people may present no symptoms (asymptomatic) or very mild symptoms but may still infect others.
10. The best way to stop the spread of the virus is to stay at home and practise social distancing.
11. It is important to remember that these observances will protect those at home and people you come into contact with, as much as they protect you.
STAY SAFE. STAY AT HOME. We hope this public message has been of help.
RLSE