By: Ben Guragain
Mar 17, 2020
Coronaviral disease (COVID-19) spread around the world at an alarming rate, claiming thousands of lives and threatening millions. The whole world is under threat and no medicine or vaccine has been developed to fight against this virus named — SARS-CoV-2 (earlier Novel Coronavirus).
The rapid spread of the virus after its outbreak in December 2019 from Wuhan, China made a huge impact in the world and is expected to last a few years.
Earlier, it was anticipated the outspread might slow down with the arrival of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. But the disease progressed regardless of the weather.
Higher temperatures and sunlight reduces the viral load when exposed directly. It’s because sunlight radiates ultra-violet (UV) light and heat which kills the virus present in the skin surface, personal objects, or in the atmospheric air.
But protection of the exterior is inadequate to protect ourselves from the infection. The virus houses inside the tissues and cells, where the sunlight cannot penetrate.
Health professionals suggest keeping physical distance, wearing masks, and repeated cleaning of hands and personal objects to keep away the virus. But the massive outspread suggests it is carried by air and can transmit faster than predicted.
What do we do?
In this situation, self-quarantine, decreased physical interaction, wearing masks, and maintaining hygiene is our only choice. With this, we might keep ourselves from being infected.
But a seemingly healthy sneeze from an asymptomatic person can send a breeze of aerosols containing the virus for us to breathe. Therefore, wearing masks is critical for prevention.
COVID-19 resembles common flu. Only a PCR-based test of the throat or nasal mucus can confirm the disease.
So, we might look helpless until the test. But it’s not true.
We know the cure to get rid of seasonal flu right away and might work for COVID-19. Isn’t it worth a try?
