Keeping safe in the time of COVID-19

20 Mar Keeping safe in the time of COVID-19

This post originally appeared on The GoMoney Blog.

It is a stressful and anxious time for people all over the world as the viral disease Coronavirus (COVID-19) has taken over lives, the world’s financial stability and, quite frankly, overall sanity.

Initially assumed to be mildly threatening, the coronavirus has proven itself to be one of the most dangerous diseases of the 21st century. This, according to the World Health Organisation, is more as a result of how quickly it spreads and the many— sometimes seemingly mundane—ways that it can be transmitted.

Two nurses in China who were infected after caring for patients with the virus reported extreme tiredness that led to taking a long nap, followed by flu-like symptoms. So far, over 200,000 people around the world have been infected, and over 8,000 people have died.

Though just under 10 cases have been reported in Nigeria, It is important to point out that there is no national testing and so far, less than 70 people have been screened; so most people have no way to confirm status. This means it is not particularly likely to tell how many people have contacted the virus.

Since we can’t always rely on factors beyond our control to manage the conditions adequately, we must take responsibility; not necessarily only for ourselves— younger and relatively healthy people have been said to have a higher chance of survival— but for our older and more vulnerable loved ones.

How COVID-19 spreads

According to reports from Chinese authorities— the first place COVID-19 was reported, the virus takes 1 to 14 days to reach its full form. Within that time, patients may experience one or more of the following:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Breathing difficulties
• Loss of sense of taste and smell
• In more severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, multiple organ failure and even death

Aljazeera reports that COVID-19 spreads when people are in close proximity, similar to the common cold. It also spreads when bodily fluids (like saliva and mucus) from an infected person land on surfaces where otherwise healthy people may touch and transfer the virus to their bodies by placing their infected palm on critical parts of their face: mouth, nose, eyes.

According to scientists, coughs and sneezes can travel several feet and stay suspended in the air for up to 10 minutes, so it’s important to keep rooms ventilated and cover your mouth (preferably with a tissue) when you cough or sneeze.

Scientists around the globe are racing to develop a vaccine, but while we wait, it is vital that we take precautionary measures. In some countries, many who don’t have access to tests and have opted to practice social distancing if they don’t have symptoms, or self-isolation if they do. Others, like the Italian authorities, have forced citizens into isolation only to come out when absolutely necessary. This is to ensure that the virus does not spread beyond more than it has and to give medical practitioners enough time to figure out a cure or vaccine rather than spending all the time and resources managing the flock of critically ill people.

Prevention and protection

In this part of the world, we may not have the luxury of staying indoors to avoid getting contaminated, but there are things that we can do to protect ourselves:

• Stay home when you are sick. If it is available to you, stay away from your family for at least 14 days, until you’re certain it’s not COVID-19.
• Limit your movement: as much as you can, stay at home. When you must leave home, wash your hands as often as you can and keep a safe distance from people.
• Keep rooms ventilated and cover your mouth (preferably with a tissue) when you cough or sneeze.
• We would advise that you avoid using cash as much as possible at this time. Pay with an ATM card if you can. When you can’t, opt to transfer to a bank account or use an alternative means— services Eyowo and GoMoney allow you to send money to any phone number on the spot.
• Avoid crowded spaces as often as possible: that includes spaces where you pay your electricity, DSTV, etc. bills. GoMoney lets you pay bills effortlessly from the safety of your home.
• Above all, please stay calm. It’s rough and things may get tougher, but panic will only make it worse.

Note: If you’re worried you (or someone you love) might be ill from COVID-19, please call the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control IMMEDIATELY on their 24/7 toll-free line: 080097000010

Image credit: Malaka Gharib/ NPR