As the new Wuhan coronavirus has spread not solely over mainland China but also worldwide, panic amongst people is rising day-by-day. Inside China, there is a growing sense of helplessness, because the government is forced to take severe steps to prevent the virus, including some travel restrictions in Beijing. Death toll in China nears 2984, confirmed cases cross 93,164. Meantime, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that confirmed cases of coronavirus are spread among people who have never moved to China. The first possible case of this virus in Ontario was identified on 25th January 2020 and has evidence of limited human-to-human transmission. Till the 5th of March 2020, the deadly COVID-19 virus has killed 2,984 people in China alone and spread to at least 77 countries.

Tips to keep your house safe from Coronavirus

• Try to use disposable cloths or paper towels as much as possible.

• Ensure that reusable cloths are disinfected or washed at 60C after every use

Mops and buckets

• It’s advisable to use separate buckets for detergent and rinsing.

• Mops and buckets need to be cleaned with disinfectants and dried after use.

• Curtains can be cleaned by laundering or disinfected by steam cleaning.

Bathrooms/Toilet

• Use a toilet cleaner and brush at regular intervals.

• If you stay in an area where hard water is an issue, ensure that you remove limescale using a descaling product.

• Regularly disinfect the toilet seat, handle and rim.

• Clean baths and sinks frequently, if they’re used regularly.

• Use disinfectant if they’ve been used by someone who’s ill.

• Clean shower curtains regularly.

Kitchen

• Food-preparation surfaces should be cleaned before and after use.

• Use separate chopping boards for uncooked food – such as raw meat – and food that doesn’t need cooking, like salad leaves.

• Wash and dry your hands after handling raw meat.

Pets 

• Keep pet food away from human food.

• Wash your hands after touching animals and their food, toys, cages and litter trays.

• Bowls used for pet food should be stored separately.

Laundry

• Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer after handling dirty laundry

• all underwear, towels, and household linen should be washed at 60C or at 40C with a bleach-based laundry product to prevent germs from spreading. 

• Don’t leave laundry in the washing machine because germs can multiply rapidly.

Waste disposal

• Foot-operated bins are more hygienic because they reduce the risk of getting germs onto your hands.

• Always wash your hands after handling waste material.

• Throw rubbish away carefully to avoid attracting vermin and insects.

Courtesy: NHS

What are Coronaviruses?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illnesses varying from the common cold to serious respiratory infections like bronchitis, pneumonia, or serious acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Some cause illness in humans and others cause illness in animals, such as bats, camels, and civets.

• Coronaviruses are spread mainly from person to person through close contact, for example, in a household, workplace, or health care center.

• Some human coronaviruses spread easily between people, whereas others don’t.

Your risk of critical illness is also higher if you’ve got a weakened immune system. This might be the case for:

• Older people

• People with chronic illness (for example, diabetes, cancer, heart, renal or chronic lung disease)

Advice if your child has a fever and cough

If your child gets a fever and cough, this is what you should do:

1) Call your doctor’s office for advice specific to your child and your community.

2) If your doctor does not think your child needs to be checked, you can help them feel better by

• being sure they stay hydrated. Make sure they are drinking regularly. Popsicles are a good way to get fluids in and can relieve a painful throat.

• using acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever. Check with your doctor’s office about the right dose for your child.

• using a humidifier to help with congestion.

• restricting the use of over-the-counter cold medicines in children under the age of 6. They don’t help much (even with kids over 6) and can have side effects. In children over a year, honey can relieve a cough. Use saltwater drops for stuffy noses.

Watch for warning signs of problems, and seek medical attention if they occur:

3) any difficulty breathing (rapid or heavy breathing, sucking in around the neck or ribs, looking pale or bluish)

harsh cough that won’t stop

4) high fever that won’t come down with acetaminophen or ibuprofen

5) extreme sleepiness

6) irritability or pain that you cannot soothe

7) refusal to take fluids, or any signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears when crying, not urinating at least every six hours).

Tips to deal with the coronavirus in Nepal

Travelers who have returned from mainland China should:

• Contact the local public health unit within 24 hours of arriving in Nepal.

• Stay at home and avoid close contact with others, including those in your home, for a total of 14 days from the date you left China

• Monitor themselves for symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus for 14 days after leaving mainland China

What should one do if he/she comes into contact with a person with coronavirus in Nepal?

If you have been identified as a contact of a person with proven coronavirus infection in Nepal, the local public health unit will contact you with advice within 24 hours of arriving in Nepal. This advice will include that you need to isolate yourself at home for 14 days after contact with the infected person, and to monitor your health and report any symptoms.

What are the symptoms and treatments from the 2019 novel coronavirus?

Symptoms range from mild – like the flu and other common respiratory infections – to severe, and can include:

• fever

• cough

• difficulty in breathing

Complications from the 2019 novel coronavirus can include serious conditions, like pneumonia or kidney failure, and in some cases, death.

There are no specific treatments for coronaviruses, and there is no vaccine that protects against coronaviruses. Most people with common human coronavirus illnesses will recover on their own. You should:

• drink plenty of fluids

• get rest and sleep as much as possible

• try a humidifier or a hot shower to help with a sore throat or cough

If you need immediate medical attention you should call on 1137 and mention your travel history and symptoms.

How to protect yourself from the 2019 novel coronavirus?

There is no vaccine available to protect against the 2019 novel coronavirus. One should follow everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses.

Take these everyday steps to reduce exposure to the virus and protect your health:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water

• Sneeze and cough into your sleeve

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth

• Avoid contact with people who are sick

• Stay home if you are sick

If you are traveling to an area known to have cases of coronavirus, be sure to avoid:

• high-risk areas such as farms, live animal markets, and areas where animals may be slaughtered

• contact with animals (alive or dead), including pigs, chickens, ducks, and wild birds

• surfaces with animal droppings or secretions on them

What is the scientific name of Coronavirus and its sources of origin?

The scientific name of coronavirus is “2019 novel coronavirus” (2019-Nov). It is a respiratory infection that originated in Wuhan, China.

Which are the current affected areas?

Mainland China is identified as the major affected areas and the travelers who have returned from Hubei province, including Wuhan City.

Coronavirus in Nepal

All 175 Nepali nationals evacuated from China's Hubei province and kept in quarantine at Kharipati of Bhaktapur since February 16 have returned home after their swab samples tested negative for coronavirus, the Ministry of Health and Population informed.

They got to go home on Monday 2nd March. 175 Nepali nationals, mostly students, were brought home from China and were kept in quarantine at Kharipati for 15 days.

As of yet, only one Nepali national had tested positive for coronavirus and the person has returned home after being cured, according to Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health.

Courtesy: aawaajnews

What is the Nepal government doing?

A new travel advisory has been issued directing everyone to avoid traveling to China, saying planned visitors from China might apply for a fresh Nepal visa. Apart from that, if anyone with a history of travel to China since January 15th, 2020, could be quarantined.

How does the coronavirus spread between people?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that human coronaviruses are most commonly spread from one infected person to another via:

• The air (sneeze or from viral particles from a cough)

• Close personal contact (shaking hands or touching)

• An object or surface with viral particles on it (then the touching nose, eyes, and your mouth before washing your hands)