Stopping the spreading and spotting symptoms of COVID-19

Coronavirus’ rapid spread doesn’t seem to be showing any times of slowing and the UK is beginning to take strict measures to ensure that the virus is kept under control. The closing of bars, pubs and establishments has begun across the United Kingdom but there are still plenty of opportunities for you to catch and then spread the virus.

The virus is incredibly infectious, around 3 times more infectious than the common cold and although that doesn’t sound like much the causes that can have when passed on are enormous.

Please see the below video from Channel 4 Dispatches for more information on just how infectious Coronavirus is.

It is incredibly important to act on these matters now, the sooner we react and limit the spreading, the quicker we can go back to normal and the less stress we place on our NHS who will have to deal with the rising number of patients. Staying at home now may just save someone else being in hospital in 20 days time!

Virus Detection:

The simplest way to distinguish Coronavirus from a Common Cold is that the COVID-19 infection does not cause a cold nose or cough with cold, but it does create a dry and rough cough.

The virus is typically first installed in the throat causing inflammation and a feeling of dryness. This symptom can last between 3 and 4 days.

The virus typically then travels through the moisture present in the airways, goes down to the trachea and installs in the lungs, causing pneumonia that lasts about 5 or 6 days.

Pneumonia manifests with a high fever and difficulty breathing. The Common Cold is not accompanied, but there may be a choking sensation. In this case, the doctor should be called immediately.

Experts suggest doing this simple verification every morning: Breathe in deeply and hold your breath for 10 seconds. If this can be done without coughing, without difficulty, this shows that there is no fibrosis in the lungs, indicating the absence of infection. It is recommended to do this control every morning to help detect infection.

Prevention:

If you have any of the symptoms below, please self-isolate in your home for at least 7 days from when the symptoms started.

Symptoms include:

  • A dry cough
  • Fever / high temperatures
  • Muscle aches
  • Difficult breathing / short of breath

Social distancing – try and stay at least 2 meters away from anyone when in publish or in isolation. The virus is mainly spread through contact so avoiding people will go a long way to removing your chances of becoming infected.

Washing your hands or use hand sanitiser as often as possible, the virus can survive for around 12 hours on hard surfaces. The virus can live nested in clothes and tissues between 6 and 12 hours. Common detergents can kill it.

The virus survives on our hands for only about 10 minutes. In that time many things can happen, rubbing the eyes, touching the nose or lips. This allows the virus to enter your throat. Therefore, for your good and the good of all, wash your hands very often and disinfect them.

Disinfect things touched often: mobile phone, keyboard, mouse, car steering wheel, door handles, etc.

The sooner you act, the sooner it’s stopped:

For all the latest updates from the UK government.

For updates from the NHS.