Err on the side of caution
If you think you are taking good care against the Corona virus infection, as a public health worker I will tell you: take some more care. Err on the side of caution.
- Wear a mask when not in isolation. Virus droplets from the mouth and nose spread the disease and a mask will prevent you from getting infected and spreading the infection to those near you.
- Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds and frequently. Your hands are likely to bring the Corona virus to you from a surface you may have touched.Use a clean dry towel to wipe your hands or wring them well in the sink and air dry them.
- Avoid touching your face. If the virus is on your hands you will infect yourself by touching your face.
- Clean surfaces with alcohol-based sanitizers. Clean your phone, computer keyboards, electronic tablets, keys, door and refrigerator handles, and other similar areas frequently.
- Stay home unless you are sick and must get to a hospital or you are a frontline worker. Follow guidelines. You have most likely stocked up enough groceries for now. Government will make sure supplies are brought in at regular intervals.
- Cleanliness and public health precautions are primary. Talk to your local corporator if trash is accumulating in your neighborhood or if there are water puddles that allow mosquitoes to breed. Dengue and malaria are serious illnesses, and the Corona infection can complicate these. Be calm when calling on help.
- Healthcare comes after exposure. If you prevent exposure to the virus, you don’t have to worry about getting healthcare.
Some pointers for now and the immediate future:
- Make no assumptions or exceptions.
- Do not analyze or calculate your risk. That’s not your job or your capacity. Scientists are working to understand the virus and the pandemic.
- Anyone can contract the Corona infection. If you are young and you do not have another illness like diabetes, do not underestimate the potential of the infection.
- When exercising at home, be careful not to injure yourself. An injury may warrant a visit to the hospital and increase the likelihood of exposure.
- Do not panic or spread panic. If someone else is panicking, stay calm. Contact a counselor. If you have questions, contact a doctor you trust. Rest assured, if there is any new and important information, you will receive it. We are over-informed. Step back and choose relevant information.
- Share messages with care. Ask: How will this message help people? Is the information new and inaccessible? How will this discussion or message alleviate the current anxiety?
- Is it a joke? Is it harmless? Do not forward an insensitive joke. There is enough discrimination against the Chinese currently. Yes, the virus originated in China. Beyond that, we have very few facts and mostly myths and rumors.
- Is it your or someone else’s opinion on science? Keep it with you for now. There will be another day to discuss it. Debates against overvaccinations and overuse of antibiotics are doing the rounds. These are irrelevant in the context of the current pandemic and take attention away from the current needs of safety.
- Is it a philosophy? Your philosophy may not apply to others. For example, your philosophy could be that everything happens for the best. This may not apply to someone who has contracted the infection or is worried about someone who is far away and isolated from them. Err on the side of caution.
- Help a daily wage worker if you can. India spends little on public health. Most of it is consumed by overwhelming problems such malnutrition, maternal and child health and infections like tuberculosis. We are living this reality where we do not have capacity to diagnose and provide isolation.
- Don’t cut daily wages. Help a street vendor stay home by giving them some money if you can. Spread the message.
- Stay calm with your domestic help. They do not know the science of cleaning. If they did, they would not be cleaning your home. Take responsibility and work with them.
The one and only assumption you can make is: you may be exposed and you must take precautions.
Stay Healthy!
Hitakshi Sehgal, PhD
Environmental Public Health
