COVID-19: Staying Safe during the Second Wave

COVID-19 has been spreading frequently from person to person and it’s time to take more precautions in the second wave.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause severe illnesses with multiple symptoms.  Commonly known as COVID-19, it is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2), and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses. It seems to spread more easily than flu and causes more serious conditions.

So far, COVID-19 is still dominating over a lot of countries in the world with many active cases. In India, there are 15,321,089 COVID-19 cases which have been recorded which have resulted into 180,550 deaths and 13,108,582 recovered cases.

Fortunately, we can see more signs of recovery than the number of deaths here but this virus is not something to be taken for granted, as it can cause severe illness and now we all are facing the second wave of this virus which has more to it, as discussed in this article. First let’s talk about how to prevent suffering from COVID-19.

How to Reduce the Risk of COVID-19 Spread?

• Stay at home, prefer going outside in case of an emergency
• Wash hands frequently with soap/sanitize after coming in contact with someone or touching something
• Wear a mask when going out or coming in contact with an outsider
• Dispose or clean your mask frequently
• Maintain social distancing from others
• Clean/disinfect surfaces frequently
• Avoid touching your eyes nose and mouth with unclean hands
• If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention
• Avoid using public transportation
• Sign-up for the COVID-19 vaccine for yourself and family members

Know about the COVID-19 Symptoms:

In the old strain or the first wave of COVID-19 there were limited number of symptoms. However, the second wave has come up with added symptoms as mentioned below in the picture. If you notice any of the following symptoms, consider seeking a medical advice or consult your family doctor.

What to do when you are Sick?

If you are sick and not sure if it’s due to COVID-19 or not, here’s what you should do to ensure the safety of those around you.

Home quarantine yourself

• Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without having to visit a hospital. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Avoid public areas at all costs.
• Take extra care of yourself. Stay hydrated, eat healthy and practice inhaling steam if you have a sore throat of breathing issues. You can take over-the-counter medicines as prescribed by your doctor.
• Book a RT-PCR test via the Onsurity app to get your COVID-19 test done at home.
• Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or cabs.

Monitor your symptoms

• The prominent symptoms of COVID-19 include – Fever, dry cough, conjestion, loss of taste or smell
• Seek emergency medical attention for the following:

1. Trouble breathing
2. Pain in chest
3. Extreme lethargy and lack of ability to wake up
4. Pale/grey/blue lips, nails, skin tone

Isolate yourself within your home

• Stay in a single room, away from other members of the house and pets
• Use a separate bathroom
• Keep utensils used by you separate and sanitize them before and after use
• Inform people you have met recently that you might have COVID-19 so that they too can take necessary precautions
• Wear a mask when indoors around people
• Try to stay atleast 6 feet away from others

Disinfect to prevent the spread

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or sanitize
• Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, nose with unwashed hands
• Do not share personal household items
• Clean and disinfects surfaces in the room you are isolated to
• Cover your sneeze/cough with tissue paper and dispose it after

What to do if you are tested COVID-19 positive?

The first thing you need to do is not panic! There are many ways you can take care of yourself and ensure your family members stay safe. Here are the following measures to take when tested +ive for COVID-19.

Stay home except when you need to get medical care

• You should stay home except to get medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas.
• Avoid using public transportation, ridesharing, or cabs.
• If you need groceries, get it home delivered or ask a friend or relative to buy them.
• Isolate yourself from people and pets in your home.

When at home

• Use a separate bathroom if available.
• Ensure consuming a healthy diet with required supplements, taking in steams on time and hydrate well. Consult your known physician to get prescribed medication course in mild conditions of COVID-19 to cure yourself in home isolation.
• Always wear a mask when at home and wash/sanitize your hands before and after you interact with them.

When can I stop self-isolation?

• When you’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication
• Your symptoms have gotten better
• At least 10 days have gone by since your symptoms first appeared.

In case of any severe illness, contact your doctor or a medical helpline number to get some extra attention and care from the professionals.

All You Need to Know about the COVID-19 Vaccine

A COVID‑19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019. On 16 January 2021 India started its national vaccination programme against the COVID-19 which have four phases so far.

In the Phase 1, the number of workers falling in the category of healthline and frontline including police, sanitation, disaster management and paramilitary forces were vaccinated.

In the Phase 2 of vaccination, citizens above 60 years of age and those aged from 45 years to 60 years with comorbidities got eligible.

In the Phase 3, All persons above the age of 45 got eligible for the vaccine since 1^st April, 2021.

In the upcoming Phase 4, everyone above 18 years of age will be eligible to get COVID-19 vaccine doses from 1 May 2021.

Is the Vaccine Mandatory?

The coronavirus vaccine is voluntary and not mandatory. However, the government has advised people to take the vaccine and complete the entire dosage on a safety purpose. There are two doses of the vaccine 28 days apart must be administered for a beneficiary.

Challenges faced Post COVID-19 Vaccine:

Vaccination will help protect you from COVID-19. However, you may have some mild side effects, which are normal signs of your body working on building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Consult your doctor in case you do not feel better after a few days as well. Luckily, some people have no side effects at all.

Take the Message:

You do not need to worry! Together, we all can beat this virus and overcome the pandemic soon. All we have to do is stay patient, take precautions, maintain discipline, help others and think (not test) positive!

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