How to live with COVID-19
The total lockdown and other far-reaching measures imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic have no doubt dwindle the economy of various nations and the global economy in general. However, the virus has not yet shown a sign of leaving. Next phase of COVID-19 battle up to states – FG Interstate movement in Nigeria […]
FILE PHOTO: People are busy at Singer market buying goods as Kano State government relaxes lockdown on market for Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with no observance of social distancing. Few used masks on Wednesday 3rd of June 2020. Photo Sani Maikatanga
The total lockdown and other far-reaching measures imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic have no doubt dwindle the economy of various nations and the global economy in general.
However, the virus has not yet shown a sign of leaving.
This is why economic and health experts have suggested that the world cannot sustain the lockdown while the economy is sinking in dilution.
The Emergencies Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Micheal Ryan told a virtual press conference in Geneva that “this virus may become just another endemic virus in our communities and this virus may never go away”.
This according to him means that we have to “learn to live with the virus”.
In an effort to reopen its ravaged economy, Nigeria has joined other parts of the world in easing the total lockdown which Federal Government said would be done gradually in phases.
The fear that the virus could spread faster after easing the lockdown still lingers but learning how to live with the virus would go a long way in reducing the projected circumstances.
The following are some of the ways people can “live with the virus”;
At public places
The easing of the lockdown means that people would begin to mingle at public places such as offices, worship centres, airports, train stations, markets, motor parks, banks and other business centres.
This would also mean that the exposure to possible infection will increase.
In this respect, the use of personal protective equipment such as face mask, sanitizers, social distancing and hand washing remain more imperative than before.
For the fact that some patients are asymptomatic, it means they would not display any sign but still infect others.
In order to keep yourself and your family safe from infection, the guidelines on personal protection to avoid touching surfaces, handshaking, avoiding crowd, not using public tools except when necessary should be the watchword of every person going to public places.
Seek Information
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the spread also came along with abundant information of which many were genuine while others were hoaxes.
It is very imperative while ‘we live with the virus’ we also seek genuine information about the virus.
Fake news and articles about the COVID-19 have spread over various platforms making it hard for many to differentiate genuine from false claims.
Sticking to a credible and reliable source of information would help in digesting the genuine information about COVID-19 from mere rumours.
Remember information is key.
Boost body immunity
It has been highlighted by statistics in the most ravaged places that the virus lay more weight on aged or people suffering from other diseases.
This means that the virus attacks the immune system more.
This has also prompted experts to suggest that people should resort to boosting their immune system by what they eat.
This will, however, be highly recommended for people with weaker immune systems.
The improvement of body immunity will help in fighting virus if such persons were infected.
Isolation
The principle of self-isolation has been used as an important measure in tackling the spread of the COVID-19.
Whenever someone travels from a highly ravaged area to another, there is a need for self-isolation to ensure the person has not been infected.
This will also serve as an important weapon that can be used in living with the virus.
Reporting Cases
Another important way we can ‘live with the virus’ is by reporting any suspected case to the authorities handling the situation.
Most often than not, the refusal to report the suspected case by the infected person or persons around has led to more infections.
If we are to live with the virus, reporting suspected cases in time would go a long way in helping the authorities steering the fight against the pandemic to respond.
Always remember COVID-19 is real.