On March 11th, 2024, the WHO labeled Covid-19 as a pandemic. Initially, it was labeled as an epidemic because it had spread to many people in different countries at the same time. By labeling it as a pandemic, WHO was indicating that Covid-19 was a worldwide problem.
1. Should you be worried about this virus?
With the increasing levels of Coronavirus spread and severity, the number of affected countries, cases and deaths continue to rise. By calling it a pandemic, it doesn’t mean that it’s more dangerous or deadly. Medical professionals want people to be aware of its spread around the world.
Coronaviruses belong to a family of viruses that usually cause respiratory infections similar to the common cold but more severe and even deadly. The diseases that are transmitted between animals and human beings.
Thanks to medical research, there are certain things you can do to reduce the risks of contracting this virus and spreading it to your loved ones.
2. How to prepare
As a student, there are several things you can do to prepare yourself and loved ones in case this deadly virus starts spreading in your country or community.
3. Watch news updates
It’s important to watch or listen to news regularly to know the local trends of this deadly disease. If you don’t get regular updates, it will be difficult to know which areas are affected. And this increases the risk of getting and spreading the virus.
4. Know the symptoms
Most of the reported illnesses have from mild flu symptoms to severe illness and death. The symptoms to watch out for include:
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
- Cough
These symptoms appear anywhere from two to fourteen days after being exposed. There are other emergency symptoms for Covid-19 that you should know. If you show any of these emergency warning signs, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. They include:
- Pressure in the chest or persistent pain
- Inability to arouse
- Difficulty in breathing
- Bluish face or lips
- Testing
If you happen to know someone with covid-19 or suspect that you’ve been infected based on the symptoms we’ve discussed, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately. Tell them how you or the sick person is feeling. And they’ll decide whether testing is needed.
Remember, there is no cure for covid-19 at the moment. If you are mildly ill, you will be isolated for a couple of days. During this time, you will care for yourself to reduce the rate of spreading.
Adults who have underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer have a higher risk of developing serious complications from covid-19. If you start showing any of the symptoms that we’ve discussed, you should seek medical attention immediately.
5. Reducing stigma
The outbreak of COVID-19 and other health emergencies lead to stressful times for people and many communities. Fear and anxiety about this disease have led to social stigma towards certain people, things and places.
For instance, discrimination can occur when people start creating ideas and forming associations between Covid-19 and a particular nationality or population even though it’s only a small section of the population that is affected by the virus.
Stigma can also occur when a person has been released after testing and treatment even though they can’t spread the virus. Some of the groups that have experienced stigma due to Covid-19 include:
- Travelers especially in the affected nations
- Healthcare providers
- Persons from Asia
Stigma hurts because it creates fear and anger towards other people. These affected groups are usually subjected to rejection or social avoidance, physical violence and denials to essentials such as housing, healthcare, and employment.
Stigma affects the mental and emotional health of the affected persons. As a student, you can use studyclerk.com to be a part of the solution if you feel that you can’t end your research paper or essay because of it. You need to be a part of the group that stops stigma by knowing the facts and sharing them with your loved ones.
If you are studying to become a healthcare professional, you can stop stigma by:
- Maintaining the confidentiality of those seeking medical help or covid-19 tests
- Communicating clearly about the risk or lack of risk with people, commodities or places
- Raising Covid-19 awareness
- Sharing information based on facts about the virus
- Speaking out against negative behaviors that people do around you or on social media platforms
- Engaging with stigmatized people
- Showing support for people who are worried about their loved ones in affected regions
6. How to protect yourself
As we said earlier, there is no vaccine that prevents the spread of this deadly virus. Therefore, the best way to prevent this illness is by avoiding exposure to this virus. Here’s what you should do to protect yourself and stay healthy:
- Keep your hands clean by washing them with soap and water after visiting a public place or coughing and sneezing.
- Use a hand sanitizer if antibacterial soap is unavailable.
- Don’t touch your nose, eyes, and mouth.
- Keep your distance with affected persons
- Stay indoors if you start showing the symptoms and seek medical help
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Throw away used tissue in the bin.
- Wear a facemask if you are sick to avoid spreading the virus.
Conclusion
Covid-19 is a serious outbreak that needs to be handled with care. By knowing the facts and protecting yourself, you’ll be a part of the solution to this problem. If you suspect that someone is has been affected by this virus, you should contact the nearest medical provider immediately to prevent spreading and death.
Bio
Harry Southworth is an experienced editor, proofreader and content writer.
