Whether or not we believe all of the hype about the Covid-19 strain of the Coronavirus, it is here.
You may not want to join the panicking masses and ram raid the local supermarket in Hazmat suits and pinch all of the loo rolls and tins of chicken soup in preparation for self-isolation but one thing we do know is that Covid-19 is here, and anyone over the age of 60 runs a greater risk of dying from it.
You might have your feet firmly on the ground and know that the fear is far worse than the spread of the virus itself but… and this is an important but… the virus is here in the UK, there are several hundred cases, people have died and not everyone in the UK who has the virus caught it while being overseas in an infectious area.
This means that local community spreading has begun.
It is believed that the Covid-19 virus is more infectious than the normal flu. The spread can be rapid as seen in several areas of China. Especially in Wuhan city.
More important are the facts that as an older person, our immune systems are not as good as they once were. According to research from China, men have a 50% greater chance of dying from the virus and older people generally have other health conditions to deal with compared with the younger population which compounds the issue and makes the virus more severe.
Having conditions like diabetes, respiratory and heart complaints can make catching Covid-19 very dangerous.
People over the age of 60 with underlying health issues need to be more vigilant than the rest of the population. Panic is not a good option but being smart is. There are things which we can do to lessen the risk of catching the virus and knowing what they are is a good starting point.
The virus is spread by contaminated surfaces. The virus is sprayed onto surfaces by coughing and sneezing and can live on surfaces for hours, possibly days.
A study in Finland found that during a recent outbreak of flu there, half of the security trays used to X-ray items at an airport had traces of the flu present. How many people go through security at airports using those trays?
In fact, think about it… how many ‘things’ do you touch each day… and how many other people also touch those ‘things’?
It is touching things which causes the spread of the virus. Wearing a mask will not help unless you have a cough or a sneeze and want to protect other people. You can wear a mask in prevention only to rub your nose, mouth or eyes after touching something and infect yourself.
You are very unlikely to catch it by breathing.
This is why governments and organisations are beginning to cancel large public events and gatherings. Mass gatherings lead to people touching the same things in the hundreds and thousands. Anyone who has the illness can cough and sneeze onto people’s clothing or onto their hands and then touch door handles, taps, glasses, cups, turnstiles, tables, chairs, touchscreens, menus and pass infected money when paying for items.
Expect many more large events to be cancelled in the foreseeable future while this epidemic is playing out.
Here are a few tips to greatly lessen the risk of catching Covid-19.
- Avoid shaking hands. Simple really. Here in the UK there is a pressure to shake hands and be civil, but at what cost? A friendly smile and a nod of the head is more than enough for a polite greeting if followed by an honest vocal greeting like ‘please to meet you’. You can explain why you are not shaking hands if you wish but there really isn’t any need to.
- Wash hands for at least 20 seconds. There are people suggesting that you time your hand washing by singing songs like ‘Happy Birthday’, ‘I Will Survive’ by Gloria Gaynor or even the national anthem. You can if you wish, but counting to 20 seconds is simple enough. It really isn’t that hard. No need to complicate things. Don’t bother with antibacterial soaps as they are no more effective than normal soap.
- Wash your hands after touching things in public. Give your hands a good 20 second wash as often as you can when out in public touching the same ‘things’ other people touch. There are countless items which other people touch and which you are going to struggle to avoid such as door handles, taps, hand railing, light switches and airport security trays. These may be contaminated so where it is possible, wash hands as soon as you can after touching shared public items. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose if you have not been able to wash your hands.
- Carry a bottle of hand sanitiser with you at all times. When and where you are unable to wash your hands, give your hands a 20 second wash with your hand sanitiser. Choose one which is 60% alcohol based.
- Pay with your card instead of cash. The World Health Organisation says Covid-19 could be carried on bank notes. With most cash being kept in warm pockets or in wallets and purses in warm pockets it’s possible the virus can survive on cash longer. Avoid using cash as payment as much as possible and use contactless payments instead to avoid receiving ‘other people’s’ cash back as change.
- Get as much sleep as you can. Sleep is great for building the immune system. Your body makes proteins during a deep sleep, proteins which help boost your immune system which helps fight off infections quicker. Lack of sleep can make you more vulnerable to coughs and colds.
During this epidemic, if you must go out and spend time in public spaces, take all the precautions you can, be mindful of what you are doing and touching and please stay safe.