2021 Is Here, But The Pandemic Isn't Over

Since December 2019, when COVID-19 became a pandemic, a little over one year has now passed. According to the real-time data published by John Hopkins University on January 9, 2021, 888.2 million people worldwide are infected, and 1.91 million died of COVID-19 pneumonia. For those who survived, their long-term well-being may still be in jeopardy. One clinical study published in THE LANCET on the same day showed six months or longer after being discharged from their hospitalization, 76% of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia will still have at least one of the following symptoms: fatigue or muscle weakness, sleeping disorders, anxiety/depression, abnormal respiratory functioning test, or abnormal renal function test.

The pandemic situation hasn’t got any better this winter while most of us put our high hope on long-waiting vaccination, thus, to practice following steps in your daily routine may help your community and even save your lives.

Keep COVID-19 at bay by taking these three steps:

“An ounce of prevention is worth of a pound of cure” is as true today as it was when Benjamin Franklin made his most famous quote. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American government recommended preventive measures are three components: wearing face masks, keeping social distance, and sanitize your hands.

As for wearing masks, any mask-wearing is better than nothing, because it will set up a barrier to help you from getting or spreading the virus. Everyone should wear a mask in public settings and whenever other social distance measures are difficult to maintain. The masks should be covering your nose and mouth while wearing them, and taking off masks to sneeze in the public should be strictly discouraged. 

Keeping social distance is the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. The mask-wearing is not a substitute for social distancing. The virus that causes COVID-19 illnesses is spread from person-to-person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the faces and clothes of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Thus, keeping social distances at least 6 feet or avoiding crowds.  If you have to be on public conveyances like airplanes, ships, trains, subways, and buses, wearing N-95 masks is a proven way to achieve the best protective results you can get.

Sanitizing hands is trickier than it looks. Alcohol-based hand-sanitizer can kill the germs including the COVID-19 virus when applied correctly, but it loses its effectiveness quickly once the alcohol vaporized. Therefore, washing your hands with soap and tap water for 20 seconds whenever you have been in a public place, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, as well as before touching your face, eating or preparing food. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Fight off COVID-19 infection by doing your part:

People with COVID-19 have shown a wide range of symptoms - ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. The reported following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to COVID-19 virus: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle/body aches, the new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, or running nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. It is vital to seek emergency medical care immediately If you are showing any of these signs: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face.

According to WHO: (a) 80% of people who develop COVID-19 recover without hospital treatment; (b)15% of people with COVID-19 become severely ill and require oxygen therapy, and (c) around 5% of people with COVID-19 become critically ill and require intensive care. The last group of patients who were critically ill also accounted for the majority of COVID-19 related death.

Although some of the symptoms of COVID-19 listed above are similar to the symptoms of the common cold, COVID-19 is more dangerous than the viruses that cause colds. Symptoms that could indicate COVID-19 rather than a cold include: fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and loss of smell or taste. People with the symptoms of a cold who are unwell for over 10 days or who are experiencing severe symptoms should also seek medical advice and get tested for COVID-19.   

Doing your part during this pandemic is more important than you think. When you are exposed to viruses, the immune system within your body will initiate its defense mechanism to produce corresponding antibodies to neutralize the viruses on your behalf. The effectiveness of this critical step depends on rich nutrition supplies, hydration status, a well-rested body, and avoiding other energy-draining activities. Remember: you are fighting for your life and you should concentrate on this battle only!

During the first week of starting illness, it is crucial for you to do what you can to prepare your body for the battle, such as having plenty of rest, eat protein-rich food including 2-4 eggs daily, drinking enough fluid/soup, especially if you have a fever, and try taking some vitamin supplement pills like Vitamin B, C, and D (some clinical research data showed that the COVID-19 patients who were in ICU had a significantly lower level of serum Vitamin D compared to their counterpart who were also hospitalized but not in ICU ). After all, you are the boss of your own health and there will be not much you can do after being hospitalized or worse being put in ICU/on a mechanical ventilator.

By working together, we will come out victoriously even the pandemic may be hanging in around for a while, remember the most famous saying: THIS SHALL PASS!