Wreaking havoc globally, Coronavirus has ensued a state of a global health emergency. The deadly virus has already killed 3,000 and infected 90,000 across the world since it was first detected in China last year.
While the whole world is caught in a frenzy, Coronavirus has become the most discussed topic this new year. Every household is hooked to their TV sets to know more about this deadly virus family. And the countless Whatsapp forwards and tens and thousands of Youtube videos only add to the confusion. So we decided to put together some facts and precautions to help our virtual family tackle this deadly virus a little better when traveling in India.
A little bit about Coronavirus
Let’s debunk the first myth about coronavirus. Most Whatsapp forwards and Youtube videos are making false claims that coronavirus has spread because the Chinese have an appetite for dog meat, cat meat, snake meat, bird’s nest soup, and bat soup.
This unproven claim has led to demonizing the Chinese community who have been the victim of many racist attacks hurled at them since its outbreak.
According to the World Health Organization, Coronavirus is a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from common cold to more severe diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
This new family of viruses was not previously identified in humans. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.
Common Symptoms
Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
How badly is India affected by Coronavirus
According to the latest reports of The Economic Times, two new cases of coronavirus have been reported in India, one in New Delhi and another in Telangana. However, the government has assured that both the patients are closely monitored and are stable now.
India had previously reported three cases of coronavirus, all in Kerala. The three patients were quarantined as soon as they were tested positive and have made a full recovery since then.
Amid global health scare, Director of National Chest Centre Dr. Bharat Gopal has said it is safe to travel to India. Here are a few dos and don’ts to follow when you are traveling in India just to keep yourself safe –
Some dos and don’ts
- Wash hands regularly.
- Cook meat and eggs thoroughly.
- Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid contact with patients suffering from flu or respiratory problems.
- Wear a mask when outdoors – preferably N75 available in all medical stores.
- Got to a doctor in case of severe breathing problems.
- Do not believe or spread fake news on social media.
- Avoid traveling to virus affected countries like China, Italy, Iran, and other South Asian Countries.
Last Updated on April 22, 2020 by Harpreet Janeja
