COVID-19

Coronavirus.jpg

Written by Aiman Khan
@Aiman.k.xoxo
Photo by Nik on Unsplash

At this moment in time, the COVID-19 needs no introduction. Media coverage of the disease has been so extensive it would be hard pressed to find someone not aware of the current global crisis. Some of us have been following the outbreak since the early days of the Wuhan epidemic, and others are paying attention now that the threat seems more imminent. For students in Halifax, there is only one real question: are classes going to be cancelled?

On March 11, the World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. The panic is now palpable with multiple countries restricting travel, declaring a state of emergency, and tightening border controls, while schools and institutions close rapidly worldwide as stock markets plunge. As of today, more than 116 countries have been affected, including central China, Italy and Hong Kong - with Europe fast becoming the new epicenter of the pandemic, according to WHO

While the public health risk for Canada is low at the moment, the Canadian parliament has been suspended for five weeks to limit the spread of the virus. Despite there being no confirmed cases of the corona virus in Nova Scotia, our mayor and his staff have gone into voluntary isolation after being exposed to someone being tested for COVID-19. 

The public, at large, seems to divided into two camps: one that believes the virus to be no more deadly than the seasonal flu, and the other that’s bulk buying pasta and toilet paper. And while proponents of the former may be glad to know that the COVID-19 is far less dangerous than previous outbreaks of the virus (SARS and MERS), the fatality rate is currently at 3.4%, far higher than the rate for the seasonal flu (0.1%). 

For people over the age of 65, or those who have underlying medical conditions or are immuno-compromised in any way, the virus can be deadly. However, young and healthy adults should revise their travel plans to limit the chances of these at risk people contracting the virus. New research suggests that many people may be carriers of COVID-19 without showing any symptoms, increasing the rate at which the virus spreads. 

The best approach for healthy individuals is to monitor themselves and follow good hygiene practices. The Canadian Government has issued the following instructions on its website to decrease your chances of catching the corona virus:

Hygiene

Proper hygiene can help reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others:

  • wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food

    • use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available

  • when coughing or sneezing:

    • cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand

    • dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards

  • avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

  • clean the following high-touch surfaces frequently with regular household cleaners or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water):

    • toys

    • toilets

    • phones

    • electronics

    • door handles

    • bedside tables

    • television remotes

Self-isolate vs. self-monitor

There is a difference between advice to self-isolate and advice to self-monitor.

You should self-isolate if:

  • you have been diagnosed with COVID-19

  • local public health has identified you as a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19

If you have not been diagnosed with COVID-19 or identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19, you may be asked to self-monitor.

This means:

  • monitor yourself for symptoms of respiratory illness such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing

If symptoms develop:

  • stay home

  • limit contact with others

  • contact local public health, and follow their instructions

If you have traveled internationally recently and are showing symptoms of a fever, please call 811. You will be referred to a COVID-19 assessment center.

For those of us who are young and have no significant health issues, it’s important to remember the population most at risk at this time. This means being careful not to give in to mass hysteria and hoarding essential supplies that someone in self-isolation would require. Let’s not forget that the virus is non-fatal to a percentage of us and we should be careful not only to limit the possibility of it spreading by practicing good hygiene, but also be proactive in addressing the needs of the community at large. Just like your flu shot contributes to herd immunity for your community, refraining from stockpiling essentials like pasta and toilet paper can help those individuals most vulnerable to the COVID-19.

And as to our original question, Saint Mary’s has suspended classes for the next week as instructors transition course materials into a remote teaching format. But once the week is up, it’s back to classes for all of us - online, that is.