Viruses are anaerobic particles that affect many living organisms, including humans. Viruses are made of small genetic materials, either DNA or RNA, and can only replicate by attaching to a host cell. These tiny organisms will attach to your cell and replicate, causing you harm and illnesses such as the common cold, flu, warts, HIV/AIDS, smallpox, and now COVID-19.
How deadly is Covid-19?
COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus that has already affected more than 2 million of the world’s population and has claimed over 160,000 lives. It is an infectious virus with a very fast rate of contagion that puts human existence into a threat. It can live on objects and surfaces for up to two weeks and has an incubation period of 14 days. This means that symptoms can develop and start to show within 14 days from the day the person catches the virus.
The pandemic COVID-19 can be transferred from person to person in close contact through infective respiratory droplets from sneezing and coughing or through direct and indirect contact of an infected person. A person can also get infected with Covid-19 through airborne transmission. Individuals infected with COVID-19 can be asymptomatic or symptomatic. Symptoms can differ from one person to another; but this includes fever, fatigue, diarrhea, dry cough, body pain, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and pneumonia.
How important is infection control?
Infection and prevention control for Covid-19 depends on the workplace and the risk of exposure. Healthcare workers, frontliners, and those that are in direct exposure to the virus are required to wear protective gear such as masks, personal protective equipment (PPPE), and practice proper sanitation in order to protect themselves from getting contaminated. Employers must also perform hazard assessments in the workplace and come up with effective infection control strategies.
Generally, the World Health Organization (WHO) and medical experts urge everyone to practice social distancing, home quarantine, and proper sanitation. These 3 practices will help prevent the spread of viruses in the community. Regardless of the nature of work and the exposure risks, everyone must practice the following:
- Frequent and proper handwashing. Wash hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds.
- Disinfect using alcohol or hand sanitizer especially if you have been to a public place.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Observe good respiratory etiquette: cover your mouth when your cough or sneeze.
- Practice social distancing especially to sick individuals.
- Self-isolate when you are feeling sick and those who are at higher risk like the older adults, young children, pregnant, or with underlying medical conditions.
For more information on how to keep you safe as the economy reopens contact us at Water Damage America. We are also offering heavy-duty disinfecting services to local businesses and homeowners.
