Corona Virus – What you need to know to protect yourself
Much hype has come down in the last several days about the epidemic of COVD-19 Corona Virus (AKA CoVID-19, COVD-2019).
My company does Environmental Testing, and assists companies in protecting workers, and abating contamination with our ability to author operational procedures for decontamination and personnel safety in contaminated environments.
Recently there has been a great deal of media speculation, which has led to panic, in fact this panic led to a severe stock market crash which took billions out of the market. (Fortunately, the market will correct , and cooler heads will prevail).
Let’s look at the facts:
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common throughout the world. They have been around since the time of the Pharaohs. These viruses can live in animals, such as camels, cats and bats, and at times, evolve and infect people, before spreading through human to human contact. Human coronaviruses spread just like the flu or a cold—through the air by coughing or sneezing; through close personal contact, like touching or shaking hands; by touching an object or surface with the viruses on it; and occasionally, through fecal contamination. This has occurred previously with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreaks.
How do we protect ourselves?
Panic buying of surgical masks is not particularly useful.
In fact, surgical masks will only stop about 30% of viral particulate, N-95 personnel protection masks will stop about 80% of the contaminant (but even 1% could cause illness). A HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) mask will stop all this matter, but only if it is fit tested by a professional vendor. Then you run the risk of looking like Darth Vader (your choice).
Surgical Masks protect patients from sneezes caused by Health Care Providers and as I said are not particularly useful in preventing infection from outside.
What to do?
Wear an N-95 mask if working around actual corona virus patients.
Wash your hands often (good old soap and water).
Use the Howie Mandell Knuckle bump (in other words limit physical contact unless it’s with people you really like).
Use Clorox type wipes on all surfaces you touch (shopping carts, airline seats, door handles, beer cans,etc.)
Refrain from touching your face.
Avoid people with obvious cold or flu.
Stay away from crowds or public transport for a while if possible.
Good Scotch is a Topical Disinfectant. 😊
PANIC IS NOT USEFUL …..EVER