Coronavirus & shopping – How to be safe

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A quick guide to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak

The spread of the Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 has alerted millions of people around the world and has sent some into a state of fear. Since the outbreak, though, experts have advised to not panic and to simply follow the correct preventative steps to protect yourself against the virus. Many are now wondering where the Coronavirus came from and how it spread so fast. Let’s take a look:   

• The first Coronavirus case was reported on 31 December 2019 from Wuhan, China. Shortly after the first case was confirmed, other cases popped up all over Mainland, China. Currently, China still has the most Coronavirus cases in one country. Other countries which have seen a spike in cases include Iran, France, Germany, Spain, the United States and Japan. 

• The virus is currently spreading throughout the world at quite an alarming rate. The spread can be due to the long incubation period of between 1 and 14 days. This means that some people won’t show any symptoms throughout this time. In fact, during this period one person can infect many other people without knowing they have the virus. 

• Symptoms of the Coronavirus include having a fever, a dry cough, being tired and having shortness of breath. Less common symptoms include a sore throat, a runny nose and sneezing. It seems that older people and people with weakened immune systems are most affected. Experts and doctors have advised that you should immediately alert your healthcare professional if you have any of these symptoms and have recently been travelling or have been in contact with someone from a country with a high infection rate. 

There are many tips available online to protect yourself against the virus. However, the main steps include: 

1. Washing your hands often, and at least for 30 seconds. 
2. Carrying hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol with you at all times and using it when you cannot wash your hands.
3. Avoiding touching your face at all times.
4. Wearing a mask if and when you’re travelling. 

Experts believe that a vaccine may not be available for the next few months and, therefore, it is essential to stay aware and protect yourself as much as possible. Doctors and other healthcare professionals believe that it can be contained if the right preventative and protective measure are followed by everyone and at all times.