Coronavirus FAQs: All you need to know about safety amid pandemic

New Delhi: As we all are concerned with the Covid-19 pandemic and the number of cases are rising every day, there is a lot of apprehension in our mind as to how to deal with our daily lives.

CitySpidey tried to get answers to the frequently asked questions related to Covid-19 and contacted a Senior Consultant and Robotic Surgeon, Dr Kalpana Nagpal who is associated with Apollo Hospital. Here is the conversation:

CitySpidey: How to take care of surface transmission of coronavirus?

Dr Nagpal: Touching surfaces does not transmit coronavirus directly. Only touching the surface and then touching your face can cause the infection. So, avoid touching your face except during showers or directly washing your face with soap. Surfaces can be sprayed or cleaned with hypochlorite's one per cent solution. One can make the solution at home. Viruses can stay for 2 to 9 hours on the surfaces.

CitySpidey: How to avoid person-to-person transmission of COVID-19?

Dr Nagpal: It can be done by maintaining a distance of one meter (3 feet) at least and by wearing an appropriate mask whenever you are with someone or outside in public. One can take precautions by avoiding loud or prolonged conversations face to face with others and avoid shaking hands etc. Try to avoid exchange of currencies from a stranger or coronavirus suspect.

CitySpidey: What precautions to take while attending a social gathering?

Dr Nagpal: It is better to avoid social gatherings and if you still attend, try to wear a shield mask. An N-95 mask is preferable as you do not know who is a carrier and you cannot control someone who is coughing or sneezing or even spitting unwittingly. You must strictly maintain social distancing at public gathering.

CitySpidey: What are the first symptoms of coronavirus infection?

Dr Nagpal: First symptoms of Covid-19 infection can be either of cough, fever, breathing difficulty, headache, loss of smell, blocked nose or loss of taste, alone or together with other symptoms. Gastrointestinal ailments can also happen.

CitySpidey: What to do in case of symptoms of coronavirus infection?

Dr Nagpal: In case of Covid-19 symptoms, first consult your family doctor and if he or she advises Covid-19 test, please quarantine yourself from other family members especially elderly and high risk persons, till the report is ready. Meanwhile, you do not panic. It is preferable to have a pulse oximeter at home. Read about quarantine and home isolation guidelines. Do not go by your WhatsApp knowledge. Contact a specialist doctor for proper advice.

CitySpidey: What precautions should be taken at home to avoid coronavirus?

Dr Nagpal: Please do not allow outsiders inside your home as much as possible. You should wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Also keep sanitisers in every room handy in case you need. Please do not touch your face without washing your hands. Keep the elderly in a separate room and take utmost care of them. Your goods that you buy or deliver by courier should be left untouched for at least four to six hours. You should wash fruits and vegetables in warm water before using them. You should also avoid using ACs at home if possible or keep the temperature above 24 degree centigrade.

CitySpidey: How to avoid the coronavirus while commuting in a personal vehicle?

Dr Nagpal: For your personal vehicle, you should buy a sodium hypochlorite solution and wipe the area that comes in contact with you, with the solution once in a few hours depending upon how much you use the vehicle. In four wheelers not more than two people should travel and appropriate distancing should be maintained. You should use 3 ply masks or cloth masks most of the time while in another person’s company.

CitySpidey: Which kind of masks are best for coronavirus prevention?

Dr Nagpal: One should know how to use a mask rather than knowing which mask is the best. People normally don’t wear masks properly. Tight sealing is required for the nose and mouth to avoid gaps. And once a mask is worn when you step out, do not keep readjusting it in order to eat or drink or wipe your face. You should avoid touching it with your hands. You can wear any mask that provides a good seal. Disposable masks are preferred unless you are using cloth masks which can be sent for wash after 4 hours of usage. You should avoid masks with filters. It is dangerous for others. Please don’t buy anti-pollution masks as they are not appropriate for preventing viral infections.