Covid-19 outbreak: Act accordingly and stay safe

Most of the countries around world have been experiencing outbreak of the coronavirus while the situation in Bangladesh is unpredictable as it is a densely populated country with more than 170 million people.

Till the end of March, Bangladesh had a low number of Covid-19 patients, but from April, it is increasing rapidly due to the community transmission, according to the statistics of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The Covid-19 outbreak was first witnessed in December in Wuhan and Hubei provinces of China and since then authorities in China and some other countries have become successful in slowing the spread of the virus.

But the Covid-19 brings unprecedented challenges for Bangladesh, in terms of its population which warrants collective effort from all strata to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

From its beginning, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended some precautionary measures to prevent the chances of spreading the Covid-19 infection among people.

The precautions area: 

  1. Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water kill the viruses that may be on your hands.
  2. Maintain at least one metre or 3 feet distance between yourself and others when someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain the virus.
  3. Avoid going to crowded places where people come together in crowds, you are more likely to come into close contact with someone that has Covid-19.
  4. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth as hands touch many surface and can pick up virus. A contaminated hand can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth and from there the virus can enter your body and infect you.
  5. Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash your hands.
  6. Stay home and self-isolate even with minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever, until you recover. If you need to leave your house, wear a mask to avoid infecting others.
  7. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty of breathing, seek medical attention, but call by telephone in advance if possible and follow the directions of your local health authority.
  8. Keep up to date on the latest information from trusted sources, such as WHO or your local and national health authorities to know the local and national authorities are doing their best to protect the people from this contamination.

Safe use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers

To protect yourself and others from the Covid-19 infection, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly.

Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water. If you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, make it sure that you use and store it carefully.

  1. Keep the alcohol-based hand sanitizers out of reach of the children.
  2. Apply use of a coin-sized amount of the sanitizer on your hands. There is no need to use a large amount of the product.
  3. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose immediately after using the alcohol-based hand sanitizer, as it can cause irritation.
  4. Hand sanitizers recommended to protect against Covid-19 are alcohol-based and therefore it can be flammable. Do not use before handling fire or cooking.
  5. Under no circumstances, drink or let children swallow an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It can be poisonous.
  6. Remember that washing your hands with soap and water is also effective against Covid-19.