The international online summit on the coronavirus COVID-19 has just ended. It was dedicated to the current situation with coronavirus (COVID-19) and the future of pandemics. We publish the most interesting and practical reports, share practical steps to manage fear and uncertainty surrounding your health and work. Today we’ll talk about a presentation by Nell Watson, in which she shares expert advice on how to avoid infection, and how to reduce the risk of its possible complications. We hope you find it useful. Feel free to share. We will be updating publications about COVID-19 frequently. Check back for updates.
Additionally, we’d like to mention that we won’t write about tips that are often published in the press. We hope that everyone has already heard a lot about the importance of washing your hands properly, using a sanitizer, adhering to social isolation, and so on. Instead, it will focus on additional measures to maintain health during the epidemic. In addition, we’ll share the quarantine tips Nell expressed in her speech.
Ventilation and humidification
IN THIS ARTICLE
We want to start the recommendations with the easiest to use. And first of all, let’s remember the importance of room airing. So, in her speech Nell emphasizes the importance of airing the rooms. And she recommends doing it as often as possible. It is worth saying that this advice is very useful, because many people spend most of their time at home due to quarantine. First of all, airing significantly reduces the risk of transmitting the virus. Numerous studies have more than once proven that intense ventilation can reduce the risk of infection1.
High humidity is also important! High humidity in the room reduces the survival of human coronavirus. This means that a conventional humidifier can help reduce the risk of getting infected. This recommendation is also supported by research. It was found that coronavirus survival was lower at a high relative humidity2. High humidity also has the same effect on other viruses. For example, influenza virus survival was 17.5 – 31.6% lower with the use of a portable humidifier with an output of 0.16 kg water per hour in the bedroom.
Reducing COVID-19 Complications
In her speech, Nell Watson talks about Vitamin D‘s remarkable ability to reduce risks of viral and bacterial chest infection. Confirmation of her words can also be found among published studies. So, 25 eligible randomized, controlled trials found that vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of acute respiratory tract infection among all participants3. Patients who had vitamin D deficiency and those not receiving bolus doses experienced the most benefit.
In her speech, Nell talks about a daily intake of 10ug of Vitamin D for a year and reminds that such a recommendation is most relevant for the UK, taking into account its weather.
Apart from vitamin D, Nell mentions that French doctors are warning against taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin. The World Health Organization also recommended that people suffering COVID-19 symptoms should avoid taking ibuprofen, because anti-inflammatory drugs could worsen effects of the virus. Instead, it is recommended to use paracetamol or acetaminophen.
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Effective Quarantine
Nell pays special attention to the rules during the quarantine. She reminds about the importance of handwashing, shows how to properly remove gloves, talks about medical masks. Her other tips include organizing the red zone of the house, potentially infected with COVID-19. Most likely, such territory will be the entrance to a house or apartment.
So, why would such a zone be needed? First of all, it is recommended to set it off for things that may be infected. It is important that the rest of the house remains as clean as possible. For this, the red zone should not be left until all potentially infected objects remain on its territory. The same is true in the opposite direction. You should not enter this zone if you are not ready to disinfect everything after visiting it. If some of your family was infected, the place of his placement should become such a red zone.
Your refrigerator should become a place free from the infection. And for this, it is recommended that all products be washed or sanitized before they are stored. Another option is to leave your purchased items for several days in the red zone (balcony, basement, etc.) so that the virus can die during this time period. Fruits, vegetables, and greens should also be washed before storing
Below you can see the full presentation. Be healthy!
