Health

Stop coronavirus by ditching masks and washing your hands, experts say


DITCH masks and start washing your hands to stop the killer coronavirus – which has claimed 427 lives, experts say.

More than 20,000 people have been infected with the deadly new bug across almost 30 countries since the outbreak emerged last month.

 Experts are warning people to ditch face masks and wash their hands instead to stop the spread of coronavirus

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Experts are warning people to ditch face masks and wash their hands instead to stop the spread of coronavirusCredit: AFP or licensors
 Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station in Changsha, Hunan province, China, today

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Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station in Changsha, Hunan province, China, todayCredit: Reuters

Following a nationwide shortage of face masks, people in China were seen resorting to extreme measures to prevent themselves catching the virus.

Some included wearing plastic bags, bottles, bras and even grapefruits on their faces as a makeshift protection.

Coronavirus – a respiratory illness – is spread through droplets from sneezes, coughs or touching a contaminated surface.

 People in China have been spotted with makeshift face masks after a shortage of surgical ones

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People in China have been spotted with makeshift face masks after a shortage of surgical ones
 Some people even resorted to wearing large plastic bottles on their heads

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Some people even resorted to wearing large plastic bottles on their headsCredit: Weibo

Almost everyone will be infected with a type of coronavirus at some point in their life – often it’s no more serious than a cold.

But in rare cases, the infection can be much more serious – as is the case with this new strain.

Prevent infection

The best way to prevent catching any form of coronavirus is to practice good hygiene, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

To reduce your risk of infection, you should:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick

If you have cold-like symptoms, you can help protect others by staying home when you are sick and avoiding contact with others.

You should also cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze then throw it away and wash your hands.

Cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces which you may have touched is also important.

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Dr Daniel Atkinson, clinical lead at Treated.com, said: “Hygiene is incredibly important to ward off any viruses.

“Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly – for at least 20 seconds – and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

“If you can, avoid contact with sick people and avoid shaking hands with anyone displaying flu-like symptoms.”

Avoid masks

Chinese authorities have encouraged people to wear surgical masks to help stop the spread of the new virus.

But experts say that there’s little high-quality scientific evidence that proves the effectiveness of them outside of a clinical setting.

Dr Jake Dunning, of Public Health England (PHE), said: “Face masks play a very important role in clinical settings, such as hospital.

“However, there is very little evidence of widespread benefit from their use outside of these clinical settings.”

Surgical masks can, however, stop someone from infecting other sick people, experts suggest.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said PHE has launched an information campaign urging the public to “help by taking simple steps to minimise the risk to themselves and their families” from Wuhan coronavirus.

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What to do if you’re worried you’ve got coronavirus

BRITISH health chiefs have raised the coronavirus risk to the public from low to moderate.

Health professionals are working to contact anyone who has been in close contact with people who have coronavirus.

The majority of those who have been infected with the virus so far have either visited China or been in close contact with someone who has.

But if you are concerned known the signs is one of the best ways to protect yourself from 2019-nCoV.

Symptoms usually include:

  • a cough
  • a high temperature
  • difficulty breathing

In most cases, you won’t know whether you have a coronavirus or a different cold-causing virus.

But if a coronavirus infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract, it can cause pneumonia, especially in older people, people with heart disease or people with weakened immune systems.

It is incredibly contagious and is spread through contact with anything the virus is on as well as infected breath, coughs or sneezes.

The best way to prevent catching any form of coronavirus is to practice good hygiene.

If you have cold-like symptoms, you can help protect others by staying home when you are sick and avoiding contact with others.

You should also cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze then throw it away and wash your hands.

Cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces which you may have touched is also important.

If you have returned from Wuhan in the last 14 days:

  • Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu viruses
  • Call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the city
  • your recent travel to the city

If you are in Northern Ireland, call your GP.

Please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus.

Meanwhile, leading symptom-checking provider to the NHS Doctorlink has been updated to identify patients’ risk of having coronavirus.

Source: NHS

In a Commons statement yesterday, he told MPs: “Health ministers from G7 countries spoke and we agreed to co-ordinate our evidence and response wherever possible.

“Currently the number of cases is doubling around every five days and it’s clear that the virus will be with us for at least some months to come.

“This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Washing hands, using tissues when you sneeze, just as you would with flu

Matt HancockHealth Secretary

He added: “We’ve also launched a public information campaign setting out how every member of the public, including members of this House, can help by taking simple steps to minimise the risk to themselves and their families.

“Washing hands, using tissues when you sneeze, just as you would with flu.”

UK spread

Two people, a University of York student and one of their relatives, continue to be treated for the bug in the specialist infectious diseases unit at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary.

A total of 94 UK nationals and family members have been evacuated to Britain from Wuhan, the city in Hubei province at the epicentre of the outbreak, on two flights which arrived on Friday and Sunday.

The evacuees are now undergoing 14 days in quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral.

Mr Hancock has today said he expects more cases of coronavirus in the UK.

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Speaking before a meeting with German Health Minister Jens Spahn on Tuesday, Mr Hancock said the UK is working with other countries to develop a vaccine.

He added: “We haven’t seen the peak of the coronavirus by a long stretch and we expect more cases in the UK.

“We have a full plan in place to treat all those who have symptoms and test positively for coronavirus and we are working with international partners both to slow the spread and also to do the research that we need to do to find a vaccine.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock updates MPs on Brits affected by China Coronavirus





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