Marked by rising number of cases, the COVID-19 pandemic has entered a second wave and is far from over. This heart wrenching news can instantly dim any flickering light of hope remaining in the world. With several unfulfilled months and dreams behind, plus the holidays closing in, it is easy to become frustrated or slip into depression.

The aim of this article however, is to resurrect- as difficult as it may seem, any possible glimpse of hope… because once there is life, there is hope!

The English dictionary defines hope as a feeling of expectation and desire for  something to happen or become real. Like faith, it is a strong yearning for a thing which hasn’t happened or doesn’t exist to happen or become existent. It is common knowledge that how we feel is a result of what our senses absorb… particularly things we see and hear. Consequently, we must guard these inlet senses in order to control our feelings which then influence our state of mind. When we focus on the disappointments caused by the pandemic, the feelings of disappointment cloud our minds and hopelessness becomes inevitable. Contrarily, when we remain grateful for the things  we still have such as life, despite the unfortunate deaths of over a million people, then, we usher in feelings of contentment and hopefulness. At this point, you may be thinking “Easier said than done”…  after all, how do we switch our thoughts on and off like a light bulb? 

Certainly, it’s not that easy… cultivating positive thoughts and changing one’s thought patterns and processes is  no child’s play and doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s not impossible.

There  must be a conscious consistent commitment towards changing our thought habits. First and foremost, resisting the urge watch and listen to anything that triggers sadness such as COVID-19 updates and news would go a long way. This does not translate to avoiding reality, instead, it is understanding and  accepting that our feelings cannot change reality. Watching comedy movies, reading uplifting books,  and learning a new hobby like cooking are some simple ways to replace news time and keep the mind busy.

A second and equally important way to remain hopeful is to practice meditation. Again, some people may argue that meditation is a means to evade reality or turn-off one’s feelings and thoughts but this is false. Meditation is a healthy way to decongest the mind, it has nothing to do with deceiving oneself or becoming a different person. It helps us channel our energy towards training in awareness and having a healthy sense of perspective. This healthy perspective  helps us observe and control our thoughts and feelings without judgement thereby promoting mental health, inspiring hope and  wholesome understanding of oneself.

Energy is transferable; consequently, it is important to surround oneself with positive energy both environmentally and socially. By doing so, the human  spirit and hope can be lifted and built respectively. Although social distancing has limited the feasibility of being around people, one can recreate a positive energetic environment at home by engaging in fun skill development and hobbies as well as spending quality time with immediate family. Additionally, hope can be ignited through spiritual activities and relationship with one’s faith.The pandemic has changed our world significantly in these past months and it is our common responsibility to overcome this challenging circumstance by doing the right things- Wearing a mask, keeping social distance, washing our hands properly and frequently. The advent of the COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer is a ground breaking progress which undoubtedly increases our hope that sooner than later, COVID-19  will be history. As always, charity organizations such as BlessWorld Foundation are well positioned to continue supporting communities through aids in these difficult times. We will come out stronger and better, together… let us keep our hope alive

Digital revolution has tremendously affected many aspects of our lives especially health and medical care, in general. Medicine has long been influenced and complimented by technologies like X-rays, CT scans, MRI and other diagnostics to help in better care.  However, digital revolution is something more significant; It includes electronic health records, m-health, tele health, amongst others. It is the integration of technology into every bit of healthcare forming it’s very foundation. Digitisation has produced impressive results in other industries like automobile, aviation and as such have been advocated by health organisations and professionals as the future and hope of healthcare. This change in the course of healthcare which brings  it closer to patients and healthcare consumers is in fact the boldest move to patient centred care.

Since the early 2000’s, there has been a global trend in view of the prospects of digitisation, that is, making healthcare completely digital. Most significant would be the gradual digitisation of health records. The result is a new health record system known as the electronic health records (EHR). EHR is simply the digital form of paper records but collected and available in real time through multiple media outlets. The immediate advantage of the EHR centres around ease of accessibility and portability with increased transparency. All these allow for a more integrated, coordinated and personalised care. At the very least, it eliminates most of the errors of the traditional paper-based record system like medication errors due to poor legibility and suboptimal emergency care due to limited access to data.

Despite these  advantages, the reality of the current EHR has left both health professionals and patients frustrated,  negatively impacting care. This issue of usability  has been pointed out by healthcare workers as a major problem- It is only in healthcare that systems are designed without inputs from the very users (healthcare workers). In  aviation for example, airplanes are test run by pilots and their suggestions are used to improve the design. This lack of user-based design has led to increased time with computer mostly to repeat the same inputs. This results in fatigue, as well as poor interface and inflexibility. Many health workers have tried several solutions with little success like using a voice recognition program to prevent them fixating on their screens, using scribes  or  paper records and then entering them in the EHR later. Additionally,  there is high cost of installing EHR as well as non-transferability of records from one hospital to another.

 Technological advancement has also brought gradual modifications to the doctor-patient relationship; Gone are the days when the doctor’s note belonged to the doctor alone. Patients can now see their health records and the doctor’s note that was once private, due to changes in social structure and the presence of third parties such as :lawyers, insurance companies  and employers. There is consequently, and quite understandably, the concern over privacy due to digitisation which has been an issue of increasing concern with the growing rate of cyber crimes.This is why government agencies in charge of privacy like must set strict privacy protocols for EHR vendors to follow and ensure that health records are kept secure and private.Irrespective of these lapses, EHR can still be looked upon as the hope and future of healthcare because many professionals still consider it an inevitable step in the right direction. In line with digital revolution, BlessWorld Foundation is in her final stages of unveiling the World Hospital Initiative Project (WHIP)- a digital platform that represents a one-stop-shop for all health care goods and services across  the globe

Broadly speaking, Social change is defined as any change in social relations and interactions that transforms societal structures and institutions. Social change is constantly occurring in the society because change itself is constant and inevitable. It is important to note that no society ever remains the same. As times change, societies undergo either enforced, or gradual but significant alterations and transformations in social order and mechanisms. These transformations usually have profound long-term consequences for individuals and the society at large. As a social determinant of health, social change affects health, and consequently, the quality of life; hence, positive changes improve health while negative changes depreciate health.

Social change mostly results in increased awareness and understanding  because it allows for the circulation of  information, which enables people and communities to make informed decisions. It also results in improved civic participation  which can be attributed to behaviour change and motivation to challenge instances of injustice.

Some changes in the society are neither gradual nor natural, but are fought for and enforced to transform the community. Revolutionary social change almost  always begins  with individuals- it starts with personal changes which then develop into passionate commitment  needed to undertake group and community change in general. Individual interactions and relationships facilitate social change- understanding and respecting the differences in opinions and life experiences as well as accepting that there are limitless perspectives and points of view in the world.

 An important aspect of social change is the direction of the change. Creating the changes we want require conscious commitment to shaping the direction of social change. Popular examples of social change include social movements in civil rights, women’s rights, and LBGTQ rights. These changes resulted in relationship, institutional, cultural, transformative and organizational changes.

Agents and drivers of social change include various pivotal factors and situations that arise or need to be fulfilled to produce the required change. These types of change involve addressing urgent sustainability issues and challenges such as loss of biodiversity  and climate changes. These changes are guided and facilitated by the application of practical knowledge, education, scientific and social research,  and experience. For change to be successful, the community must be fully involved both in the development and implementation processes of social change policies. Engaging grassroots inspires participation and cooperation, especially when the change requires behaviour modification and compliance. 

Major agents and sources of social change  include;

• Diffusion and Population change
• Technological  Advancement
• Industrialization and Revolution
• Change in Ideology and Culture
• Economic fluctuations and Political movements
• Environmental impact and Evolution
• Social conflict and Competition
• Modernization and Urbanization
• Bureaucratization and Acculturation
• Mass dissatisfaction
• Disease outbreak, as in the case of COVID-19

COVID-19 represents an example of urgent, grassroots and  transformative source of social change, resulting in a complete change social behaviour- social distancing, wearing of masks, frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizers. The pandemic enforced change in social and health behaviours across the world in order to prevent and control its spread. Organizations such as BlessWorld Foundation continues to support this social change by providing palliatives in form of cash prizes to youths in different communities.

It is a daunting task to remain calm, positive and hopeful in the middle of a pandemic. The pandemic period is a time of uncertainty, anxiety and fear given how fluid the situation is. With Covid-19 whose mode of spread is airborne, the situation becomes even more delicate as it is very easy to get infected. Despite the current pandemic, it is essential to look on the bright side  and turn off the news every once in a while. This is important because it is a hard time for everyone and it’s easy to become frustrated, depressed or stressed out. Emotions run all over the place ranging from feeling very okay to feeling very scared, so patience with oneself is paramount. Indulging distractions such as watching movies and going out with friends can be really helpful ways remain sane. Other ways to reduce anxiety and calm one’s nerves  include:

• Allowing oneself to feel
• Taking deep breaths 
• Staying connected with family and friends online
• Being physically active at home
• Daily Meditations

Besides the preceding physical ways to stay positive and keep hope alive, some people who are more religious and spiritual may chose to look inward to find hope. With religious homes closedown due to the pandemic, personal spirituality must be practiced to connect with one’s own creator in order to successfully use religion as a coping mechanism. 

Covid-19 has thrown more light on the harsh realities of the many inequities and inequalities that burden our world. Already existing wealth disparities between, and within countries now risk being exacerbated even further by this pandemic. The United Nations, World Health Organisation and other international leaders need to recommit to their  vision and values as well as  use other multi-lateral bodies—including the G-20, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank—to proactively support the world’s most vulnerable.

Covid-19 poses a brand new challenge for world leaders as there hasn’t been any pandemic in recent decades that brought the world to a complete halt like this. The disease prospects is on track to potentially cause a significant  economic downturn  and a high number of deaths with impacts  felt around the globe. To acutely prevent this historic threat, national and international leaders must immediately put aside narrow nationalism and temporary, selfish considerations to work together in the common interest of all humanity. The  past and present Secretary-Generals of the United Nations called for an additional $2 billion in humanitarian aid to control this pandemic. This aid is expected to contribute to key efforts to reduce spread of the virus such as developing and distributing tests, treatments and vaccines. In addition, global leaders need to set preventive measures in place by developing a global governance system that can cope more effectively with future pandemics. 

To keep hope alive, everyone must remember that nobody is above this suffering, and anyone can be infected. Therefore, it’s important to extend our hands to others who lack homes, resources or families to protect them. We have a unique opportunity to come together and bridge our differences as one humanity. Whether it’s by donating blood, giving to local food banks, checking in on neighbours or just staying home- these small gestures in a time of crisis make the big  difference. This crisis shows us that we are just one global family—even though we live apart. Consequently, we have a responsibility to exercise compassion and help. In this time, let us also make it a duty to go out of our way to support health care heroes who answered the call of a world in need. Take a moment to send a thank you note to a local hospital and express gratitude to neighbours who works in health care, because every sign of support goes a long way. It is this spirit of support and  global togetherness that keeps us positive and hopeful. In this time of crisis, we are all neighbours, and success will only be achieved when all people, in all places, are safe..

As with the principle of impermanence; eventually, this pandemic will pass, as have wars and other terrible threats that humanity faced, lived beyond and overcame. I genuinely hope that we stay positive and hopeful despite the uncertainties that surround us because we will successfully rebuild our global community when this is over. We are conquerors.

Everyone has probably heard the popular saying, “health is wealth”. Indeed, this is true because health is considered an invaluable possession without which life becomes miserable and burdensome. To better understand this saying, it is important to consider the  meaning and significance of the two major  words that make it up. According to the World Health Organization, Health does not only mean the absence of disease but a complete physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. It also includes having a healthy and enabling environment which makes it easier to make healthier choices and lead healthier lives. On the other hand, Wealth is defined as large amounts of money, valuable possessions, properties or other forms of riches. Wealth, like health, is an essential need and it’s possession almost always  guarantees a life of satisfaction, happiness, success , contentment and freedom from lack.

Many people share in the belief that “health is wealth” because no matter how much wealth one acquires, it is impossible to enjoy it without good health. Therefore, the happiness and satisfaction that comes with wealth is unattainable without health.Equating health to wealth implies that good health is all one needs to be happy and live a fulfilling life that would otherwise be attributed to wealth. This was further proved to be true in the the light of the recent Covid-19 pandemic as no amount of wealth could buy or guarantee freedom from coronavirus infection. The pandemic showed that health was invaluable because it couldn’t be bought with any amount of wealth and wealthy people died helplessly. It is important to note that many people prioritize wealth over health and are in  constant struggle and stress to acquire  wealth. Such people often compromise or lose their health entirely- they clearly take health for granted and do not share in the ideology that “ health is wealth”, hence, the need to chase wealth at the expense of  health. They believe that without wealth, health is meaningless as there may be hardships and unhappiness due to lack of resources. Consequently, “Health is Wealth” can be viewed  as a mindset and may represent an unrealistic worldview and approach to life in general.

Although simple and seemingly straightforward, “Health is Wealth”  is an ancient adage  that is filled  with deep wisdom and immense meaning.  As a worldview, people hold varying opinions of the phrase; Some believe that wealth is everything and can buy anything including intangibles like health, love and happiness. However, this is false; health has been seen to be more valuable than wealth in all societies around the world. Diseases and of course, Covid-19 exist as a constant reminder that no amount of money, influence or resources can save anyone from death. Health is wealth because without it, no one can enjoy anything in life. Health is wealth because without it no one would be able to work productively and therefore, there would be little chances and opportunities of acquiring wealth . To generate income, one has to work and that cannot be done without good health. Therefore, health is also very necessary for generating wealth which is thus dependent on it.

For the majority of us,  ‘Wealth’ means having lots of money and properties such as lands, houses, luxury cars, farms, precious stones or things that have monetary value.. But this limits the scope and vision of the term ‘Wealth’. To broaden the meaning, we recall that the ‘knowledge’ and ‘experience’ are termed  ‘Wealth’. which although their value can bring money , does not directly translate to money. 

The  following reiterate that truly, “Health is Wealth”

• Health is the Foundation for Wealth: Health promotes wealth because a healthy person is more active, intelligent and efficient, and this directly affects income and wealth creation
• Health is an Investment with Good Returns: Healthy people are more likely to live longer than unhealthy people , and the longer one lives the more they enjoy their wealth.
• Health is a means to Better Living: Good health naturally empowers the body to maximize its potential physically, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually and financially
• Healthy Mind Stays in a Healthy Body: Intelligence, creativity, humour, humility, self-esteem, communication, conscience and other aspects of the mind are dependent on a healthy lifestyle
• Money Saved is Money Earned: Good health saves the money which could be used to treat illnesses, people have gone bankrupt from treatment costs

In conclusion, having the mindset that “Health is Wealth” and prioritizing health issues are ways to uphold the adage while laziness, poor time management and carefreeness are ways to derail ones health.By stressing the dynamic relationship between health and wealth, we illustrate how BlessWorld Foundation, works to improve health systems through the World Health Initiative project and many other programs. Our organization maintains that the health sector should not be viewed as a mere drain on resources but rather  a precursor of economic gains and wealth.

It is no news that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world significantly, and in ways that have not been witnessed in decades. The global shutdown, aimed to curtail the spread of the deadly corona virus, resulted in a negative influence on international relations and political systems. This has been evident in several countries across the globe including the United States, Canada and Nigeria. The  consequences of the political instability resulting from COVID-19 include deferments of legislative activities, isolation or deaths of various politicians and postponement of elections due to fears of spreading the virus. Due to social distancing, political events and activities which are largely social affairs have been modified by removing public campaigns, introducing virtual fundraising and encouraging voters to vote by mail in countries like the United States. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) also postponed the hearing of Guyana and Venezuela border dispute over Guayana Esequiba which was earlier scheduled for March 2020. Unfortunately, some countries have taken advantage of this pandemic to build political bridges thereby putting politics before health. More so, international organizations such as World Health Organization, through its leader Tedros Adhanom, claimed to have received severe discrimination, racist insults and death threats from some countries, especially Taiwan. 

Although the pandemic may have worsened conflict dynamics, it also led to a global demand for ceasefire as United Nations called for greater international cooperation to address the pandemic. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, issued an appeal for a global ceasefire as part of the United Nations’ response to the COVID-19  pandemic on March 23, 2020. This was supported by 172 UN Member States and Observers who signed a non-binding statement. Further, the UN Security Council supported the Secretary General by passing a resolution demanding an immediate termination of all conflicts and engagement in a “humanitarian pause” of at least 90 uninterrupted days. 

Several countries, particularly the US has faced many controversies and accusations at different times during this pandemic. Of major importance were allegations of unethical political actions such as hijacking shipments of crucial supplies meant for other countries, disrupting face mask deliveries to France and Germany, diverting medical supplies originally intended for Canada, threatening to cut funding and withdraw from World Health Organization and halting the exportation of masks to Latin America.

In Canada, Parliament voted to suspend activities in both the House of Commons and Senate. To continue maintaining social distancing, the House of Commons’ Health and Finance committees were given the flexibility to hold virtual meetings during this pandemic. In the same vein, the leadership elections of various parties including the Conservative Party of Canada, Green Party of British Columbia, Quebec Liberal Party and Parti Québécois were all postponed.

At the early stages of the pandemic, Nigeria received millions of dollars in funding from international organizations and independent donors to combat COVID- 19 but unfortunately, corruption has limited the efficient use of these funds. Although the government made claims of how the monies were spent via palliatives, testing and treatment;, citizens deny receiving any palliatives or aids form the Nigerian government. In addition, many citizens accuse the government of lack of transparency regarding COVID-19 and consequently doubt the credibility of any claims. Most recently this September , Edo State gubernatorial election was conducted and the incumbent Governor, Godwin  Obaseki,, won.

Being the origin, it is impossible to discuss COVID-19 without mentioning China. The Chinese government dismissed several provincial-level administrators of the Communist Party of China (CPC) over the poor handling of quarantine efforts in the country. Some political experts claim this was likely in a cover-up to protect the general secretary of the CPC, Xi Jinping from people’s anger over the issues surrounding the spread of COVID-19..

According to Angel Gurría, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General, COVID-19 which has a strong regional and global impact is the greatest economic, financial and social shock of the 21st century and requires a modern, global effort that would entail differentiated governance and policy responses from local and international levels. The coordinated and unified response from all levels of government remains a major means to optimize crisis-management. In addition, charity organizations such as BlessWorld Foundation continue to ease the consequences of the pandemic by:

• Health Education and promotion
• Staff retention and employment provision
• Palliative distribution and poverty alleviation
• Capacity building
• Community development

COVID 19 is a disease caused by the Novel Coronavirus- SARS-CoV-2. The disease which caused a pandemic began late 2019 in Wuhan China and was named by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Many sectors of the economy have been ravaged by the COVID 19 pandemic including education, transportation and in fact, all social activities. Categorically, the ban placed on movement and consequently, on every sector, has stifled so many businesses. 

The pandemic has also spurred mass layoffs across countries and many industries have taken a significant hit. A lot of companies announced the downsizing of their work force. For example, Qantas airways, a major airline in Australia laid off two-third of its workers. The CEO of Qantas airways, Alan Joyce, defended this layoff saying that the Coronavirus is the worst crisis to ever hit the aviation industry. On April 28, online travel company, TripAdvisor announced it would lay off more than 900 of its employees amounting to a quarter of its workforce. On March 19, Air Canada announced its readiness to layoff 50% of its flight crew.The list is endless. 

On the flip side, healthcare and technology witnessed a significant boost in service provision. In fact, hospitals were saturated and people were willing to pay anything to get help. Also, technology and social networks, which replaced physical contact, became the go-to as people found ways to adapt to the new reality. Tele-health, Zoom app, Tik Tok, and Social media challenges became most popular during this pandemic.

Given the ease of spread as with similar flu viruses, COVID 19 affected over 180 countries with the United States reaching 5 million cases this August, and replacing China as the country with the highest number of cases. Other countries hardly hit and badly affected by the virus include Brazil (3.5 million cases), India (3 million cases), Russia (957,000 cases), Spain (368,000), United Kingdom (386,000 cases) and Italy (238,000 cases). On the other hand, some countries such as New Zealand (1,674 cases), Slovenia (2,651 cases), Finland (7,920 cases), Norway (10,318 cases), Denmark (16,000) and South Korea (17,000 cases) showed excellent emergency preparedness by quickly keeping the deadly virus under control. These countries successfully suppressed the transmission of the virus by implementing policies that limited public movement and social contact as well as promoting behaviors that hindered the viral spread.

 The prospects of recovery from the impacts of COVID 19 may not be apparent or readily observable in these gloomy times but with the right plans in place, recovery is inevitable. It is quite evident that the COVID 19 pandemic has done a pretty good job at exposing the weaknesses and shortcomings of the various sectors mostly health and transportation sectors. It has revealed the lack of emergency preparedness and poor crisis management. Nonetheless, this unprecedented break, if well managed could provide the needed time for restructuring. In the time being, the use of cues to remind people about social distancing, the availability of public hand sanitizers and compulsory face mask laws have all proved and remained effective in promoting positive attitude, inspiring healthy behaviours, curbing the spread of the virus and consequently, flattening the curve.

According to the data obtained from a study in 2018, about 128 people in the United States lose their lives daily after overdosing on pain killers, with numbers reaching an alarming average of 43,000 to 50,000 deaths per year- almost comparable to flus and other highly infectious diseases. Pain killers such as opioids are originally prescribed to treat chronic pain but with prolonged use, the pain relieving effects may lessen with the pain worsening and the body can develop dependence. Worse still, in addition to prescription-dependence cycle, some of the illegal/street drugs that are available to the public are made with unknown amounts of fentanyl. Fentanyl is a very potent opioid that cannot be seen, smelled or tasted and is lethal in a dose as small as a pinch).This dependence towards opioids causes withdrawal symptoms making it difficult to stop taking them. A major fact is that some patients can be condemned to a life of addiction within a week of exposure to the drugs as proven by several studies. Currently, there is no other known drug or medication that kills people such as opioid overdose. Drugs classified as opioids include oxycontin, fentanyl, buprenorphine, oxymorphone, codeine and morphine. These are usually prescribed by healthcare providers to manage severe and chronic pain in addition to heroin and are illegal drugs of abuse. These drugs are regrettably almost indispensable in the practice of medicine and even till this day some of the drugs remain essential in managing some covid-19 patients on ventilators.

Negative effects of opioid use vary broadly and may differ from person to person. These include:

• Powerful and compulsive urge to use these drugs even when they are no longer required medically
• Withdrawal symptoms such as muscle cramping, diarrhea and anxiety
• Shortness of breath, unconsciousness and deaths
• Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
• Spread of infectious diseases such as HIV and viral hepatitis B and C due to injection drug use
• Social, economic and health crisis such as lost productivity , addiction treatment and criminal justice burdens

Opioid crisis dates as far back as late 1990’s when pharmaceutical companies started. The Sackler brothers reassured the medical community that patients cannot become addicted to the prescription opioid pain relievers and then the health care providers began to prescribe them at very high rates as they were very effective. This led to the widespread lie and abuse of the medications before it was proven that these medications were highly addictive.

With current statistics and data, including the percentage of patients that are prescribed opioids who misuse them and those that develop an opioid use disorder, it is obvious that opioids crisis is on the rise.

The US Department of Health and Human Services spreads it efforts across five major aims which are:

• Improving access to treatment facilities and recovery services
• Promoting use of overdose-reversing drugs and medications such as naloxone and Suboxone
• Strengthening the understanding of the epidemic through improved public health surveillance
• Supporting up to date research on pain and addiction
• Advancing better practices for pain management

The above measures help in tackling the opioid crisis but a lot more can be done to end the epidemic. Pharmaceutical companies are currently allowed to sell these drugs without regulation which is unsafe. Unfortunately, corruption, lobbying and a profit motive have led individuals and lawmakers to take actions like stripping the DEA of its ability to suspend suspicious narcotic sales thus hindering their ability to regulate and enforce laws that prevent the over use and over distribution of opioids. This does not serve the interest of the people affected by this crisis but favors the big pharmaceuticals that clearly want to make profits at risk of human lives. Additionally, more organizations like HEAL (helping to end addiction long term) and NIH should be endorsed. The Saskatchewan Health Authority since its launch in 2015, has also aided in fighting of the opioid crisis by the use of its naloxone kit program and the training of personnel for people at risk of an opioid overdose. Finally, people should be more informed and educated on these, more studies on medications and technologies to handle opioid abuse should also be conducted.

CORONAVIRUS: IMPORTANT FACTS AND UPDATES

Although, the early symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza (flu) infections are similar in that they both cause fever and similar respiratory symptoms, the speed of transmission is an important difference between the two viruses. Influenza typically has a shorter incubation period (the time from infection to appearance of symptoms) than COVID-19, which means that influenza spreads faster than COVID-19. On the other hand, the proportion with severe disease appears to be higher for COVID-19 given that approximately 15% of infected people have severe symptoms and 5% require intensive care in a hospital. Generally, the proportions of severe and critical COVID-19 infections are higher compared to influenza infections.

Currently, the World Health Organization suggests that the risk for contracting coronavirus from someone who isn’t showing any symptoms is quite low. However, experts believe that people infected with coronavirus can possibly transmit it to others even before showing any serious symptoms. According to the CDC, people who have contracted the virus are most contagious when they’re showing symptoms- and that’s when they’re most likely to transmit the virus. CDC maintains that COVID-19 is not limited by race as infection can make anyone sick regardless of their ethnicity. However, the immediate risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus is thought to increase by age- higher in older adults compared to younger adults. Older adults and people of any age with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, or heart disease, have weaker immunity, are more vulnerable and are at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

The overall period of COVID-19 infection varies from person to person and depends on the immune system of the host. Mild symptoms in an otherwise healthy individual may resolve in about a few days. However, recovery in older or unhealthy individuals with underlying health problems, such as respiratory conditions, may take weeks and in severe cases lead to mortality. People who have completed quarantine or have been released from isolation pose no risk of infection to others and should not be stigmatized. Experts emphasize there isn’t a specific course of treatment for corona virus infection, considering that a new strain of virus causes it. Therefore, one must heed the general advice and take the standard precautionary measures as these can help to strengthen the immune system.

It is uncertain how long COVID-19 specifically survives on surfaces but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses- persisting on varying surfaces from some hours up to several days, depending on the material. This duration may be influenced by different conditions and factors such as the type of surface, as well as the temperature and humidity of the environment.  Maintaining proper hygiene and cleanliness remain the best ways to protect one-self. Surfaces thought to be exposed should be wiped thoroughly with household disinfectant to kill the virus and keep the surface clean. Hands must be regularly and constantly cleaned with alcohol-based sanitizers or washed for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Additionally, it is important to avoid touching the face, eyes, mouth, or nose with unclean hands.

Today, most of the world is on lockdown with borders, airports, companies, schools, churches mosques and stores shut down in order to contain the spread of the virus. Countries such as China, Italy, the United States- representing three continents, have had the highest cases so far. It is advised that people, especially those experiencing symptoms, should wear masks and hand gloves, call their hospital or public health hotlines, stay at home and not go out to public areas, not use public transport, taxis, or ride-sharing services and not attend public events such as religious gatherings, social events, music festivals or sporting matches.

As Always, Stay Safe!

CORONAVIRUS:  SYMPTOMS AND PREVENTION- HOW TO PROTECT MYSELF AND OTHERS

Following exposure to coronavirus, it takes about 14 days for symptoms to develop. This is called the incubation period of the virus, which is the number of days between coming in contact with the infectious agent (exposure to droplets of infected people) and the establishment of an infection. An infection is established when the virus replicates in sufficient amount to overwhelm the host’s immunity and cause symptoms. Symptoms associated with corona virus are somewhat similar to that of other viruses that cause upper respiratory tract infections. They include:

• Runny nose
• Sneezing and Wheezing
• Coughing and Sore throat
• Headache and Fever
• Lethargy
• Shortness of breath and breathing difficulties

Most of the above listed symptoms are identical to some other viral infections making it challenging to reach a diagnosis. Corona virus usually affects the upper respiratory tract and can be mild. However, the infection may become severe and result in more serious conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure or death if it affects lower respiratory tract, including lungs and windpipe. The severity of the symptoms is much more in older adults and vulnerable populations with compromised immunity. It is important to seek medical advice if one comes in close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19. More so, people who live in or have recently traveled from areas with ongoing spread of COVID-19 should be isolated for 14days. Since the major reliable and medically protective measure- vaccination, is not yet available for corona virus, it is important to follow a few simple guidelines and measures to prevent infection:

• Proper and frequent hand washing with soap or any other alcohol-based hand sanitizer- for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing the nose, coughing,  sneezing, going to the bathroom and before eating or preparing food
• Covering nose and mouth with tissues when sneezing or coughing, tissues should be immediately disposed properly in a trash can
• Social distancing and avoiding any form of close contact with infected individuals, typically anybody feeling feverish or exhibiting associated symptoms
• Cooking foods thoroughly, particularly meat and eggs, before consumption
• Avoid touching face- eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Staying and remaining home when sick
• Keeping oneself protected when in contact with wild or domestic animals, dead or alive
• Drinking sufficient amounts of fluids daily
• Getting adequate rest and taking prescribed over-the-counter medicines in case of sore throat or fever