Reassuring Fact Checks about Coronavirus: All you Need to Know!

Since then this COVID-19 pandemic has infected more than 16.5 million people worldwide and has claimed more than 6 lakh lives so far. While the United States has (the highest cases) more than 4.3 million COVID-19 positive cases in the world but India is also under the Top 3 worst affected countries now.

COVID-19 is highly contagious and can result in cough, fever, headache, and shortness of breath. Reduced level of oxygen below 95 is one alarming condition. An infected person can transmit this from one person-to-another if they are in close proximity and inhale the airborne respiratory droplets when an infected person speaks sneezes or coughs. Amid the coronavirus outbreak a few coronavirus health insurance products like Corona Kavach and Corona Rakshak policies have been introduced to help people avail the best possible treatment without spending much from their pocket.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of global concern on 30^th Jan, 2020. After this all the countries were put on alert to gather their medical infrastructure and facilities to identify, quarantine, and provide necessary care to the infected people; and to prevent community transmission, and to help nations with weaker healthcare systems. On March 11, 2020, WHO declared COVID1-9 as a global pandemic, and it imposes threatening alarms that can take the economies decades back and put at risk the future generation.

Some Important Reassuring Facts that you should know about COVID-19

Check-out some important facts to enhance your knowledge about the ongoing global pandemic and the necessary measures that you should take:

Fast facts about New Coronavirus

• SARS CoV2 is the first pandemic after the H1N1, Swine Flu pandemic in 2009, that mostly affected meat eaters
• Nearly 5 billion students and 87% of the student s across the globe were out of school by March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Because of COVID-19 more than 26 million people are likely to face acute hunger issues globally
• A U.N. Population fund the global cases of domestic abuse and violence and are expected to increase by 20%

Should I Wear a Mask?

Ministry of Health and Welfare recommends people to wear face masks and prevent the spread of the coronavirus among people, as a lot of people remain asymptomatic and can transmit it to others. A cloth mask is not enough to contain the spread, and while you have mask on do not touch your face and continue to follow hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, social and physical distancing. You can wear 3-layer masks and leave the N-95 respirator mask for the healthcare workers.

Make sure that you follow best hygiene practices in how you wear, remove, and dispose of your face mask, and wash your hands and face after removing it.

How are the governments trying to control the spread of the virus?

As COVID-19 has spread around the world, governments of all the countries have taken extraordinary measures to limit the spread of the virus. From travel restrictions to imposing work from home measures and healthcare reforms, the governments have tried it all. Several measures have been taken to ensure healthcare services to all:

• Ayushman Bharat scheme or PMJAY was launched in India by Sri Narendra Modi to ensure that every household has access to healthcare in India, especially the poor and needy
• A lot of people in India continue to remain uninsured in India, and the ongoing pandemic has forced a lot of people to buy health insurance cover to reduce the financial turmoil. Considering this Arogya Sanjeevani policy was launched. It covers other medical expenses along with COVID hospitalization. This policy comes with standard features and coverage benefits across all the insurers in India
• To ensure people do not have to pay a higher premium to get coronavirus health insurance cover, the insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, launched Corona Kavach Policy, which is a standard plan across all the insurers covering COVID-related treatment cost. The entire family can be covered under a single plan and the premium is also low.
• Corona Rakshak policy is also launched but it offers coverage on an individual basis for coronavirus treatment with a wide range of sum insured options
• However, if you already have a medical insurance cover that will also cover COVID-19 treatment but the cost of consumables might not be covered. People who have insurance can also buy this for enhanced coverage and those who do not have can get one to be avail the best possible treatment

Are Antibiotics Helpful to Treat COVID-19?

To date there is no specific medicine or treatment for coronavirus. It is a new virus and the treatment is not established antibiotics do not work against it as it is a virus, and they are used to kill bacteria. But it imperative that people receive adequate COVID-19 care and get relief from the symptoms with the right possible treatment. People with severe symptoms should get hospital admission without much difficulty and avail of the required medical facilities including ventilators, PPE kits, medicines, etc.

How Can I Prevent Getting the New Coronavirus?

To prevent yourself from getting infected with COVID1-9, the World Health Organization has laid down certain recommendations that the general public should follow to reduce exposure to COVID-19 and its transmission:

• Avoid close contact with outsiders
• Wash your hand frequently with soap and water or with an alcohol rub
• Cover your mouth with a cloth or tissue while coughing and sneezing and throw it away. Then wash your hands or sanitize them
• Practice social distancing by limiting your time in public places, and stay at least 6-feet away from other people while grocery shopping, visiting a medical facility and other necessary places that you may need to visit
• Do not shake hands with people and sanitize your hands after touching a contaminated surface
• Avoid close contact with anyone who is unwell
• If you cold, cough, sore throat, fever or difficulty in breathing, seek medical care
• Do not consume raw and uncooked food and undercooked meat or eggs.
• Sanitize your groceries and wash your vegetable with salt water or baking soda as per good food safety practices

Takeaway

With many cities and countries on lockdown and livelihoods affected around the world, it’s imperative to ensure that people hold the knowledge and have access to medical care to be able to care for them and their loved, especially as children and older people are vulnerable in such situations