COVID-19 - An epidemic of body and mind. Practical steps to optimise for health.

COVID-19: Probably not the End, but a Warning

TLDR

First I’d like to summarise what can be done to maximise for our health and the ones we care about:

1. Apply Common Sense! As in any situation, common sense can help in a whole lot of situations such as this.
2. DO NOT panic! Panicking in any situation that is a threat in any way does not help and is mostly counter-productive. In fact, studies have shown that happy and relaxed people are usually healthier and our best bet in the worst case, where 2% of the whole population is wiped out, is to boost our immune system. Our minds are powerful things and a positive attitude can work wonders.
3. Wash your hands more often and properly! This is the easiest, practical thing that we can do to slow down spread. You do not need hand-sanitiser unless it is available anyway.
4. Shower at least once a day and after uncertain exposure.
5. Other personal hygiene is also important. Ensure you clean after yourself in kitchens and bathrooms.
6. DO NOT stock up on items such as food and medical supplies! This may cause more problems than it solves. Hospitals and other medical centres need it more than you! Food supply and essentials will need to keep being supplied, even in worse situations than this. We won’t be starved and actually make it less likely if we just keep buying as normal.
7. MINIMISE MOVEMENT BETWEEN groups! It is fine to see the people you care about most. This is good for morale and can actually boost your immune system (see above). BUT try to avoid unnecessary gatherings, such as conferences or other work-outings. If your work is non-essential to have you physically present, such as most desk jobs, try to work out how you can effectively work from home. We want to avoid economic depression at some cost, but not cost of life. This means that essential services need to still move between groups. These are people such as medical staff and essential items such as food supply staff.

Auf Deutsch

Covid-19 scheint jetzt ein Virus zu sein, den wir alle oder die meisten von bekommen werden. Das Beste worauf wir hoffen können ist Herdenimmunität, was passiert wenn wir eine kleine Dosis des Virus abbekommen und unser Immunsystem reagiert. Das heißt keine Panik machen sondern persönliche Hygiene einhalten: Hände waschen, oft benutzte Dinge desinfizieren, usw. Ein ca 3.3m Abstand von einem infizierten, der niest ist genug, um höchstwahrscheinlich nicht angesteckt zu werden, auch ohne andere Schutzmassnahmen. GANZ WICHTIG: Auch wenn man glaubt, dass man selbst nicht gefährdet ist, müssen wir versuchen Ansteckung zu vermieden, um die Epidemie zu verlangsamen. Wir können natürlich Nahrungsmittelverteilung usw. nicht anhalten, also Vorräte kaufen bringt nichts und bringt nur Chaos in die Supermärkte. Wahrscheinlich mindestens 98% von uns werden überleben, es ist also selbst im schlimmsten Fall für uns jüngere keine Lebensgefahr. Aber wir wollen natürlich auch unsere älteren und ganz jungen nicht verlieren und eine Verzögerung des Verlaufs erhöht die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer größeren Überlebensgruppe. Lasst euch von den Medien keine Angst einflößen. Glück und Entspannung verbessern das Immunsystem. Treibt Sport, hört auf zu rauchen und wäscht eure Hände richtig und einmal öfter.

Diagnosis and Other Information

Virus Detection:

The simplest way to distinguish Coronavirus from a Common Cold is that the COVID-19 infection does not cause a cold nose or cough with cold, but it does create a dry and rough cough.

The virus is typically first installed in the throat causing inflammation and a feeling of dryness. This symptom can last between 3 and 4 days.

The virus typically then travels through the moisture present in the airways, goes down to the trachea and installs in the lungs, causing pneumonia that lasts about 5 or 6 days.

Pneumonia manifests with a high fever and difficulty breathing. The Common Cold is not accompanied, but there may be a choking sensation. In this case, the doctor should be called immediately.

Experts suggest doing this simple verification every morning: Breathe in deeply and hold your breath for 10 seconds. If this can be done without coughing, without difficulty, this shows that there is no fibrosis in the lungs, indicating the absence of infection. It is recommended to do this control every morning to help detect infection.

Prevention:

The virus hates heat and dies if it is exposed to temperatures greater than 80°F (27°C). Therefore hot drinks such as infusions, broths or simply hot water should be consumed abundantly during the day. These hot liquids kill the virus and are easy to ingest.

Avoid drinking ice water or drinks with ice cubes.

Ensure that your mouth and throat are always wet, never DRY. You should drink a sip of water at least every 15 minutes. WHY? Even when the virus enters water or other liquids through the mouth, it will get flushed through the oesophagus directly into the stomach where gastric acids destroy the virus. If there is not enough water, the virus can pass into the trachea and from there to the lungs, where it is very dangerous.

For those who can, sunbathe. The Sun’s UV rays kill the virus and the vitamin D is good for you.

The Coronavirus has a large size (diameter of 400-500 nanometers) so face masks can stop it, no special face masks are needed in daily life.

If an infected person sneezes near us, stay 10 feet (3.3 meters) away to allow the virus fall to the ground and prevent it from falling on you.

When the virus is on hard surfaces, it survives about 12 hours, therefore when hard surfaces such as doors, appliances, railings, etc. are touched, hands should be washed thoroughly and/or disinfected with alcoholic gel

The virus can live nested in clothes and tissues between 6 and 12 hours. Common detergents can kill it. Things that cannot be washed should be exposed to the Sun and the virus will die.

The transmission of the virus usually occurs by direct infection, touching fabrics, tissues or materials on which the virus is present.

Washing your hands is essential.

The virus survives on our hands for only about 10 minutes. In that time many things can happen, rubbing the eyes, touching the nose or lips. This allows the virus to enter your throat. Therefore, for your good and the good of all, wash your hands very often and disinfect them.

You can gargle with disinfectant solutions (i.e. Listerine or Hydrogen Peroxide) that eliminate or minimize the amount of virus that can enter the throat. Doing so removes the virus before it goes down to the trachea and then to the lungs.

Disinfect things touched often: cellphone, keyboard, mouse, car steering wheel, door handles, etc

Comments by Prof. Dr. Cord Heuer (Epidemiologist)

As accurate as clinical signs can be. I’d go with this description, it is easy to understand and follow, in Europe the diagnosis is made by ‘dry cough without other respiratory signs’. Not highly specific but accurate enough I’d say. Nice summary you sent!

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