Authors from the AUC School of Medicine: Bamba; Golden Jackson, PhD; Cristina Hernandez; Delroy Daley; and Beatriz Finkel-Jiminez, PhD, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology.
Hello friends! It’s Bamba here!
Oh boy – has it been a little hectic lately with concerns of the new coronavirus! However, thanks to quick thinking by the Sint Maarten government and a teamwork of its citizens, we are keeping safe – for now! Well, what is the game plan to stop the spread of the coronavirus? Social distancing and clean hygiene are the answer!
COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, attacks a person’s respiratory system (the lungs), where the virus quickly multiplies causing cell death to the lungs. This makes it more difficult over time for you to breathe, which can lead to organ failure and death.
Other symptoms include fever, body aches, cough, runny nose, and if severe enough, pneumonia (fluid build-up in the lungs). But, what is social distancing and how can it be effective in battling the spread of the coronavirus?
Did you know that the coronavirus can spread through the air and on surfaces?
According to experts, a person who has the disease can infect up to four people within two metres by coughing the coronavirus germs into the air around them. That is twice as infectious as the seasonal flu in the same space.
This is why it is more important than ever to work as a team at social distancing so that we can slow down the spread of the coronavirus. By distancing yourself from others by at least two metres (six feet) or more, you greatly decrease the chances of the coronavirus landing on you or someone else; or the chances of breathing it in if a sick person with the disease coughs or sneezes near you.
Did you know that you can have the coronavirus and not know it?
The coronavirus affects people differently. Someone with a weak immune system has a higher risk of having severe symptoms (signs of having the disease) or dying, compared to someone with a stronger immune system.
A person’s symptoms can range from having severe symptoms to having none at all. By socially distancing yourselves from one another, you are keeping a safe distance from people who look sick and from those who don’t.
Does that mean we have to distance ourselves from our neighbourhood friends and even strangers? Yes! It is better to practice safety than to be sorry.
If you are wondering how to have fun while practicing social distancing, there are so many ways to do it! You can play video games against your friends online, work on cool projects at home like building a treehouse or camping out in your backyard.
You can play board games at home, complete a puzzle, or even spend more time with the people you live with and show them how much you care about them.
Currently, there is not a vaccine for the coronavirus. The only cure for it is by your own immune system fighting it off until it is killed for good! Here are some things you must remember: (1) When you are with other people, keep a distance of two metres (six feet) from others. (2) Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds each time you enter your house or touch objects. (3) Limit yourself to only important travel. (4) Eat your fruits, vegetables, vitamins and exercise often to keep your immune system strong!
Alright, friends, there you have it! I wish you all to stay safe, healthy, and remember to follow the guidelines, because in order to defeat the coronavirus, we must do so together!
Until next time… Bamba out!
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Let’s practice!
How can you estimate two metres (or six feet) so you will know how far away you should stand or sit to avoid the spread of coronavirus? Here is a way to figure it out: There are 12 inches in one foot, so six feet is 12 x 6 = 72 inches.
The next step is to find the length of your foot from heel to toe. Measure your foot in inches or centimetres.
For example, my foot is 9 inches from heel to toe, so I would divide 72 inches by 9 inches and that tells me how many “feet” I should be from another person.
72 divided by 9 equals 8. So, I could step off eight heel-to-toe lengths of my foot to see how far I should be from another person.
Wow! That was easy to do. Social distancing is easier that I thought!
