Source: Australian Government, Department of Health (2020), Infection Control Training
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OR WORRIES OF CORONAVIRUS INFECTION
STAY AT HOME AND PRACTICE ALL THE STANDARD INFECTION CONTROL PRECAUTIONS MENTIONED ALREADY INCLUDING
ISOLATION IN YOUR ROOM
RESPIRATOY HYGIENE
WASHING YOUR HANDS
Seeking Medical Advice
Firstly go to https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/
or
CALL the National Coronavirus Information on 1800 020 080
or
CALL your usual medical care provider, such as your GP.
WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS?
Corona viruses are a family of viruses that can make people sick.
Covid-19 is a new virus has spread around the world, after originating in China in 2019.
Around 80% of people infected with Covid-19 will make a full recovery with mild symptoms and without any special treatment.
Around 15% of people infected with Covid-19 will experience moderate symptoms
A very small number of people, about 5% will experience severe symptoms.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19
Most common symptoms are:
Fever
Flu like symptoms, such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue
Shortness of breath
It is important to note that not everyone who has these symptoms has covid-19. Other illnesses also have these symptoms. However, it is important to do due diligence and see your doctor immediately should you have these symptoms. It is important to isolate yourself, to prevent the spread of this disease to vulnerable members of our community who may get severely sick.
HIGHER RISK PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY
There are people in our community who are at higher risk of developing severe symptoms from contracting Covid-19. These people include
Our Senior citizens
those with existing or chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, respiratory disease or immune deficiencies.
Our Aborgingal and Torres Strait Islander communities may be at higher risk also as there is a higher rate of chronic disease within these communities than the rest of Australia.
WHO CAN CATCH COVID-19?
The important message here is that ANYONE can be infected ! Severity may differ between different groups of people, but anyone can catch the coronavirus.
Covid-19 does not discriminate between race or gender, so we all need to take precaution and be safe.
We all need to make an effort to protect ourselves, our families and members in our community.
HOW DOES COVID-19 SPREAD?
The virus spreads from person to person through droplet transmission. This means droplets of small saliva from coughs and sneezes from people spreads the virus. Normally these droplets don't travel more than 1 meter should a person sneeze or cough.
Infection may occur if you are in close contact with an infected person when they sneeze or cough.
OR
Your touch an object (like a door handle) or person (through hand shaking) who has been contaminated from a cough or sneeze, and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
It is important to note, that the virus cannot simply get through skin. To become infected you would need to touch your mouth, nose or eyes with the virus on your hand.
IMPORTANT STEPS WE CAN TAKE TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19
WASHING YOUR HANDS
Washing your hands regularly is the most important step you can take to protect yourself against the covid-19 virus. Wash your hands with soap and water, or rubbing alcohol or sanitisers that are alcohol based.
Washing your hands is critical, as soap and alochol kills the virus on most surfaces. It is particularly important to wash your hands after going to the toilet, blowing your nose, before and after eating.
These two videos provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) cover how to wash your hands and use sanitiser
Hand rub - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnSjFr6J9HI
Hand wash - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PmVJQUCm4E
At Imagini we have followed the instructions to provide all visitors with hand wash and hand sanitisers upon entering and leaving our studio. We have also put up signs requiring and reminding everyone to wash and/or sanitise their hands.
AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE
It is very important to try not to touch your face. The virus enters the body through your mouth, eyes and nose. With most people touching their face at least every hour without even realising it, encourage others to avoid touching their face also !
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Social distancing involves keeping a distance of at least 1.5 meters away from others who are sneezing and/or coughing. This is to decrease the spread of infected droplets and breathing them in. Keeping a distance of 1.5 meters or more makes it highly unlikely of being infected.
This is also why it is so important to avoid large public gatherings which are not essential.
You can also change the way you greet people, by avoid contact through hand shaking, hugs and kisses.
The Australian Department of Health has some suggested greetings in their youtube video, such as bum bounces... check them out here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP2xcQKkzZI
PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 WITH GOOD RESPIRATORY HYGIENCE !
Good respiratory hygience includes making sure, and the people around you cover your mouths and nose when sneezing or coughing.
Put your tissues straight in the bin. You can do this by making sure you carry tissues with you every where you go.
Sneeze and cough into your bent elbow, to reduce contamination from your hands.
Remind those in your care and around you to follow these same procedures !
CLEAN YOUR HANDS IMMEDIATELY AFTER COUGHING OR SNEEZING WITH SOAP AND/OR HAND SANITISER !
WEARING MASKS
Masks will not help protect you from infection ! Please only wear masks if you are sick with the symptoms or are looking after someone else who is infected ! There is a shortage of masks, and we need them for people who will need to use them !
The best way to protect yourself is by
Washing your hands regularly
Using good respiratory hygiene
Social distancing
CLEANING AND DISINFECTION
Clean your environment regularly at home, in your car and at work! Droplets from infected people can fall on any surface and be transmitted to someone else if they touch that surface !
Ensure you clean tables, doorknobs, light switches and surfaces regularly !
Use a detergent following the instruction labels on the bottles of detergent you are using. Make sure you use any precautions instructed on the labels, such as wearing gloves or having good ventilation.
FOOD SAFETY
From the research evidence, covid-19 does not apply to food. However, you should still take precautions in preparing food safely, to reduce the risk of getting sick from other diseases as well !
Some precautions you can take include:
washing your hands before handling food, between handling raw and cooked foods and after food preparation.
Cooking and handling meat products properly
Using different chopping boards for meat products and other foods
Cooking meat products thoroughly
Also remember to use good respiratory hygiene practice when handling food!
MANAGING VISITORS
You do not need to give up all social activity to keep safe from covid-19. It is important to maintain relationships safely during this stressful time.
However, anyone who is sick or unwell should stay at home and not visit others. People infected with covid-19 should stay in their own rooms and avoid contact with other family members in their own home.
When visiting people or public spaces everyone should be:
Washing their hands when entering and leaving the premises, including your home.
Practice respiratory hygiene ettiquette
Practice social distancing
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19?
Covid-19 symptoms include
Fever
Coughing and Flu Like symptoms: sore throat, fatige, coughing
Shortness of breath
STAY AT HOME AND PRACTICE ALL THE STANDARD INFECTION CONTROL PRECAUTIONS MENTIONED ALREADY INCLUDING
ISOLATION IN YOUR ROOM
RESPIRATOY HYGIENE
WASHING YOUR HANDS
Seeking Medical Advice for Coronavirus
Firstly go to https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/
or
CALL the National Coronavirus Information on 1800 020 080
or
CALL your usual medical care provider, such as your GP.
Inform your workplace
If you suspect someone in your care may have been infected with Covid-19 virus, follow the procedure above, of isolation, respiratory hygiene, and washing hands and seek medical advice.
COVID-19 MYTHS
1. Covid-19 spread can only spread in hot/cold climates - FALSE
The covid-19 virus can be transmitted in all climates and any areas regardless of weather.
2. Cold Weather can Kill the Covid-19 virus - FALSE
There is little evidence showing that cold weather stops infection. Infection mostly spreads from body to body, and with the human body at 36-37 degrees Celsius, weather plays a small part.
3. Taking a hot bath can prevent the Corona virus or kills it - FALSE
A hot bath will not prevent you from catching the corona virus, as your body can maintain your regular body heat in different external temperatures. Taking extremely hot baths can also burn you.
4. Covid-19 can be transmitted through mosquito bites - FALSE
The coronavirus, is a respiratory virus, which spreads via droplets from the mouth and nose of infected people. There is no evidence it spreads through mosqitoes.
5. Hand driers are effective in killing the coronavirus. - FALSE
Hand drying alone does not prevent nor kill the virus. Washing your hands with soap or alcohol based sanitisers protect you from infection.
6. Thermal scanners can detect the coronavirus in people - FALSE
Thermal scanners can detect if a person has a fever or temperatures higher than normal body temperatures. However, they cannot detect the virus itself, so people who maybe infected or carriers but who DO NOT have a fever cannot be detected with thermal scanners. Infected people can take 2-10 days to start showing symptoms.
7. Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body can kill the virus if you are infected- FALSE
If the infection has already entered your body, spraying your external skin will have little to no effect on the infection. Infact, it could be harmful as these substances can cause irritation.
8. Existing vaccines against pneumonia can prevent infection of the coronavirus - FALSE
The Covid-19 is a new and different virus altogether. A vaccine against coronavirus in currently being developed. These vaccines can however help against respiratory illness should these symptoms apply after infection.
9. The covid-19 virus only affects older people - FALSE
Anyone can be infected by the coronavirus. Older people are at higher risk of severe and life threatening symptoms.
10. Antibiotics can be effective against coronavirus - FALSE
Antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections, the Covid-19 is a virus and should not be used to prevent or treat coronavirus.
KEY MESSAGES
Stay informed at https://www.health.gov.au/ and https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/coronavirus
Monitor news and local updates
Follow the advice of your health authorities
Help protect yourself and your community by washing your hands regularly, practise social distancing and respiratory hygiene
Seek medical advice if you fear infection, remember to call first.
Use precaution whenever using your hands, including with food preparation