How to Protect Ourself from Covid-19

Lifestyle changes during the Covid-19 pandemic have affected people's habits and forced them to implement existing health protocols such as wearing masks. This is a non-negotiable option. COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus. 'CO' stands for corona, 'VI' for virus, and 'D' for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as '2019 novel coronavirus' or '2019-nCoV.'. The novel coronavirus (Covid-19) is a new virus that causes respiratory disease. This virus originated in China. The novel coronavirus is in the same family as the viruses that cause SARS and MERS. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by a virus, NOT by bacteria. 

The virus that causes COVID-19 is in a family of viruses called Coronaviridae. Antibiotics do not work against viruses. Some people who become ill with COVID-19 can also develop a bacterial infection as a complication. In this case, antibiotics may be recommended by a health care provider. There is currently no licensed medication to cure COVID-19. If you have symptoms, call your health care provider or COVID-19 hotline for assistance. 

The clinical symptoms that appear are fever, cough, runny nose, respiratory problems, sore throat, fatigue, lethargy and loss of the sense of smell and taste. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment, and for the majority – especially for children and young adults – illness due to COVID-19 is generally minor. 

However, for some people it can cause serious illness. Around 1 in every 5 people who are infected with COVID-19 develop difficulty in breathing and require hospital care. People who are aged over 60 years, and people who have underlying medical conditions. Although for most people COVID-19 causes only mild illness, it can make some people very ill. 

More rarely, the disease can be fatal. Older people, and those with pre-existing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes) appear to be more vulnerable. As for those who are included in high-risk residents of Covid-19 according to the call of the governor of DKI Jakarta No. 7 of 2020 are sufferers of immune suppression including HIV/AIDS, cancer therapy and long-term users of corticosteroids or immunosuppressants. People with liver disease, diabetes mellitus sufferers, auto-immune sufferers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or severe chronic asthma, active smokers, people with kidney failure, people with hypertension, and people with chronic heart disease are among the high-risk residents. 

And now, 22 November 2020 in Indonesia there have been 502,028 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and have claimed 15,994 was die. The use of masks, maintaining distance, and always maintaining hand hygiene by washing our hands with water and soap or hand sanitizer are new habits that we inevitably apply in this transition period. We need to know that Covid-19 can attack various parties regardless of social status, age, gender, ethnicity or education. However, the community is still indifferent in implementing health protocols. There are still several residents who are still gathering without keeping their distance, and not wearing masks. 

If COVID-19 is spreading in your community, stay safe by taking some simple precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, cleaning your hands, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue. Make wearing a mask a normal part of being around other people. Masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives; the use of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19. Protect yourself and others around you by knowing the facts and taking appropriate precautions. 

Follow advice provided by your local health authority. To prevent the spread of COVID-19: Clean your hands often. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub. Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible. Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth. 

Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Calling in advance allows your healthcare provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This protects you, and prevents the spread of viruses and other infections. The soaring price of masks made residents nervous. However, using cloth masks is the right choice for residents. Besides being reusable after washing, the price of cloth masks is relatively affordable. Besides that, maintaining a distance is also important, at least 1.5 meters.

For optimal health, it is also important to remember to eat healthily and stay hydrated. WHO recommends drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages. Limit or avoid alcoholic beverages for adults and strictly avoid these in young people, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, or for other health reasons. 

Ensure plenty of fruits and vegetables, and limit the intake of salt, sugar and fat. Prefer whole grains rather than refined foods. For optimal health, it is also important to remain physically active. To support healthy individuals in staying physically active while at home. WHO recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week, or a combination of both. These recommendations can still be achieved even at home, with no special equipment and with limited space. The following are some tips on how to stay active and reduce sedentary behaviour while at home in self-quarantine: Take short active breaks during the day. 

Short bouts of physical activity add up to the weekly recommendations. You may use the suggested exercises below as inspiration to be active every day. Dancing, playing with children, and performing domestic chores such as cleaning and gardening are other means to stay active at home. Follow an online exercise class. Take advantage of the wealth of online exercise classes. Many of these are free and can be found on YouTube. If you have no experience performing these exercises, be cautious and aware of your own limitations. Walk, even in small spaces, walking around or walking on the spot, can help you remain active. 

If you have a call, stand or walk around your home while you speak, instead of sitting down. If you decide to go outside to walk or exercise, be sure to maintain at least a 1-meter distance from other people. Stand up. 

Reduce your sedentary time by standing up whenever possible. Ideally, aim to interrupt sitting and reclining time every 30 minutes. Consider setting up a standing desk by using a high table or stacking a pile of books or other materials, to continue working while standing. During sedentary leisure time prioritize cognitively stimulating activities, such as reading, board games, and puzzles. Relax, meditation and deep breaths can help you remain calm. A few examples of relaxation techniques are available below for inspiration.

So the conclusion, Covid-19 is a new virus that causes respiratory disease who have the clinical symptoms that appear are fever, cough, runny nose, respiratory problems, sore throat, fatigue, lethargy and loss of the sense of smell and taste. Things we can do to protect ourselves from Covid-19 is wearing the mask, physical distancing and hand hygiene and also pay attention to nutritious food and physical activity.