NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) INFORMATION
The Australian Government has some good information available at: https://www.health.gov.au/healt…/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov including a number of downloadable resources that will be updated as required. The same goes for the Qld Government: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/…/diseas…/diseases/coronavirus
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A number of people have been raiding their local supermarkets and stockpiling 6 months worth of toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, bourbon, tinned beans and various other products. Is this necessary? No.
Are we all gonna die? Eventually. Some sooner than others.
Disaster Preparedness
==================
Now, having said that, it is recommended that, as part of normal disaster preparedness, all Australians have a minimum of 3 days of supplies (food, water, medications, and any additional supplies needed for children, pets or any special requirements, as well as some spare (and charged) batteries for your phone, as well as a charger and cable) however I generally suggest we extend that to a minimum of 7 days (especially here on the SMBI and others in any regional or remote areas). Right now I'd suggest extending that a bit further with some additional non-perishable foods and maybe one additional filled script.
No need to buy up 6 months of toilet paper or anything else except decent quality alcohol. Like wine or bourbon. But that's always a good recommendation in case a couple of friends come over for a night or weekend.
Hand Hygiene
===========
Proper hand hygiene techniques are always recommended, but particularly now. And a quick splash of some water and a tiny squirt of soap in no way fulfils the "proper" part of "proper hand hygiene" - to really wash your hands properly, it takes a lot more soap, water and time than you may think (after working in infectious diseases areas of hospitals, I do have a good understanding of proper hand washing techniques). Have a look at https://www.qld.gov.au/…/condit…/all/prevention/hand-hygiene
Speaking of alcohol, if you can manage to find any hand sanitizer that contains a minimum of 60% alcohol, then I'd suggest buying some and keeping it on you - you can buy small 30 mL or so bottles that can be topped up from a bigger bottle. (Now, normally I recommend against regular daily use of hand sanitizer as it doesn't allow the regular build up of an effective immune system defence against the bugs we encounter on a daily basis, but this is a slightly different case here.) If you can't find any and feel the need to make some yourself, there are various sites that show you how to do this with Isopropyl Alcohol and Aloe Vera, such as https://cleanmyspace.com/make-your-own-hand-sanitizer/
Face Masks
==========
As to face masks or surgical masks, unless you've come in from overseas and have been through one of the high risk counties, there's currently no need for these (and if you have been, then you'll need a P2/N95 respirator when you are in a room with anyone else, or if you need to leave the house for any reason). For any non-travellers, there's no need for masks unless you start to get a flu, cough or sneeze and then need to leave your home or share a room with someone else.
High Risk Categories
=================
Now, if you're normally in a high risk category for infections there are a few things you really should do - first is get yourself a Flu Shot as soon as they are available - there's no way anyone in these categories wants the flu at the same time they may encounter Novel Coronavirus. Then getting some properly fitted P2/N95 respirators (face masks) is a good idea. Also ensuring you have enough food and medications on hand for a good couple of weeks is something I'd recommend. Also, you can get various Home Delivery services to leave food, medications and other products at the doorstep, and after a few minutes you can then go out and collect the food products and bring them inside. - be sure to use good hand hygiene techniques when doing this.
Importantly, there's no need to panic. Just take simple precautions at this stage and you should be fine. If the situation changes, there will be updates on the https://www.health.gov.au/healt…/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov and https://www.health.qld.gov.au/…/diseas…/diseases/coronavirus and I will also update this post.
VIDEO
======
This is a good, easily comprehensible video explaining the Coronavirus family and in particular the Novel Coronavirus variant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py-hkWBdvFw
A number of people have been raiding their local supermarkets and stockpiling 6 months worth of toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, bourbon, tinned beans and various other products. Is this necessary? No.
Are we all gonna die? Eventually. Some sooner than others.
Disaster Preparedness
==================
Now, having said that, it is recommended that, as part of normal disaster preparedness, all Australians have a minimum of 3 days of supplies (food, water, medications, and any additional supplies needed for children, pets or any special requirements, as well as some spare (and charged) batteries for your phone, as well as a charger and cable) however I generally suggest we extend that to a minimum of 7 days (especially here on the SMBI and others in any regional or remote areas). Right now I'd suggest extending that a bit further with some additional non-perishable foods and maybe one additional filled script.
No need to buy up 6 months of toilet paper or anything else except decent quality alcohol. Like wine or bourbon. But that's always a good recommendation in case a couple of friends come over for a night or weekend.
Hand Hygiene
===========
Proper hand hygiene techniques are always recommended, but particularly now. And a quick splash of some water and a tiny squirt of soap in no way fulfils the "proper" part of "proper hand hygiene" - to really wash your hands properly, it takes a lot more soap, water and time than you may think (after working in infectious diseases areas of hospitals, I do have a good understanding of proper hand washing techniques). Have a look at https://www.qld.gov.au/…/condit…/all/prevention/hand-hygiene
Speaking of alcohol, if you can manage to find any hand sanitizer that contains a minimum of 60% alcohol, then I'd suggest buying some and keeping it on you - you can buy small 30 mL or so bottles that can be topped up from a bigger bottle. (Now, normally I recommend against regular daily use of hand sanitizer as it doesn't allow the regular build up of an effective immune system defence against the bugs we encounter on a daily basis, but this is a slightly different case here.) If you can't find any and feel the need to make some yourself, there are various sites that show you how to do this with Isopropyl Alcohol and Aloe Vera, such as https://cleanmyspace.com/make-your-own-hand-sanitizer/
Face Masks
==========
As to face masks or surgical masks, unless you've come in from overseas and have been through one of the high risk counties, there's currently no need for these (and if you have been, then you'll need a P2/N95 respirator when you are in a room with anyone else, or if you need to leave the house for any reason). For any non-travellers, there's no need for masks unless you start to get a flu, cough or sneeze and then need to leave your home or share a room with someone else.
High Risk Categories
=================
Now, if you're normally in a high risk category for infections there are a few things you really should do - first is get yourself a Flu Shot as soon as they are available - there's no way anyone in these categories wants the flu at the same time they may encounter Novel Coronavirus. Then getting some properly fitted P2/N95 respirators (face masks) is a good idea. Also ensuring you have enough food and medications on hand for a good couple of weeks is something I'd recommend. Also, you can get various Home Delivery services to leave food, medications and other products at the doorstep, and after a few minutes you can then go out and collect the food products and bring them inside. - be sure to use good hand hygiene techniques when doing this.
Importantly, there's no need to panic. Just take simple precautions at this stage and you should be fine. If the situation changes, there will be updates on the https://www.health.gov.au/healt…/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov and https://www.health.qld.gov.au/…/diseas…/diseases/coronavirus and I will also update this post.
VIDEO
======
This is a good, easily comprehensible video explaining the Coronavirus family and in particular the Novel Coronavirus variant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py-hkWBdvFw
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