Chronicles of the Dark
“They protect us while they couldn’t even protect themselves. Our frontliners deserve a million salute.”
Early this year, a pandemic disease rose up and horrified people. A virus that scared a lot of people not only in China but also other countries across the globe. What is this Novel Corona Virus that startled a lot of people?
Coronaviruses are large viruses which may cause illness in both animals and humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from common colds to severe diseases such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The newly discovered coronavirus was named COVID-19.
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the freshly discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China in late December 2019. COVID-19 is now a pandemic disease that affecting many lives globally.
The most familiar symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may feel aches and pains, nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhea. Some people become infected but only have very mild symptoms. According to research, about 80% of people recover from the disease without needing hospital treatment. 1 out of 5 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty in breathing. Older people and with those who have medical problems like high blood, heart and lung problems, diabetes, or cancer and pregnant women are at high risk of developing serious illness. However, everyone can catch COVID-19 and become seriously ill. Even people with very mild indications can transmit the virus.
The virus spreads primarily from one person to another through small droplets from nose or mouth. These droplets are relatively heavy, do not travel far and quickly sink to the ground. People can catch COVID-19 if they breathe in these droplets from a person infected with the virus. These droplets can land on objects and surfaces around the person such as tables, doorknobs and handrails. People can be easily infected by touching these objects or surfaces and touch through your face.
Practicing hand and respiratory hygiene is important at all times and is the best way to protect others and yourself. Maintain at least one to two meters distance between yourself and others. Since some infected person may yet be exhibiting symptoms or their symptoms may be mild, maintaining a physical distance with everyone is a great idea if you are in an area where there are positive cases. However, if you live in an area with malaria or dengue fever, it is important that you do not ignore symptoms of it. Seek for medical assistance. Wear mask when you attend facilities or when you’re going to buy necessities or access health care provider. If you are exposed to a suspected COVID-19 patient, you must self-isolate and monitor yourself. If you feel the symptoms, even if it is mild, you must still isolate yourself and seek for medical help. Self-isolate for 14 days even after the symptoms have disappeared as a precautionary measure. Clean your hands thoroughly and frequently. Avoid touching your face especially to your eyes and mouth. When you cough or sneeze, bend your elbow or use tissue and immediately put in the trash and wash your hand.
There were news that they had the vaccine and antibiotics for the virus but according to the World Health Organization (WHO) there were no specific antiviral medicine against COVID-19. Possible vaccines and some specific drug treatments are currently under investigation. They are being tested through clinical trials. WHO is also coordinating efforts to develop vaccines and medicines to at least prevent its widespread. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, they just only work for bacterial infections. COVID-19 is caused by a virus hence antibiotics won’t work nor cure.
While we were ranting for nonsense things there are those frontliners whom we consider as heroes fighting for the unknown villain. They sacrificed even their lives and safety just to make sure we are safe. Frontliners such as the doctors, nurses, policemen, volunteers are in hard battle, risking their health even their lives just to provide what we need during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) are considered as the new heroes of the century. They leave their houses without any assurance of coming home safe because of the unbearable virus they might get during their work.
