COVID-19: What You Need to Know + Useful Links

At times of crisis and we need everyone to be armed with the right tools of information to fight together as it’s the best defense we have. We’ve compiled a list of local and global content so we can collectively support the health of our communities.

According to WHO, “the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough while some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. Some become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell. Most (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.” However, as this coronavirus is new, researchers are constantly renewing insights and statistics.

Governments and organizations around the world are making sure people limit social exposure for a while so we can ‘flatten the curve’ and reduce the sudden influx of critical patients requiring healthcare resources. So what is “flattening the curve” and why should we practice “physical distancing” for a while?

Washing hands and disinfecting frequently used surfaces like phones and door knobs are critical, along with other measures to prevent the spread of the virus. (Note that fancy antibacterial liquids and sanitizers are not necessary – good old soap would do). What’s the big deal with soap, and why wash for 20 seconds?

When should you wear masks, and is it effective at all? All mask Q&A answered here.

Common myths and misconceptions debunked by the WHO.

Useful local links:

Suwasariya is a 24 hours tri-lingual helpline if anyone has any COVID-19/Coronavirus related questions: simply dial 1999. A useful self test is available here.

Live updates via Health Promotion Bureau, local dashboard, global statistics by Johns Hopkins and map visualizer. More visual data available here.

Self quarantine guidelines from The Epidemiology Unit.

Watchdog lists important phone numbers and official government links you need to know.

You can also read our blog post on Boosting Your Immunity During an Outbreak to add in small habits that may help you cope during this period.

Interested in digging deeper? Here’s a scientific overview of what we know so far by Dr. Soon-Shiong:

Here’s a helpful video on lifestyle factors that prevent critical symtomology: A COVID Survival Guide (w/Dr. Ron Sinha) | Lifestyle Changes To Lower Metabolic Risk – YouTube

Feel free to share this post with anyone if you found it useful.