Now, corona is not only a name of a virus, it is a name of a panic and an epidemic. People of China are trembling with fear because of this virus as it originated from one of its provinces, Hubei. It has become a great challenge for China to tackle the rise of the virus. National Health Commission of China has acknowledged that nothing is definitely known about the virus. But the matter of concern is that crossing the border of China, coronavirus is now spreading into other countries very fast making all the people of the world worried and panic-stricken. Panic about the virus is rising up in Bangladesh too. So, it has become essential for us to take adequate precautionary measures to prevent the virus. Different types of measures can be taken to prevent the virus in the country.
Awareness campaign
Hosting an awareness campaign is a great opportunity to prevent any sort of danger prevailing in the society. So, first of all we must make our people conscious of the virus. Everyone must know what they should do to be safe from this virus. They also must know about their duties and responsibilities if the virus hits our people. A clear guideline must be provided to every hospital and clinic so that they can take immediate steps if any coronavirus affected patient is found.

Our print and electronic media can play significant role in creating public awareness. The print media can make people cautious publishing different sorts of write-up and awareness messages. And the electronic media can create consciousness among people telecasting precautionary messages after a certain period of time so that the people of all walk of life can be aware of the virus.  

Awareness through morning assembly in schools

Morning assembly held every day in every school of Bangladesh can be a great medium of creating awareness among students. In the assembly, we can inform students about coronavirus, its causes and preventive measures. This type of initiative will make them conscious. By getting proper information from the assembly, they can then make the people of the society conscious of the virus.

Awareness through religious gathering

In every religion, there is a special day in a week when all the religious people remain present in a congregation in a mosque or in a church or in a temple. In the congregation, the religious leaders advise the devotees about different contemporary issues. This type of religious congregation can be a better way for creating public awareness. The religious leaders should discuss about the coronavirus according to their respective religious scriptures. They should also provide a clear guideline to the worshipers or devotees to be safe from this fatal virus.

Selecting food carefully

Coronavirus is reported to have started from Wuhan, China and in the market where people sell and buy all kinds of meats --- chicken, seafood, mutton, sheep, pig, bat, rat, and even snakes. Now it is believed that the virus is spread from bat meat though scientists are still exploring the link between the bat and coronavirus. But scientists have detected coronavirus as a zoonotic disease and it spreads from animals to people. That’s why, while cooking meat, the meat has to be cooked hygienically and should not be raw. This is the best way to prevent any disease transmitted through animal meal. We must also be careful about the date-juice in winter. Above all, our food list must comprise of the safe food that must be selected carefully.

Following the advices provided by the WHO

World Health Organization (WHO) has disclosed the basic protective measures against the new coronavirus. To be safe, the instructions must be followed. Let’s see the instructions:

(i) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty as washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub eliminates the virus if it is no your hands.

Hands should be washed for at least 10-15 seconds as follows:

•    Wet hands under warm running water

•    Use enough soap to form a good lather

•    Rub all parts of hands with soap and water

•    Lather for at least 10-15 seconds, vigorously and thoroughly rubbing all hand surfaces including the fingertips and thumbs

•    Rinse hands thoroughly with running water

•    Dry hands thoroughly

(ii) When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue—discard tissue immediately into a closed bin and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. It is because covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing prevent the spread of germs and viruses. If you sneeze or cough into your hands, you may contaminate objects or people that you touch.

(iii) Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and other people, particularly those who are coughing, sneezing and have a fever since when someone who is inflected with a respiratory disease, like 2019-nCov, coughs or sneezes they project small droplets containing the virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the virus.

(iv) Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth because hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with virus. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself.

(v) If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early. Tell your health care provider if you have traveled in an area in China where 2019-nCov has been reported, or if you have been in close contact with someone with who has traveled from China and has respiratory symptoms.

(vi) If you have mild respiratory symptoms and no travel history to or within China, carefully practice basic respiratory and hand hygiene and stay home until you are recovered, if possible.

(vi) Practise food safety. Use different chopping boards and knives for raw meat and cooked foods. Wash your hands between handling raw and cooked food. Sick animals and animals that have died of diseases should not be eaten.

(vii) Wearing a medical mask is one of the preventive measures to limit spread of certain respiratory diseases, including 2019-nCov. If medical masks are worn, appropriate use and disposal is essential to ensure they are affective and to avoid any increase in risk of transmission associated with the incorrect use and disposal of masks. The following information on correct use of medical masks derives from the practices in health-care settings:

•    Place mask carefully to cover mouth and nose and tie securely to minimize any gaps between the face and the mask;

•    While in use, avoid touching the mask;

•    Remove the mask by using appropriate technique (i.e. do not touch the front but remove the lace from behind)

•    After removal or whenever you inadvertently touch a used mask, clean hands by using an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water if visibly soiled;

•    Replace masks with a new clean, dry mask as soon as they become damp or humid;

•    Do not re-use single-use masks;

•    Discard single-use masks after each use and dispose of them immediately upon removal;

•    Cloth (e.g. cotton or gauze) masks are not recommended under any circumstance.

Workers related to food business must maintain the rules of health and hygiene:

•    The staffs  should be aware of the 2019-nCov situation

•    They should be trained appropriately in food hygiene

•    They should be effectively supervised to reinforce hygiene practices

•     The They should be provided with adequate facilities such as hand washing, toilets, so that they can practise good hygiene

•    The employers should keep vigilant and ensure that staffs are not ill and are fit for work.

So, let’s be alert on the virus unitedly and make public awareness for preventing the coronavirus. All should come forward spontaneously.

The writer is Assistant Professor, Department of English,

Principal Kazi Faruky College, Lakshmipur.

Email: [email protected]