Coronavirus continues to send shockwaves through the global community, as growing fears of overwhelmed hospitals and widespread shortages loom large in peoples minds. Today, two more patients have tested positive for coronavirus in England, bringing the total number of UK cases to 15. With the virus encroaching on UK territory, official guidelines issuing advice on stopping the spread are becoming more salient than ever.
Health bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) have urged citizens to maintain good hygiene practices amid the outbreak. Because the new illness is a respiratory infection, it is believed to spread in cough droplets.
One of the key protective measures is to wash your hands with soap and water often, and use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
However, speaking to Kyodo News, a spokesperson for chemical products company Kao Corporation suggests using hand sanitiser comes with a key caveat – overusing it may increase your risk of infection.
As the spokesperson explained, excessively using alcohol-based hand sanitisers could remove ‘normal bacterial flora’ that coat the skin and fend off pathogens.
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Other ways to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus
According to the NHS, you should also cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
In addition, you should also put used tissues in the bin immediately, says the health site.
You should also try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell, but what constitutes a safe distance?
WHO says to maintain at least one metre (three feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Based on the World Health Organisation’s declaration that this is a public health emergency of international concern, the UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the public from low to moderate.
According to the public health body, this does not mean the risk to individuals in the UK has changed at this stage, but that government should plan for all eventualities.
What is the total number of cases recorded in the UK?
As of 27 February 2020, a total of 7,690 people have been tested with 7,675 negative results and 15 positive cases.
The patients are receiving specialist NHS care, and tried and tested infection control procedures are being applied to prevent further spread of the virus, says the DoH.