It’s on everyone’s lips. It’s causing mayhem on stock markets around the world. It’s affecting the sporting world with major international events being cancelled or postponed. It’s affecting any large gathering of persons, such as conferences, festivals, trade shows, and exhibitions, many cancelled. And it is starting to affect our tourism industry, with first cancellations hitting hotels. It’s the Corona Virus, this strain called COVID-19. Amongst the doom, gloom, rumours, and Social Media panic, there are ways of reducing one’s risk of contracting the disease.

I must state upfront that I am not a medical practitioner. I hosted a Breakfast on Sunday, and one of my guests was Dr Andreas Jopp, a medical journalist, who has posted a YouTube video about the immune system and the Corona Virus.  I watched a World Health Organisation video about the difference between flu and COVID-19. I am reading what I’m seeing. I have summarised what I have learnt from various sources so far: 

1.  There is no cure yet for COVID-19, there is no medication one can take. Medlemon is not going to crack this Virus. 

  2.   Persons over 50 years are most at risk, and men more than women. 

  3.   Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands, more than ever before. There is a funny but serious video by Ellen DeGeneres of how thoroughly one should wash one’s hands. 

  4.  Boost your immune system by spending 20 minutes a day in the sun, for Vitamin D

  5.  Boost your immune system by eating the following fruit and vegetables for vitamin C:  garlic, broccoli, ginger, spinach, bell pepper, citrus fruits, almonds, green tea, yoghurt, poultry, sunflower seeds, shellfish, poultry, paw paw, and kiwi. 

   6.  Don’t touch your face, as this is where particles of germs can land when someone close to you sneezes or speaks.

   7.  Stay 1 meter from the person one speaks to – in Italy restaurants are allowed to remain open on condition that patrons are seated one meter apart. 

   8.  Self-isolate, by not attending any meetings or gatherings with other people 

   9.  When one sneezes or coughs, one should do so in the crook of one’s arm and not use one’s hand. 

   10.  One can use sanitizers with alcohol to wipe taps in public toilets, trolleys in supermarkets, etc. 

   11.  One can wipe one’s coins and notes with a sanitising agent as they do in the banks in China.

   12.  Do not smoke, as the Virus is a respiratory one. 

   13.  Cut down on alcohol.

   14.  Exercise, exercise, exercise.

   15.  Eat foods high in dietary fibre. 

   16.  Sleep more.

   17.  WHO advises against wearing masks, as there is a world shortage, and these should be used by health practitioners first and foremost, 

Any other suggestions from my readers are most welcome. 

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein