What You Need To Know About COVID-19

1st Jul 2020

WHAT IS COVID-19?

The coronavirus is not one type of virus; it is a large family of viruses that also includes SARS and other respiratory illnesses. The term "corona," is from a Latin root meaning crown or ring of light and it refers to the shape of the virus under a microscope. The acronym, provided by the World Health Organization, stands for "coronavirus disease 2019," referring to the year the virus was first detected.

HOW TO MINIMISE THE SPREAD

A way of preventing the spread of contagious illnesses, as suggested by the World Health Organization is social distancing. Keep a generous amount of personal space between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Health officials believe the risk of getting the virus is highest when one comes into contact with someone who is symptomatic. However, there have been questions raised as to whether the disease can also be spread before someone shows signs of it (also known as pre-symptomatic).

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitiser and cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands as much as possible.

Stay home if you are sick unless you require medical assistance.

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WHEN IN QUARANTINE

If you’re isolating yourself to minimise your chance of exposure or to protect others, it may be necessary to occupy your mind with various indoor hobbies or increase social media time to stay connected to friends. Isolation can become lonely, so it’s important to keep your spirits high and your mind engaged with books, movies, creative projects and more. In addition to this, many businesses have encouraged their employees to work from home, which can be a challenge to keep team communication strong and to individually stay engaged and focus.

If you are working from home, the below tips may assist you in productivity:

  • Create a comfortable, suitably equipped designated workspace where you can focus without distraction.
  • Set working hours for yourself and abide by them. Also be clear to others about them so you're not interrupted when you're busy but not "on" all the time.
  • Be available to relevant parties during those working hours - don't go off the radar without telling managers or colleagues.
  • Identify what needs to be done every day and then do it.
  • Get showered and dressed, staying in pajamas or sleeping in does not set you up for a productive day
  • Don't let friends drop in or indulge in chatty social calls/emails.
  • Take breaks as you would at the office. Ideally, get out of the house with a walk, a lunchtime fitness session, a snack or a mind break at a nearby café.
  • Overall, you are still at work, so pretend you’re not at home.

To stay up to date with the latest updates and information, please download the Coronavirus app available on both the Apple store & Google Play Store.

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