The coronavirus pandemic has reached the farthest corners of the world. Fear of contracting the disease is still very high in some people. They are especially afraid of those who have comorbidities that aggravate the symptoms of COVID-19. Is it possible to effectively protect oneself from coronavirus?
How does the coronavirus work?
Coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2, multiplies intensively in the upper respiratory tract after entering the body. This makes it very easy for infected people who do not yet have symptoms of the disease to infect others. The virus is spread by the droplet route – when sneezing, talking or coughing – but also by touch, so even briefly being with a sick person without observing sanitary standards can lead to infection.
How does the coronavirus work? SARS-CoV-2 triggers a cytokine immune response. Simply put, the body’s immune cells begin to attack the virus. Unfortunately, sometimes there is an excessive immune response, but for the time being its causes are not known. It is worth remembering that in order for the virus to multiply, it must enter the cell of an infected person and use its genetic material to make a copy of itself. This involves killing that cell and leads to the destruction of the organism. This is how all ruthless cellular parasites – all viruses – work.
Coronavirus recommendations
The number of cases of coronavirus is significant at all times. For now, it is difficult for anyone to answer the question of when the coronavirus will end. How the pandemic will continue depends, among other things, on maintaining sanitary standards and undergoing vaccinations. If the disease is suspected, a test for coronavirus – a swab from the respiratory tract – can be done as soon as the first symptoms appear or, if symptoms do not appear, a few days after contact with an infected person. With blood tests, it’s worth holding off a little longer, about two to three weeks, so that antibody levels rise enough to be determinable.
For the time being, there is no effective cure for COVID-19, so it is treated symptomatically. This is why it is so important to follow the recommendations.
Protective measures against coronavirus
What are the basic measures of protection? Contracting coronavirus, the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate recommends, can be avoided by following hygiene rules in daily life. This primarily involves sneezing into the bend of the elbow or a handkerchief, frequent hand washing with soap and water, disinfecting hands with alcohol-based preparations, avoiding large gatherings of people and contact with potentially ill people, keeping a safe distance – a minimum of 1.5 meters, and not touching the eyes, nose and mouth so as not to transmit the virus directly to the upper respiratory tract.
The question remains – do masks protect against coronavirus?
Masks are by far one of the most important ways to reduce the transmission of coronavirus. Wearing a mask correctly, that is, covering the mouth and nose, protects other people first and foremost. The obligation to wear masks is therefore about protecting each other. Don’t worry about maskne, it’s less important than your health.
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