This is just a quick post to pass on some info that was shared with me recently about the Corona Virus. This info is not from an official source (I must stress that point) but as I found it interesting and its common sense approach clarified things for me I felt it may be useful for some of you to read too.  If by sharing these tips we can prevent even one infection, that may in turn prevent 10 others from becoming infected, so every small win counts in my book as we work together to lessen the impact that Corona Virus may have on us all.

sensible advice worth knowing

Corona virus infection does not cause a cold with a dripping nose or catarrhal cough, but a dry throat and dry cough: this is the easiest thing to know.

When the virus is found on metal surfaces, it survives for about 12 hours.  So when you touch metal surfaces such as handles, doors, appliances, supports on tubes and trains, etc., wash your hands well and disinfect them carefully.

The virus can live nested in clothes and fabrics for about 6/12 hours: normal detergents can kill it.  For clothes that cannot be washed every day, if you can expose them to the sun and the virus will die.

How to prevent it
The virus only survives on your hands for about ten minutes, so hand washing or sanitising will help massively.
You can gargle with a disinfectant solution that eliminates or minimises the amount of virus that could enter your throat: in doing so, you eliminate it before it goes down into the trachea and then into the lungs.

The virus isn’t heat resistant and dies if exposed to temperatures of 26-27 degrees: therefore consume hot drinks such as tea, herbal tea and broth during the day as often as possible, as hot liquids can neutralise the virus. Everyone should make sure that their mouth and throat are moist, never DRY.  Drink a few sips of water at least every 15 minutes.  WHY?  Even if the virus gets into your mouth, water or other liquids will sweep it away through the oesophagus and into the stomach where Gastric acid kills it.

Taiwanese experts suggest doing a simple check that we can do on our own every morning:
Take a deep breath and hold your breath for more than 10 seconds.  If you successfully complete it without coughing, without discomfort, a sense of oppression, etc., this shows that there is no fibrosis in the lungs, indicating essentially no infection.

Exercise caution

I must stress again that this is not official info that I have shared with you and not a definitive “how to” list but if it may add to the common sense hygiene approach the government is advocating we follow at present I hope you find it helpful. If you would like to find the latest up to date government advice head here to the www.gov.co.uk website.