Coronavirus prevention

Face Mask or Hand Sanitiser? How to Beat the Coronavirus!

With conspiracy theories, intertwined with apocalyptic predictions, everyone is talking about the coronavirus, now called COVID-19. People have stocked up on antiseptic hand gels, disinfectants and many are now desperately trying to get hold of face masks. However, recent research has revealed that they don’t really offer much protection at all.

So what exactly is going on and how can we stay healthy?

Firstly, Coronavirus is a large group of viruses that are common among animals. So how exactly does it spread?

Although this coronavirus initially spread from animals to humans, now anyone infected can pass it on to someone else. It is spread via droplets when a person coughs or sneezes.

What are the coronavirus symptoms?

Coronavirus and flu share many similar symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose without a test. The NHS was one of the first to develop a test. The main symptoms to look out for are fever and a cough. People with coronavirus may experience extreme breathing difficulties.

More severe symptoms occur in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.

What are the available vaccinations or treatment for coronavirus?

You can recover from it but there are no specific treatments or vaccines presently. This explains the unusual and extreme precautions now in place. Hubei province where the outbreak started remains in lock-down and numerous transport restrictions have been put in place by the Chinese government. Foreign nationals are still being evacuated from China, with subsequent quarantine procedures in place upon their return home.

Related: ‘Face Masks Might Actually Increase Infection Risk For COVID-19

Travelling to China?

Check the regularly updated advice provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The critical protection advice if you have travelled from Wuhan or Hubei Province to the UK in the last 14 days, or have developed symptoms such as a cough, fever or shortness of breath after returning to the UK from another part of China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau all in the last 14 days, you should immediately:

  • stay indoors and avoid contact with other people
  • do not visit A&E, your GP or local pharmacy
  • call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the area

A vital part of our defence against the coronavirus (or any other disease) is remembering the ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’ flu message. Always carry tissues to catch coughs and sneezes and bin them immediately. Wash hands with soap and water, or use sanitiser gel to kill germs.

protection against coronavirus

As accessible local NHS outposts, all our Bristol Travel Clinic Pharmacies offer up to date travel advice; and our vaccinations are all at the lowest-cost guaranteed. We promise to protect your health, wherever you are travelling to. Come in to see us or call free on 0800 772 35 75.