COVID-19 in the US
COVID-19 is around the world for over 2 months. At first, it was started to infect the Chinese in Wuhan, Hubei. And then it is spreading all over China, and Now all over the world … And now it is pandemic! The cases in the United States are increasing rapidly every day and the WHO keep telling people that containment of COVID-19 must be the top priority for all countries, but at the same time, countries should be preparing for sustained community transmission.
The cluster in Seattle senior care facility is already telling us how serious of the situation is in the United States. But the media and the experts are telling the public “no need to wear masks” but try stay away from crowds to save the masks for healthcare professionals who would be in the front line for the virus. And the WHO will continue to provide evidence-based guidance to help countries and individuals to assess and manage their risk, and make decisions.
In those couple months when the Chinese fighting the virus provided lots of evidence and effective methods: Use herb medicine, Wear face masks, wash hands often, stay in home… are the effective measures to stop spreading COVID-19. After all, isolation is the most important measure! And in China, the close management of each society, quarantine the patients and the close contacts are seriously taken. That is why they can successfully contain the virus spread and decrease the number of patients.
Isolate Patient, stop the transmission road, protect the susceptible population are the golden rule to stop communicable infectious diseases. It is in the text book!
Isolation can be two sides: prevent disease transmission and protect people who need to be close contact to the patient. When there is a patient identified, we put him/her in isolation room and not allow him/her to go out to spread the disease, which is called the patient is in isolation. When healthcare personal went to the room to take care of the patient, we wear personal protective equipment (face mask, barrier gown, and gargle, gloves) to protect self not get and spread the disease that is called reverse isolation.
Now, we knew there are people who were infected by the COVID-19 was asymptomatic but contagious, they can spread the virus to others. That is already proven true in China. That is why when the epidemic started, the Chinese not only quarantined the epidemic center, but also quarantined other cities. It is effectively contained the disease.
But now, the disease is in the US and there were increased cases every day. The US “experts” keep telling public there is “no need” to wear mask. I understand that they do not want the public panic to not able to get masks due to the shortage of supplies. But also misleading! Wear mask could protect you from get contact to whoever carrying the virus when you have to go to grocery store, get on a bus, train, or airplane.
But the culture in the US is: sick person wear mask. It made it hard to wear one if you are not sick. But, really, do you trust people around you not carrying the virus when you have to go shopping?
Yes, like all the healthcare experts said: To prevent the spread of this illness or other illnesses, including the flu:
Wash your hands often with soap and water,
Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze,
Stay home when you’re sick, and
See your doctor if you think you’re ill.
Also, I would like to add: when go to public place, wear a mask!