Keeping Safe from Coronavirus: Self Care Tips

As health authorities ramp up precautionary measures in light of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, there are also simple prevention measures that individuals can adopt to keep safe. Although wearing face masks is a common first instinct, they should only be worn when ill, and are just one part of an overall infection control strategy.

While face masks provide a physical barrier to protect your nose and mouth, viral and bacterial infections are also often transmitted through hand contact or commonly touched surfaces. As such, frequent and proper hand washing is essential to keep the virus at bay. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers are a good alternative if soap and water are unavailable. Close monitoring of changes in your health, especially if you have recently returned from an overseas trip, is also an important part of exercising responsible behaviour.

Assoc Prof Piotr Chlebicki, Senior Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), tells more.

COVID-19 Breakthrough:
Scientists in Singapore Culture Virus

In a ground-breaking research achievement, scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) – in close collaboration with clinicians and scientists from SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and Ministry of Health (MOH) – have successfully cultured the coronavirus from an infected patient’s clinical sample.

Singapore is the third nation outside China to culture the virus, coming only a week after the country’s first coronavirus case was confirmed. The virus, cultured in a Singapore facility, will be used for developing new diagnostic methods, monitoring potential mutation and testing for potential vaccine and drugs.

“This is a crucial step forward for Singapore and neighbouring countries in response to the evolving coronavirus outbreak. We will continue our efforts and do our best to serve the nation, the region and the world in controlling this outbreak,” said Professor Wang Linfa, Director of the Duke-NUS’ Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme, who is one of the most recognised international experts on emerging zoonotic viruses and is currently serving on multiple WHO committees on the coronavirus.