Coronavirus: Testing positive, a death sentence?

By Carl Umegboro

Coronavirus contagion (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus. A novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China. The disease causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing.

Coronavirus disease spreads primarily through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze. It also spreads when a person touches a surface or object that has the virus on it, then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth.

However, it must be noted that testing positive to the conoravirus (covid-19) is not a death sentence but invitation to an immediate medical attention. It therefore must not be taken out of proportion. From records, Lagos alone has witnessed 5 cases of recovered patients after treatment. In Nigeria, a total of eight persons have recovered at the moment according to NCDC records.

No doubt, COVID-19 presently has no direct and clearly identified cure. Nevertheless, scientists around the world are working very hard to develop a vaccine against it. However, it must be noted that albeit coronavirus is dangerous, it doesn’t absolutely lead to death. Many that tested positive on the virus have survived following intensive treatments.

As Coronavirus pandemic is new, having been detected in 2019, it is important to note that other diseases including the dreadful Flu also known as Influenza, Ebola, Lassa fever, even malaria, hepatitis, typhoid fever, and tuberculosis first showed up with similar fears to the people. Today, most of them are no longer big deals but under control having been thoroughly examined with cures available. Notwithstanding, malaria still kills people today when not adequately treated or detected in time.

Suffice to say that the amplified fears over coronavirus is actually the greatest challenge facing the society today. The appropriate remedy is to take seriously the precautionary measures from the health sector particularly the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Ministry of Health. Fears on its own is more deadly than any of the dreadful diseases.

Across the world, WHO (World Health Organization) reports that coronavirus contagion presently has a total of 786,617 confirmed cases with 36,832 deaths recorded while 165,890 treated cases recovered from the virus at the moment.

In Nigeria, as at 30 March, there are 131 confirmed cases tested positive to the virus with 2 deaths recorded. Number of persons that recovered following intensive treatment and consequently is yet to be confirmed.

In the United States of America, over 164,266 confirmed cases with 3,170 deaths documented recorded while over 4,913 recovered.

Similarly, in Italy, 101,739 confirmed cases while 14,620 recovered, and 11,591 passed on. In Spain, 87,956 cases were confirmed while 16,780 recovered but 7,716 victims died as a result of the disease. From the records, it shows that testing positive doesn’t absolutely lead to death if timely detected and treated accordingly.

Therefore, you can positively help yourself by contacting the appropriate quarters if any of the symptoms is detected for early medical attention. Essentially, you can protect yourself and help prevent spreading the virus to others if you wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub

Furthermore, always cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze, and avoid close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell. And if you feel unwell, stay clear and self-isolate from others in the household.

Of course, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean is a no-go area.

Umegboro is a public affairs analyst and Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom). 08023184542 – SMS only.  Https:CarlUmegboro.com