Amid the coronavirus scare in India, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) issued a booklet in order to bust the myth surrounding the disease.
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The booklet, 'COVID-19 - Be careful, not fearful,' is aimed at dispelling the myths surrounding the corona scare. The Top medical institute urged people to imbibe correct knowledge and become aware. At the top of the cover it is written "Follow cough etiquette, hand hygiene and personal care. Spread a word of precaution through your share."
Talking about how the infected transmitted the virus, it said: "When a person suffering from this disease sneezes or coughs, a lot of droplets spread in the air or fall on the ground and nearby surfaces. If another person is nearby and inhales the droplets or touches these surfaces and then touches his face, eyes or mouth, he can get the infection. Chances are more if one is within a distance of less than 1 meter from the infected person".
The booklet claimed that at least 86 per cent of people, which constituted a majority, will require no treatment as such and will recover on their own. "A small proportion (less than 20%) may need hospitalization and a very small proportion, mainly with underlying chronic illness, may need admission in intensive care unit (ICU)," said the booklet. It also said that, although the disease can occur in all age groups, the infection is generally mild in children. Older persons and persons with pre-existing medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, cancer or diabetes are at a high risk to develop serious illness.
Talking about the survival of the coronavirus on a surface, the booklet said that it is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other viruses. Studies suggest that coronavirus, including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus, may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days.
The AIIMS also aserted that persons having no symptoms are not supposed to use mask, rather observe hand hygiene, coughing and sneezing etiquette, maintaining social distance and monitoring one's body temperature.
