Better to be Safe than Sorry: Useful COVID-19 Prevention Tips for Everyone
Protect yourself and other people from COVID-19. Stay safe by taking some simple precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a face mask and face shield, avoiding crowds, and cleaning your hands using rubbing alcohol. Always keep yourself updated on news about the virus where you live and work.
Things to remember when wearing a mask:
*It is an absolute no-no to wear a mask with your nose sticking out because it’s hot or it makes you uncomfortable.
*You can only remove it when you’re drinking water or eating.
*Don’t remove it as much as possible. When doing so, remove the elastic cords from your ears while holding the mask itself.
*Do not touch it unless needed.
Pointers when choosing a mask:
* If a mask is too large or doesn’t fit perfectly, don’t use it.
* When you wear a mask, make sure it covers your entire face, especially your nose or cheeks without leaving any gap.
* Use a mask without any valve as it’s not good at filtering pathogens and viruses.
The importance of wearing a face shield.
Recently, aside from masks, wearing face shields became mandatory when going out in public.
What are the benefits of using face shields? When someone next to you sneezes or coughs, they unintentionally release and spread particles and viruses in the form of droplets. In a way, a face shield acts as a protective barrier against these harmful droplets. But you shouldn’t let your guard down just because you think you’re safe, especially in an air-conditioned restaurant or shop where the COVID-19 virus could pass through the gaps in your face mask. So you shouldn’t stay in any establishment for a long time.
Is it counterproductive to use rubbing alcohol with high concentrations?
Rubbing alcohol is sold in various concentrations. Even though people may think the higher concentration is more effective, experts say 70% is actually better for disinfecting: It has more water, which helps it kill bacteria and germs more efficiently. Remember, stronger isn’t always better when it comes to alcohol.
Vitamin D is effective in preventing and reducing the risk of developing serious illnesses
Vitamin D is steadily gaining popularity as it helps prevent and reduces the chance of developing serious diseases such as the coronavirus. Vitamin D deficiency is highly correlated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ASDR), the leading cause of death of COVID-19 patients. Dr. Kathleen Modina also recommends taking it alongside your daily dose of vitamins. Fatty food such as egg yolks, cod liver oil, and salmon as well as sunlight are excellent sources of this much-need vitamin.
Also read: Let’s Talk About COVID-19 With Dr. Kathleen Modina
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Items recommended by doctors:
Korean-made mask
The KF94 mask is a disposable face mask commonly used in South Korea. It fits firmly over the nose and mouth, which blocks 94% of viral particles and airborne pathogens from entering the body thanks to its protective filter. Due to its effectiveness, it has started to gain popularity in Japan. You can buy it on Lazada in the Philippines at P150 per mask. It is expensive, but the protection it provides has been proven effective by Dr. Modina.
Ear guard
An item made from soft silicone that reduces ear discomfort caused by using a mask for a long time. To wear it, loop the elastic band around one button, place it around your head, then secure the second elastic band around the other button.
This first appeared in Philippine Primer’s English and Japanese Magazines April 2021 issue.
