My friends and I have been laughing at and sharing memes about Corona Virus. In our defense they’ve been pretty entertaining. I mean,
And back then it was someone else’s problem since it was more of an overseas pandemic.That was until, Mutahi Kagwe the CS for health announced the first case in the country. Things got really scary when I read somewhere the woman who had been infected traveled all the way to Kitale and back to Nairobi before she was diagnosed. She insists she used a private helicopter but that is yet to be verified.
Immediately a dozen thoughts flooded my brain. What if she used public transport, stopped by Eldoret for a snack and ended up spreading the virus? I hear we posta self quarantine, I don’t even have money to stock up on food and other basic items. What are the symptoms? Is there a cure?
Let’s Stop With The Ignorance
I’ve been hearing about Corona virus for about a month now and I know nothing about it. How could I possibly be that ignorant? Anywho the Bible says my people perish because of lack of knowledge. So I took it upon myself to self educate. And because I am a nice, selfless, lovely, concerned and caring girl?, I thought I’d share what I found out with you guys.
What Is Coronavirus
Apparently, there’s an entire family of Coronaviruses. The one we are currently dealing with, however, is a novel Coronavirus. What this means is it had not been previously identified until December last year when it first broke out in Wuhan, China. It might not be as severe as other diseases caused by other Coronavirus family members such as Sars and MERS but it is definitely more contagious.
How Is It Spread?
Covid-19 is spread through contact with respiratory droplets. If a person infected with virus sneezes, coughs or speaks, the virus gets transferred to the surfaces and areas around him or her. If a healthy person touches these surfaces or areas and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth, the virus then enters into their body and they become infected.
What Are The Symptoms of Coronavirus?
The symptoms of Covid-19 start showing between 1 and 14 days after infection. Most patients report symptoms within 5 days. These symptoms include;
- fever
- tiredness
- dry cough
- aches and pains
- nasal congestion
- runny nose
- sore throat
- diarrhea.
These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.
Who Does It Affect?
Covid-19 affects people of all ages and genders. While am at it let me burst the myth that Africans or rather dark-skinned people are resistant to the virus. The Kenyan mama is proof it does. There have also been cases in DRC, Ethiopia, Sudan, and several other African countries.
Senior citizens and people with preexisting medical conditions such as HBP and diabetes are, however, at a higher risk of getting seriously I’ll.
How Can You Protect Yourself From Getting Covid-19?
Our Honorable Governor, Mr. Mandago, held a press release educating Eldoretians on all the tips they need to stay Covid-19 free. Love how proactive he is. In case you did not catch the video, here it is.
Basically, you just have to follow a few basic rules.
1️⃣Avoid shaking hands or hugging when greeting.
I know most people think this is a joke or just the Kenyan government being mediocre. News flash, it’s actually a directive given by the World Health Organization.
2️⃣Wash your hands regularly
Since the disease Covid-19 virus can survive on a surface for up to several days, you are advised to clean your hands regularly so as to get rid of any viruses on your hands that you may have come into contact with. This should be done using an alcohol-based sanitizer or soap and water.
Please note, drinking alcohol or spraying your body with alcohol does not help prevent infection. You should also wash your hands before touching your face especially your mouth, nose, and eyes.
3️⃣Stay 1 meter apart from anyone sneezing or coughing
Maintain a 3 feet distance which is equivalent to 1 meter, from any individual who is coughing or sneezing to prevent infection.
4️⃣Practice Proper Respiratory Hygiene
Hii tulifunzwa primary. When you cough you are supposed to cover your mouth. Normally you do it with your palms or with a handkerchief. The stakes are however higher here so WHO has directed instead of a handkerchief use a disposable tissue and instead of your palm, use your elbow.
5️⃣If you notice any signs or symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
If you are experiencing fever, cough and difficulty breathing, tafadhali muone daktari. This will help health professionals handle the case before it gets serious. You are also asked to self-quarantine for at least 14 days and to wear a mask to avoid infecting those around you.
6️⃣Last but not least avoid public gatherings and crowded place.
There’s a chicken wings eating contest today at The Wave Restaurant that I really wanted to go to but all things considered I think imma stay in my crib and continue binge-watching. I don’t know if I’ll be strong enough to not party since it’s the weekend but oh well, do as I say not as I do???. Avoid crowded places to minimize the risk of infection.
Does Coronavirus Have A Cure?
Sadly, there is no cure or vaccine for Covid-19. There are however drugs that can be administered to alleviate symptoms. Matter of fact, most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Only around 1 out of every 6 people who get COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develop difficulty breathing.
So far, there have been 145,000 reported cases of Corona Virus and more than 5000 deaths according to AL Jazeera. Conspiracy theorists have also started linking the disease with the signs of the end times.
I am definitely not ready for this conversation. Dear Jesus, please don’t come yet. I really wanna make it to heaven. Me and all the people I love. Ukikam Sai Kuna venye tricky.. So please give us time to get our shit together so we can all go to heaven, pretty please. Kaikai. Amen.
In the meantime beloved Eldoret folks…Stay safe, stay alert, and may God protect us all.
Also, as you self educate, enjoy the following memes because life’s too short to stress about anything way too much, even a pandemic.
