5 Lesser Known Ways to Lower Covid-19 Infection Risk
It’s safe to assume that by now, all of us
are aware of the main ways to keep safe from the novel coronavirus -
avoid crowds, wash your hands often and thoroughly, and wear a mask when
you have to go outside. Now that cities are starting to reopen, it is
by no means the time to let our guard down. On the contrary, you may
find yourself in situations that require caution more often. So it is
even more crucial to be aware of some lesser-known but practical steps
you can take to cut down your risk of getting infected significantly.
This list contains five such safety measures, which you may have not
been aware of yet.
1. Wear eye protection
It has already become common knowledge that
wearing a mask outside is necessary and important, as they cover the
mouth and the nose, and thus significantly increase our safety from the
coronavirus. What many are still unaware of is that protecting the eyes
is just as crucial. A study conducted at John Hopkins University in May
explains that if a person with Covid-19 coughs or sneezes near you, the
viral droplets could land close to or even in your eyes, enter your body
and infiltrate your cells.
As not all of us have access to a PPE face shield, the American Academy
of Ophthalmology noted that sunglasses can do the trick as well. They do
caution that finer particles can travel around the tops and sides of
the lenses, however, wearing them does minimize the risk of infection.
2. Take your shoes off at the door
In the south Indian homes, it is a habit to leave the footwear outside the house. Also, when we visit Dr.'s clinic, some shops, we've to leave our footwear outside the room/ shop !
In a previous article, we laid out the role
of shoes in spreading the virus and how to tackle the risk. The CDC
recently shared a study that tested the soled of ICU workers’ shoes, and
concluded over half of them had traces of the virus on them. While it’s
true that if you don’t work in a hospital it's far less far likely that
your feet will come in contact with it, the transmission is still
possible if you happen to step on spit, gum, or sneeze droplets.
A good habit to adopt in order to lower your risk of infection is to
just take off your shoes at the front door and make sure everyone else
in the household follows this rule.
3. Keep your home properly ventilated
Scientific American recently pointed out another possible form of
transmission besides respiratory droplets - aerosols. These smaller
particles can remain suspended in the air and are harder to avoid than
larger droplets that fall to the ground, especially indoors. Luckily,
there is something to be done about it. Research published in
Environment International found that improving ventilation in the home
(or public space) can significantly reduce the risk of infection. You
may use particle filtration and air disinfection devices, but even
simple fixes like keeping your windows open for better airflow can have a
positive effect.
4. Wear a mask at home
One study, which is yet to be
peer-reviewed, suggests that about 80% of coronavirus cases stemmed from
within the household - meaning that if one family member or housemate
catches it, your risk of infection spikes. That is good news for those
of us living alone, although it may be a source for other problems in
these times of isolation. How can you slash your infection risk if you
do live with other people? It may sound funny, but wearing a mask inside
your home may work wonders to keep you safe. In fact, a BMJ Global
Health study found this method to be 79% effective at curbing
coronavirus transmissions between family members.
The only catch is, the mask has to be worn before symptoms appear in the
first person infected in your household. For that reason, wearing the
mask at home is pivotal even if nobody is showing symptoms. This safety
measure is becoming especially relevant now that lock down restrictions
are starting to ease, and the likelihood of a person who’s been infected
but is unaware is increasing.
5. Having had a cold recently
Catching a cold always feels like a
nuisance, but if you have suffered through one recently, it might be an
advantage. The common cold is, in fact, a different type of coronavirus.
When our body is fighting to recover from cold, it produces T cells - A
type of white blood cell that is of key importance to the immune system
and is at the core of adaptive immunity. The T cells target and kill
infected host cells of the pathogen, activate other immune cells, and
regulating the immune response. After recovering from a cold, some of
those soldier cells are often still present, and they may promote
“cross-reactive” antiviral immunity for Covid-19. Obviously, you cannot
control whether or not you catch a cold, but it is still valuable
information and a silver lining in an otherwise unpleasant situation.