spinner Costamed

Preventive Medicine

The best medicine we have against the coronavirus COVID-19 is the preventive one. 

Powered by Froala Editor

Wash hands constantly using the appropriate technique

Proper technique. Click  here.

Importance: The virus comes wrapped in a lipid membrane (fat), and given its chemical composition, soap is designed to eliminate fat. When we wash our hands, we eliminate the layer that protects the virus leaving it exposed and eliminating it.  Karen Fleming, MD, John Hopkins Hospital. 

Powered by Froala Editor

Clean with disinfectant the objects with which we have daily contact

Duration of the virus on surfaces. Click here

Importance: Recent scientific studies have detected the estimated time that the virus can remain stable:

  • 3 hours in a spraying manner (e.g., a sneeze)
  • 24 hours in cardboard.
  • 2 to 3 days in plastic and stainless steel.

It is therefore important to constantly clean surfaces we come into contact. 

Powered by Froala Editor

Constantly and with the proper technique, clean hands with antibacterial gel (70% to 80% alcohol concentration)

Proper technique. Click here.

Importance: Meets the same cleaning and disinfection functions as hand washing, provided that it is done with a product it keeps the 60 to 80% alcohol ratio.

     

Powered by Froala Editor

Keep a safe distance of 1 mt. (3 ft.) from the people with whom we live

Importance: If you keep close distance from someone who may have the disease (remember that symptoms are not always evident), you may breathe saliva droplets when that person sneezes, coughs or even speaks, introducing the virus into your body.   

Powered by Froala Editor

Sneeze or cough into the elbow (Count Dracula-type hug)

Importance: By doing this we avoid saliva droplets from spreading the contagion; besides, it is not possible for this part of the body to come in contact with our face. 

Powered by Froala Editor

Stay home and/or limit outings as much as possible.

Importance: By limiting outings as much as possible, we avoid becoming a statistic of this disease, plus we can make things manageable. 

Considering the current behavior of the disease, it is not unlikely that it reaches our countries and/or cities; however, staying home can prevent new infections and the health system is the given enough time to address cases that gradually appear and not so many people at one time.  

Finally, we must remember that Health Services (public and private) provide care for many other diseases and accidents of different nature. Staying home helps us not to collapse the medical services as it has happened in many other places.     

Powered by Froala Editor

Keep informed about COVID-19 updates through local and/or national reliable sources

Importante: Misinformation may lead to unwise actions that could complicate the general situation.  It is important to stay up to date following reliable sources such as WHO, Health Institutions and the Ministry of Heald. Social networks are not reliable sources.  

A virus, by its very nature, tends to mutate. Updates are important in order to take further preventive actions.

Powered by Froala Editor