People in the U.S. may be worried or anxious about friends and relatives who are living in or visiting areas where COVID-19 is spreading. People are worried about the disease and have a lot of questions. Fear and anxiety can lead to social stigma, for example, towards Chinese or other Asian Americans or people who were in quarantine [1].
Stigma is discrimination against an identifiable group of people, a place, or a nation. Stigma is associated with a lack of knowledge about how COVID-19 spreads, a need to blame someone, fears about disease and death, and gossip that spreads rumors and myths [1].
Stigma hurts everyone by creating more fear or anger towards ordinary people instead of the disease that is causing the problem [1].
Anger, anxiety and fear and other feelings could lead to mental distress as well.
Some tips to take care of your mental health during this time of uncertainty:
- Separate what is in your control from what is not. There are things you can do, and it’s helpful to focus on those [8].
- Do what helpsyou feel a sense of safety. This will be different for everyone, and it’s important not to compare yourself to others.
- Get outside in nature–even if you are avoiding crowds.
- Challenge yourself to stay in the present. Perhaps your worry is compounding—you are not only thinking about what is currently happening, but also projecting into the future. When you find yourself worrying about something that hasn’t happened, gently bring yourself back to the present moment [8].
- Stay connected and reach out if you need more support. Talk to trusted friends about what you are feeling. If you are feeling particularly anxious or if you are struggling with your mental health, it’s ok to reach out to a mental health professional for support [8].
If you’re feeling alone and struggling, you can also reach out to The Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK [8].
What is COVID-19?
On February 11, 2020 the World Health Organization announced an official name for the disease that is causing the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak, first identified in Wuhan China. The new name of this disease is coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated as COVID-19. In COVID-19, ‘CO’ stands for ‘corona,’ ‘VI’ for ‘virus,’ and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as “2019 novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV” [1].
There are many types of human coronaviruses including some that commonly cause mild upper-respiratory tract illnesses. COVID-19 is a new disease, caused be a novel (or new) coronavirus that has not previously been seen in humans [1].
WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction [3].
“We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.
Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death [3].”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website is currently one of the most reliable resources. Along with the World Health Organization (WHO). You can also find an interactive web-based dashboard hosted by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, to visualize and track reported cases in real-time. [2]
How COVID-19 Spreads:
Person-to-person spread
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs [6].
Can someone spread the virus without being sick?
- People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
- Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads [6].
Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects
- It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads [6].
Watch for symptoms
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases [7].
The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
You should know that older people and people with chronic diseases are at higher risk.
Call your doctor if you develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 [3]. Call ahead: If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed [5].
Steps to Prevent Illness
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) [4].
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs [4].
Take steps to protect yourself:
Clean your hands often
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands [4].
Avoid close contact
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick [4].
Take steps to protect others
Stay home if you’re sick
- Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick [4].
Cover coughs and sneezes
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
- Throw used tissues in the trash.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol [4].
Wear a facemask if you are sick
- If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick.
- If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers [4].
Clean and disinfect
- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
- If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection [4].
Please use this informational piece and use the sources listed to get educational information about COVID-19. It is important to keep yourself and your loved ones aware and informed with accurate information. It is also important to avoid panic buying. For those who do need to self-isolate, they can have family and/ or friends drop off supplies rather than anticipating ahead of time and stockpiling.
~Jasneelam Kaur, MPH
Main CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.
CDC INFO: 800-232-6348
CDC EOC: 770-488-7100
Sources:
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
[2]https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
[5] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html
[6] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html
[7] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html
[8] https://afsp.org/taking-care-of-your-mental-health-in-the-face-of-uncertainty/