COVID B - SMART UPDATE ON NEW NORMAL JUNE 2020

June 2020 sees the easing of the quarantine in many places in the Philippines, from ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine) to GCQ (General Community Quarantine) and from GCQ (General Community Quarantine) to MGCQ (Modified General Community Quarantine). 

With these new changes, all the more we have to be vigilant to prevent escalation of the COVID 9 infection and to prevent the chance of being infected.

Here is again the photo story on the World Health Organization (WHO.int) and the Philippine Department of Health (doh.gov.ph) BASIC PROTECTIVE MEASURES VERSUS COVID-19 VIRUS as advised to the community! 

Let us heed their words of wisdom as we see the transition to the "NEW NORMAL".

S means Stay Home.

As our Frontliners request :

We stay at work for you.

Please stay home for us.

Stay home and self-isolate even with minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever, until you recover. Have someone bring you supplies. 

If you need to leave your house, wear a mask to avoid infecting others. Why? Avoiding contact with others will protect them from possible COVID-19 and other viruses. (who.int)

M means Measure Distance

M means Maintain Social Distancing of 1 meter  (3 feet) distance between yourself and others, and if possible, preferably 2 meters (6 feet) distance.

Presently, this is now called Physical Distancing.

Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and others. Why? When someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person has the disease. (who.int)

Avoid going to crowded places. Why? Where people come together in crowds, you are more likely to come into close contact with someone that has COVID-19 and it is more difficult to maintain physical distance of 1 metre (3 feet). (who.int)

A means Always Wash Your Hands

A means Alcohol Hand Rub

HANDWASHING IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF PREVENTING ALL VIRUSES INCLUDING COVID-19.

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands. (who.int)

R means RESPIRATORY HYGIENE

Practice proper cough etiquette or good respiratory hygiene

Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash your hands. Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19. (who.int)

Although, wearing of surgical face mask is not recommended by WHO, wearing of face covering such as Cloth MASKS is practically a rule in most of the LGUs in the Philippines. 

Do you need a MASK to protect yourself against COVID 19? (doh.gov.ph)

No. People with no respiratory signs and symptoms do not need to wear a medical mask. DOH recommends the use of medical masks only for the following:

a.  For people who are presenting with symptoms of COVID-19;

b.  Those caring for individals who have symptoms such as cough and fever, and

c. Health care workers

DOH, together with WHO, advises the rational use of medical masks to avoid unnecessary wastage of vital resources and mis-use of masks.

ABOUT FACE COVERING: (cdc.gov)

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations.

A cloth face covering may not protect the wearer, but it may keep the wearer from spreading the virus to others:

Cloth face coverings are an additional step to slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with every day preventive actions and physical distancing in public settings.

Cloth face coverings should be washed after each use.

T means TOUCH M-E-N NOT.

Avoid touching M-E-N meaning Mouth- Eyes- Nose.

For greetings, avoid shaking hands, kissing and hugging.
Why not share a wave, nod, bow, a beaming smile 😊 😃 😀 or a finger heart!
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and infect you. (who.int)

Always remember:

B   S - M - A - R - T

BASIC PROTECTIVE MEASURES 

VERSUS COVID-19 VIRUS

Be a HERO just by following the health advisories... our way to contribute to society!

Let us all COOPERATE and ACTIVELY be an instrument in FIGHTING COVID-19 ... to PROTECT OURSELVES and to PROTECT OUR LOVE ONES!

LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER TO HELP DECREASE OUR CHANCE TO BE INFECTED AND TO PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD OF THE COVID-19 INFECTION AT THIS TIME OF THE EASING OF THE COMMUNITY QUARANTINE AND AS WE MOVE TOWARDS THE "NEW NORMAL"!

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Want to learn more? Just click this link: https://inpinaysciudad.blogspot.com/2020/04/covid-19-pandemic-be-smart.html

P.S. 1.

These are gathered from the World Health Organization (WHO.int) website - ADVICE FOR THE PUBLIC.

These are also gathered from the Philippine Department of Health (doh.gov.ph) - COVID-19 FAQs.

P.S. 2.

Second, third and fourth photos are from the Ciudad Medical Zamboanga Facebook Page.

P.S. 3.

This B  S-M-A-R-T mnemonic is revised from one given by a Philippine Department of Health representative, where SMART means, Stay Home, Measure Distance, Always Wash Your Hands, Report Cases, Tell the Truth.