[Published Post] Keeping Clean Against COVID-19
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
What researchers know so far is that COVID-19 spreads through invisible droplets that come from sneezing, coughing, and talking. Instead of travelling through air over long distances, these droplets either fall to the ground or onto surfaces like tables, chairs, cups, plates, utensils, doorknobs, light switches, faucets, appliance buttons, and clothes. Some researchers have discovered that these droplets are “stable” on surfaces, meaning that the virus can live in them between several hours to three whole days. Because of this, scientists are studying whether people have fallen ill by touching contaminated objects, and then touching their face (CDC says they haven’t, but COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving virus so this may change).
Like everybody, I’m worried by how quickly COVID-19 seems to spread; in fact, the World Health Organization shares that about 3.4% of the reported 4.5 million COVID-19 cases have died (around 297,000 deaths), as opposed to the less than 1% who have died because of seasonal flu. I took inspiration from Vietnam, a country where people have been exceptional in applying many of the above measures and incorporating them in the catchy English-language “Gian Co Vy” music video, in keeping my household free from the virus.
 |
| Image courtesy of Freepik. |