FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARСH 26, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 29
Three things you can do for coronavirus prevention
BY ROBERT GLATTER, MD
Th e novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is
still top of mind for many New Yorkers as
the illness continues to spread throughout
the state and U.S. We’re in a diff erent situation
than from a week ago, and certainly
from a month ago.
While the global outbreak may make
you feel overwhelmed and scared, it is
important to remember that the health
risk to the average American remains low,
and that the vast majority of cases are
mild and do not require hospitalization.
Perspective is key.
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that
is in the same family of viruses as the
common cold, Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). As testing
in the U.S. ramped up, the amount of
confi rmed cases spiked, all while helping
us understand more about this virus. For
example, we know the symptoms are similar
to the fl u and a bad respiratory infection,
such as pneumonia.
Th e novel coronavirus is a new virus
and no one has immunity. But you can
play a role in helping deter its path. Follow
these tips to contribute:
Stay home
Yes, this is the best remedy right now.
Staying home removes the risk of you
contracting the illness and spreading it if
you already have it. It’s the only option if
we truly will get out of this situation.
To further these eff orts, more than 10
states — including New York — have
followed California’s lead on employing
“stay-at-home” restrictions for all non-essential
employees. Th is means you should
not be working at your offi ce or regular
location unless you work in health
care, pharmacies, grocery stores, certain
infrastructure entities (utilities, water supply,
telecommunications, etc.) and critical
manufacturing businesses.
Th e order also calls to eliminate all
gatherings of any size. So, please, stay
home and enjoy your family.
If you do develop symptoms like fever,
cough or diffi culty breathing, seek medical
attention and call in advance. If you
are not experiencing severe symptoms,
avoid hospital emergency departments,
which are extremely busy this time of year
and have been tested with the rise in positive
COVID-19 cases needing care.
If you do test positive for COVID-19,
but have no symptoms, talk to your health
care provider about next steps. Most people
will recover if they self-quarantine or
self-isolate. Understand what that means
and the risk you put on others by leaving
your dwelling.
Remember, the fi rst step is calling your
primary physician or other health care
provider and only those with the most
severe symptoms should be leaving home
for care.
Again, stay home.
Practice social distancing
We know COVID-19 primarily transfers
from person to person by spreading
droplets from coughing or sneezing. If
you stand too close to an infected person,
you could be in the line of fi re. Maintain
your distance … from everyone.
Despite the executive order to stay at
home, you can still go out for recreation
and exercise. And you should. Don’t let
the outbreak be detrimental to your physical
and mental health.
Run, bike or hike if that’s part of your
norm. But whatever you do, make sure
it’s solitary. Th e point of the order is
to remove in-person interaction between
you and someone else.
If you have to go out to shop, make sure
you stay at least six feet away from the
next person. Th is is to ensure your safety
and the safety of others.
Use good hand hygiene
(and etiquette)
Good hygiene starts with washing your
hands thoroughly with hot water and soap
for 20 seconds — about the same amount of
time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
Th e duration and mechanical scrubbing
are most critical. Not near a sink?
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good
alternative.
You should also:
Cough and sneeze into the bend of your
elbow.
Avoid touching your nose, mouth and
eyes — coronavirus enters through mucus
membranes.
Avoid hand shakes.
Wipe surfaces you touch regularly —
use an ethanol, hydrogen-peroxide or
bleach-based cleaner.
Avoid sick people — six feet is the typical
range of droplet transmission from
coughs and sneezes.
For more expert insights into the coronavirus
(COVID-19), visit awb://northwell.
edu/prepared.
Robert Glatter, MD, is an emergency
department physician at Lenox Hill
Hospital. He’s also an assistant professor
at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School
of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
letters & comments
oped
RECOGNIZING OUR
HEROES DURING
THIS PANDEMIC
We have heroes that some
may not think about during
this coronavirus pandemic.
Th ere are many hard-working
men and women who are
on the front lines in this war,
fi ghting an invisible enemy
that has sickened and killed
thousands.
Th ey have and will continue
to risk their lives trying
to care for and to save the
many. Th ey are doctors, nurses,
medical personnel, police,
fi refi ghters, truck drivers that
carry important supplies, people
stocking grocery stores and
garbage collectors.
Let’s not forget the countless
volunteers who are providing
food for the homeless, poor
and the elderly that can’t get
out because of danger to their
health from the virus.
Many Americans are stepping
up to the plate trying to
help those in need with many
acts of kindness. Let’s not forget,
neighbor helping neighbor
is what America is all about.
Frederick R. Bedell, Jr.,
Glen Oaks Village
GOVERNOR CUOMO
IS A TRUE LEADER
FOR NEW YORK
As the coronavirus pandemic
continues its rapid sweep
across the nation, Governor
Andrew Cuomo is taking the
lead during this crisis.
He is asking all New Yorkers
to pitch in and do our part
in helping to fi ght this nightmare.
We must follow the
directives from our city, state
and federal offi cials and be diligent
in doing so. Governor
Cuomo should be applauded
for work and constant press
updates to the media, so that
New Yorkers can get the accurate
information they need
in this time of crisis. At each
press conference that the governor
has held, he has been
stressing that we should not
panic, since undue panic is
more damaging than the virus
itself.
Th is writer wants to sincerely
thank Governor Cuomo for
his strong leadership and positive
attitude that he continues
to convey to all of us, as we
battle this pandemic. As the
governor has said, we are all in
this together, we will survive
this together, and be all the
more better for having gone
through it.
One thing is for certain:
when this nightmarish storm
has fi nally blown over, and life
begins to return to normalcy,
all of us will never, ever again
take anything in our lives for
granted, because life is so very
precious to us all, and how we
live our lives makes all the difference
in the world.
God Bless you, Governor
Cuomo, and may you, your
wonderful mom, Matilda, and
the rest of your wonderful
family and friends stay safe,
stay strong, stay healthy and
keep the faith.
New York, the country,
and the entire world will
get through this. God Bless
America, now and always!
John Amato, Fresh Meadows
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