The Coronavirus has put the world's population in a state of absolute panic since the beginning of December.
Not that it is more deadly than the flu, as our professors and medical researchers explain, but because it is much more contagious, and, at the moment, we have no vaccine to protect ourselves from it, and no treatment of its own, apart from the antivirals already known. This is why non-pharmaceutical precautionary measures will be the most important tools in our response to this virus.
In France, our medical system, one of the best in the world, helped by the measures taken by our government, has succeeded for the moment in perfectly controlling the situation: the suspected cases have been isolated and quarantined, the people affected, 12 for the moment in France, have been treated, there is only one person left hospitalized, and there has been one death, an octogenarian.
But despite all these precautions, we cannot contain this virus at our borders, and we must be prepared for new cases in our country.
The concern: the number of infected people in Italy has jumped in 48 hours. Italy is one of our border countries, and the infected regions are closer to the Alpes Maritimes than Paris.
We must not panic, but it is time to take precautions, and especially the least possible risk, to avoid being contaminated and contaminating others.
In the Alpes Maritimes everyone is ready to face a possible epidemic.
The CHU of Nice will be equipped in the next few hours, to carry out the tests of detection of the coronavirus Covid-19. This establishment will have an infectiologist at its disposal 24 hours a day, who will be in contact with the SAMU, in order to classify and determine the suspected cases.
A second line system with establishments around Nice will be able to receive patients once treated for convalescence.
A daily cell has been set up to take stock.
Prevention:
- avoid putting hands in mouth or nose and touching eyes outside, and explain to children not to do so:
In times of risk of contamination, it is urgent to adopt preventive measures and strict hygiene. If you are outdoors, your hands may come into contact with a contaminated area or object. It is therefore in your best interest to wash your hands before touching your nose or mouth. You should also explain this over and over to children. It's not easy for them to adopt these kinds of rules, especially when they are playing.
- Wash your hands constantly:
Do not hesitate to wash your hands systematically when you come back from outside. Wash your children's hands too, it is a reflex that you must take. Know that we touch our face on average 3 thousand times a day, the hands are the first virus vector.
- Before and after meals
- Before and after the toilet
- After sneezing
- After blowing your nose
- Getting off the bus, train, streetcar
- After touching a surface outside
- Do not spit in the street or anywhere else:
If you need to spit, do so in a single-use tissue, so you don't contaminate others if you are infected. Throw the tissue in a trash can, don't throw it on the ground. Don't spit your gum on the floor, and tell your children not to.
- On public transport:
Even if we are told for the moment in France that wearing a mask is not necessary, it is still a brake on contamination, so I advise you to wear masks in public transportation, especially if you are feeling feverish. They protect you and others too. To get some, try to find them in pharmacies, if you don't find any, don't panic, for the moment there is no emergency, and if it was the case, our government would find solutions.
Buy antibacterial gel (hydroalcoholic gel) at the pharmacy and put it in your bag. You can find them in any pharmacy in the Alpes Maritimes and they are everywhere. This gel allows you to eliminate all the germs from your hands and those of your children. Teach your children to use it, it is a habit to adopt from now on, which can avoid being contaminated.
Without turning into a psychosis, don't stick with people who cough. Even though it is known that you can be infected and contagious without showing coughing symptoms, when someone coughs, they can more easily infect those around them.
In public places, bars, cinemas, stores:
Adopt the same attitude as in public transport, the more prevention there is, the less the virus will spread in our country. In restaurants or bars, do not share glasses or cutlery.
In public restrooms:
- Do not sit on the toilet
- Touch the least amount of surfaces
- Wash your hands after
On your way home:
- Take off your shoes
- Wash your hands
- clean your face
- Do not share cutlery or glasses
- Do not share toothbrushes
- Wash your hands after using the toilet
Everywhere :
- No more shaking hands
- No more kissing to say hello
If you have a fever, if you cough:
No need to panicIt's quite common at this time of year, there is already the flu and other viruses around, so don't stress, stay calm and call 15. They are the only ones who can diagnose and tell you what to do.
What not to do:
- Do not go to a hospital emergency room.
- Do not go to a medical analysis laboratory to have a test, they do not have one.
- Do not go to a general practitioner.
- Do not go to a pharmacy for advice.
The reason: if you have contracted the virus, you will spread it very quickly. You have to think about yourself, but also about others.
If you have any doubt, because of fever, a cough, a very feverish state so call 15: they will tell you what to do.
Important:
don't clog up the lines on 15 for anything.
Call if you have real symptoms.
Don't call if you have run into someone with a cough or an Asian person.
It is very important in this type of situation to use common sense so as not to penalize those with real symptoms.
In Monaco:
The Monegasque government has announced that it is ready, so there is no need to panic in case of symptoms in Monaco.
In case of symptoms call 18 or 112.
Do not go to the Princess Grace Hospital Emergency Room.
Same prevention instructions as for France.
For detailed explanations:
Free call: 0800 130 000.
https://www.who.int/fr/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
https://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/faq/fr/
"Fear does not avoid danger, but prevention is better than cure" so be preventive and careful, but do not panic for nothing.
All of these guidelines listed seem obvious and innocuous, yet they are almost never followed.
We are fortunate in France to have excellent medicine, and we must trust those who treat us.
Our researchers will find a vaccine and a drug, but they need time. That is why we must absolutely avoid letting the virus spread in our country, and be preventive, without stress or panic which are counterproductive.
It is in this kind of situation that we realize that we have a unique and exceptional health system in France and in the Principality of Monaco, and that is why we must protect and defend it.
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