Salamatak – COVID-19

Suppose that someone told you last year that a virus will spread in the future and turn the world upside down. Mosques, universities, schools, and hospitals will be closed, and a simple handshake can get you sick, and just leaving your house without a mask or hand sanitizer would put your life at risk of contracting a virus and passing it on to your loved ones.

Would you believe it?

What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?

We call a disease an epidemic when it spreads very quickly, affecting large numbers in a limited area within a short period of time.

On the other hand, we call them pandemics when they affect more than one continent, reaching the whole world, becoming the center of focus for the globe with numbers of infections, critical cases, and mortalities. This is the case with the emerging new Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Epidemics through the ages

Justinian Bacterial Plague:

It spread 1,500 years ago and was attributed to the Roman emperor who contracted it. This plague continued to spread and reappear over the course of 100 years. The plague coincided with the succession of Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him, as it appeared in the Levant.

Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) advised his Companions in the case of a plague by instructing them to avoid a land known to have plague and not to leave a land in which a plague has befallen it.

Medieval leprosy:

Leprosy invaded Europe 700 years ago as a bacterial disease that affects the skin and nerves and has complications that cause muscle and vision weakness. People at that time were afraid of contact with infected people, and they forced patients to wear certain clothes and bells to find out that they were infected. Victims were exiled to valleys and mountains away from humans In order not to transmit the infection.

The Black Plague:

The Black Plague spread in Europe, after moving through the merchant ships in Italy, which were loaded with rats infected with the plague bacteria. The Black Plague killed nearly 50% of those infected with it and caused the death of a third of the population of Europe at that time.

As a result, people resorted to the first quarantine experiment, as ships were quarantined in ports for 40 days to ensure they were free of disease.

Smallpox:

Smallpox is a fatal viral disease that spread 500 years ago and was transmitted through saliva and contact with people who are infected by it. Christopher Columbus caused its spread from Europe to America, as it infected nearly 90% of America’s indigenous population. The virus kept spreading for more than 250 years!

After all this time, doctors noticed that farmers who had contact with the cows were immune to smallpox, so scientific studies and research went to investigate the cause, and they concluded that the cows carry a weak type of smallpox virus which was extracted and developed to be an effective vaccine to eliminate it.

The Spanish Flu:

The Spanish Flu infected 500 million people, which is equivalent to a third of the world’s population at the time. Its estimated mortalities were around 50 million people, nearly twice the deaths of the First World War.

What Are the Symptoms of COVID-19?

The most common symptoms are:

Fever

Dry cough

Feeling tired and fatigued

Other symptoms may include:

Sore throat

diarrhea

Headache

Loss of taste and smell

Skin rash or discoloration of the fingers or toes

Muscle pain

The most serious symptoms are:

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Chest pain

Loss of speech or movement

About COVID-19

The Infection rate of coronavirus is four times bigger than seasonal influenza

The average incubation period for the virus is 5 days and may extend to 14 days

80% of patients exhibit mild to moderate symptoms, and only 20% need medical care (specifically those who suffer from chronic diseases, weakened immunity, obesity, etc.)

How to Protect Yourself?

  • To date, there is no vaccine against the Coronavirus, so you must adhere to preventive measures:

    • Leave a distance of two meters between you and those around you
    • Cover your nose and mouth with your elbow or a tissue when coughing
    • Always sterilize exposed surfaces
    • Wear a protective mask when leaving your house
    • Wash your hands regularly, for at least 20 seconds!
    • Use a hand sanitizer that contains 60% -70% alcohol.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth when leaving the house, and try to stop this habit as much as possible
    • Isolate yourself as soon as one of the symptoms appears on you, and contact the concerned authorities

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Salamatak is an awareness program with an authentic Arab spirit that provides health advice and guidance in line with the standards of international health awareness organizations. It aims to elevate society through health and safety awareness in a spontaneous way, and targets healthy people in particular and society in general.

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