As the number of cases of coronavirus rise, so has the creation of fear and anxiety caused by all the overload of information we receive through social media and the news. Here at MBC, we prioritize the health and safety of everyone affected and feel the responsibility to provide you with the accurate facts about this virus. That’s why we want to give you all the necessary information you need to help decrease and prevent the further spread of this virus. We will examine the anatomy of COVID-19, the indirect and direct routes of entry as well as best practices to help keep you and your family safe.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease-2019) is a virus that comes from the same family of viruses as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome 2012). The virus is a respiratory disease only and cannot infect a person other than by having the virus enter the lungs. The organism is protected by an encasing layer and this aspect is important in determining the type of cleaning and disinfecting agents to be used as water plays a role in softening the casing to allow for soaps and disinfectant to enter the cell casing to kill the internal structure of the virus.
This new virus is believed to have evolved from animals and crossed the boundary between species. Human beings have never been exposed to this virus and as a result, we have no antibodies to fight the disease which has created a great cause for concern. The only way we can build up our immunity is through exposure and the natural development of antibodies or by tricking the body into producing antibodies through vaccinations. Viruses are very small particles; in fact, the diameter of the individual particles is less than 0.1 micron. However, viruses do not have the ability to transmit or migrate in a single cell state, rather they drift into the air through droplets of aerosol that humans eject when we speak, cough or sneeze. Such droplets are slightly larger in size and using even simple dust masks or surgical masks will prevent these particles from entering the respiratory system.
Direct exposure is created when this live virus is inhaled directly into the lungs by an infected person who causes aerosol droplets to be released into the air through talking, sneezing or coughing. This is why all Health Authorities are urging us to practice social distancing, which means individuals are required to stay at least 2m or 6’ as a safe distance which expelled droplets will fall out of the air and will prevent you from inhaling the virus if you come into contact with an infected individual. Indirect exposure is when the live virus is transmitted indirectly to an individual’s lungs, usually from hand to face contact. This is when a healthy person comes into contact with an infected individual, for example greeting them with a handshake and before they can wash or disinfect their hands, they instantaneously touch their own face instead. The same action can occur through the touch of droplet exposed surfaces such as (but not limited to) door handles, phones, computers, countertops, walls and various other surfaces.
(Alberta Health Services, 2018)
Frequent hand-washing for 20 seconds or more is the most effective defence against the infection or spread of the COVID-19 virus. If you are exposed to someone who has a virus, please seek the help of a medical professional immediately. If direct skin contact has occurred and hand washing is not available to you immediately, make sure to use hand disinfectant solutions as a preventative measure to maintain your health and safety. If disinfection solutions are not immediately available to you, DO NOT TOUCH your face as this is an indirect transfer area.
Be sure to take every precaution we have previously laid out and always practice proper hygiene methods in order to limit the spread of this virus. For this to work and for us to save lives, we need to all be in this together and in doing, so we need to regularly wash our hands and practice social distancing. All these measures have been put into place by many Health Officials, and they are urging us to integrate these standard practices of hygiene to help lessen the number of individuals who are infected. Again, the MBC Group would like to encourage everyone to stay safe and stay home. Should you have any questions regarding our consulting services and want us to provide proper hygiene protocol assistance, feel free to contact members of the MBC team by visiting our website or giving us a call at 1-800-547-0608.
