The main infectious disease specialist of Karelia, Mikhail Tishchenko, spoke about the features of coronavirus, as well as about how it is easiest to catch an infection and whether it is possible to protect yourself from infection if there are no masks in pharmacies and all hand antiseptics have long been sold out.
First of all, the doctor noted that Covid-19 is prone to mutation. It contains RNA, and, like other viruses containing it, such as influenza or hepatitis C, is constantly changing so that it can not be recognized by the human immune system. That is why it is still difficult to talk about creating a vaccine and the formation of immunity. Already, experts are talking about the existence of two of its varieties. The first is the one that was sick in China. It causes a more severe course of the disease, but is less contagious. The European variety, on the contrary, spreads faster. In this regard, it is more dangerous than ordinary flu, one person who has a coronavirus infection can infect two more. But Covid-19 can not be compared to, for example, measles and chickenpox – they are much more dangerous.
The virus flies through the air. An infected person releases its particles during a conversation, when coughing, when sneezing. For infection, this virus must enter the respiratory tract of another person. The virus spreads nearby – mostly one meter. Therefore, it is recommended everywhere, for example, in supermarkets not to approach each other closer than one meter. If more than one meter, then a piece of the virus dries up and dies. True, on banknotes, on bank cards that we insert into the ATM, they say it can be stored for up to four days, ”Tishchenko told IA Respublika.
Doctors do not exclude that the virus can be transmitted through the digestive tract, so wash your hands as often as possible, especially after visiting public places. Disinfectant solutions, antibacterial wipes, chlorhexidine – all this helps.
Even, probably, ordinary household soap will kill the virus, ”says the infectious disease specialist.
At the same time, do not be afraid of parcels from China. Until they reach, the virus will die.
The vaccine will be created within 11 months, then it will be necessary to prepare all the documents and put it into production. In the meantime, there is no vaccine, the most effective measure is to minimize contact between people.
The incubation period is on average 5 days, and the maximum – up to 14, respectively, for this time people need to somehow be separated. Otherwise, each infected person will infect two or more people. Therefore, all people who came from abroad, where there are many sick (and in neighboring Finland there are already more than 500 people), we must isolate. Those who have been in contact with patients should also isolate themselves. By the way, administrative and even criminal liability is provided for infection. One must understand the seriousness of the situation. If we had the flu like that, we wouldn’t have the flu either, ”says Mikhail Tishchenko.
The doctor also advised, if possible, not to go anywhere. As a rule, we get to other regions of the country through Moscow and St. Petersburg, where now there are the most cases of confirmed coronavirus infection, so there is a high risk of infection.
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