What the Coronavirus scare means for you and your family

However, what is the hard reality behind these health scare headlines?

Legal&Tax Services gives you the expert medical information which you need to make sure that you and your loved ones stay safe.

What is the Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a particular type of viruses that are found in both animals and people. The current strain (type) of Coronavirus that first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019 is called COVID-2019.

What can feel very scary when a new strain of the coronavirus breaks out is that doctors will not yet know all the facts about the illness that directly cures it.

Nevertheless, coronaviruses causes symptoms – changes in the body and how it works – that doctors can deal with very effectively.

What are its symptoms?

Symptoms of COVID-2019 range from very mild to very serious.

Mild symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever and feeling short of breath.

When it gets more severe, it can lead to pneumonia and difficulty breathing.

At its most severe, it can be fatal. However, most often the people who do die are older, or already have other serious illnesses.

How do I protect myself?

Wash your hands frequently

Use soap and water and make sure that you wash for at least 20 seconds. You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Be Careful when coughing and sneezing

When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue.

Make sure you throw the tissue away immediately either in a closed bin or flush it down the toilet.  Immediately then wash your hands.

Keep your distance in public places

Make sure that you keep a distance of at least one metre between yourself and other people. Watch out for people who are coughing or sneezing or have a fever and avoid close contact with them.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

Your hands touch many surfaces all day that could be contaminated (contain traces of a virus). Therefore if you touch other parts of your body with your hands, you might transfer a virus to yourself.

Get medical help early

If you have travelled recently to parts of China where COVID-2019 was reported, or if you have been in close contact with anyone who has travelled there and been ill afterwards, you need to monitor your health carefully.

If you then any symptoms, including seemingly mild ones like a fever, cough or shortness of breath, go to a doctor or clinic for help immediately.

Be careful in animal markets

It should be regular practice that you are very careful with hygiene if visiting or working at a market that includes animals or animal products.

Ensure you are regularly washing your hands after touching animals or animal products.

Always avoid touching sick or stray animals as well as any wild animals such as birds, bats or rodents.

Be careful of touching dirty water and fluids like soil on the ground near where these animals have been.

Don’t eat raw or uncooked animal products

Make sure you follow proper food safety standards. This means only eating animal products that you know come from safe and hygienic sources and that have been cooked properly.

When handling raw animal products, practice good hygiene.

Ultimately, common sense practices that we use to keep healthy every day are the best way to stay safe.

With Legal&Tax you're not alone

Remember, Legal&Tax Services is your caring companion, providing expert advice and assistance in staying safe and healthy. When it comes to unexpected medical expenses, our Healthcare Plan is designed to offer you peace of mind and more financial freedom.

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