As we brace ourselves for the reopening of business, we have apprehensions, so we need to know how to protect ourselves best in this new environment.

“It would be complicated to control the situation in an overcrowded mall. I would urge everyone to have a different perspective—keep the ‘new normal’ spirit of what a healthy protective life is all the time,” Dr. Regina Berba, associate professor in infectious diseases at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Medicine and chair of the Hospital Infection Control Unit of the UP Philippine General Hospital, told Lifestyle.

That means, she said, plan things before stepping out of the house, even for decisions as simple as shopping or going to the mall.

“Make a deliberate decision each time: Will I go? Do I have to go? Do I really need to buy something in the mall? Should I go now? If I really need to visit the mall, when is the best time? Can I postpone shopping for another day? Can I buy this item online instead?” she said.

Berba said instead of a lunch meeting in a mall, choose a less crowded venue. Instead of working out in a gym in a mall, consider physical activities in another place, like running in your neighborhood.

“Go to the mall only if you have to,” she said.

The same protective strategies practiced during ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) will work post-ECQ. Wear masks in crowded places or when going out.

“I don’t agree with people wearing gloves all the time,” Berba said. “Gloves are for persons who will touch dirty or potentially dirty items, like cleaners and janitors trained to handle garbage or clean toilets. But regular citizens? Gloves worn the whole day carry a lot of germs. For regular people like mommies, kids and office workers, always carry a bottle of alcohol. Spraying alcohol very frequently is safer and will give you cleaner hands.”

Essential changes

Berba said that mall operators must also make essential changes in their facilities.

“Practise the basic rules of infection control. Make sure the ventilation system is adequate. Consult architects or contractors or building engineers so that the required air exchanges will be achieved,” she said.

Keeping the air clean in enclosed spaces is vital, Berba said. So, installing air purifiers in AC systems and additional air purifying mechanisms in areas where a lot of people are expected will be necessary.

Alcohol dispensers must be located in every part of the mall.

“They need to maintain the environment clean visibly. They also need to police their ranks and assure the public that their employees, store people, sellers and security people are not sick and are wearing masks,” she said.

Berba added that in the community, the risk of getting infected by a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient is likely low, as long as the combination of the three strategies is maintained: “Proper” wearing of the mask of both infected and noninfected persons, maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet from each other and frequent hand-washing.

“’Proper’ is stressed here because sometimes people wear a mask, but the mask is under the chin or does not cover the nose. Proper use of mask also includes throwing them away in garbage bins. Do not just put them on tables. Some like to hang them on doorknobs, which makes everyone prone to the germs,” she said.

Infection through skin contact will happen only if the virus gets on your hands, and the hands touch the face, mouth, nose or eyes. If an infected friend pats you on the back or gives you an elbow bump, those actions won’t likely lead to infection because those germs will probably not get into your face.

Greater good

Keep also in mind, Berba said, the greater good, rather than just your personal good.

Rule No. 1: If one is sick in the house, do not go out. Whether you think it is COVID-19 or not, do teleconsultation with your doctor. People with asthma or allergies who think their coughs are the old allergy cough turn out to have COVID-19. Or people with migraines who now have headaches should consider teleconsulting again. COVID-19 has known symptoms beyond just fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms include sore throat, chills, headaches, muscle pains and loss of taste or smell.

“Sometimes you’re sick but think you are too important, so you opt to go to work wearing a mask. Don’t. Stay at home. There will be occasions at work or in the mall when you have to remove your mask, like when you eat. Those few moments can infect others,” Berba said.

Rule No. 2: If you are healthy, stay healthy by keeping your hands clean all the time. This simple act of hand-washing is a powerful one because alcohol and soap can kill the virus. So even if we touch money or soft drink cans or elevator buttons or the jeepney rail which could have the virus, as long as you immediately pour alcohol into your hands, you remain protected.

Myths

Berba also debunked myths about COVID-19.

Myth No. 1: Certain things you take—like vitamin C, garlic, pepper, lemon gargles—can prevent COVID-19. All of these have not been proven to work.

Myth No. 2: Taking some medicines and ingesting disinfectant can prevent COVID-19. Some are not only not effective but can also be harmful, like self-prescribed antibiotics, antimalarial drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, alcohol, methanol, ethanol and even bleach. Do not take any of these. They are not meant to cure or prevent COVID-19, and could kill you instead.

Myth No. 3: The summer heat will make COVID-19 go away. No heat will cause the virus to go away. Do not use very hot water to take a bath or wash hands. These can burn you and still not protect you from COVID-19.

Myth No. 4: COVID-19 is a death sentence. This is not true; up to 85 percent of people will have mild symptoms and recover. Fewer people will get sick enough to need hospitalization and even fewer will need ICU care. People with preexisting health conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, are at higher risk of developing a severe manifestation of the disease.