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Let’s Talk Health!
PRACTICAL GUIDELINES IN THE NEW NORMAL
Early this year, we were all taken aback and
found ourselves unprepared when the
government decided to go on total lockdown
and quarantine. The increase in number of
COVID 19 cases and the uncertainty as to how
the virus is transmitted has left the Medical
community also in confusion. The mechanism
by which SARS COV 2 affects the human body
was unclear at the onset. Fast forward to now;
healthcare workers are more knowledgeable
and confident in managing the disease as more
and more experiential studies are being
published and physicians from other countries
shared their best practices.
As of writing, SARS COV 2 which is the
causative agent for COVID19, a virus which
causes acute respiratory syndrome, is known
to be transmitted via person to person contact.
It is transmitted via droplets released when
sick people with the virus cough or sneeze and
it can also spread when you’re in close contact
with someone who is sick. Recently, a new
strain of the virus has been discovered in our
country. The main problem is addressing the
high transmission rates of the virus. Hospitals
are overwhelmed. People are divided. Some
are afraid, some clearly are not. Just the same,
the recommendations are directed to
everyone.
As the medical community is able to discern
how the disease can be managed, the cry for
time-out came because of increase in the
number of cases. This overwhelmed the
hospital system. The time-out was for re-
strategizing and rallying for Filipinos to live in
the ‘new normal.’ But what is the new normal?
Life during quarantine is the new normal. It is
an unprecedented new reality where we are
witnessing a dramatic restructuring of the
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social and economic order in which society
and business have traditionally operated.
How we lived our lives during the lockdown
conscious of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is
the context for the new normal. The New
Normal is both a practice and a mindset that
place prime importance on healthy lifestyles
and preventive behaviors to avoid getting
sick.
A practical guideline as to specific measures
that we can do in our day to day activities
might be helpful. However, when you are
feeling sick, please do not go out of your
house. It is best to consult your doctors via
telemedicine/ online consults or face-to- face
when it is available.
BEFORE GOING OUT OF THE HOUSE
1. Prepare the following:
a) Face mask;
b) Face shield or goggles(washable)
c) 70% alcohol or alcohol-based hand rub;
d) Clean disposable plastic or brown paper
trash bag;
e) 10% bleach solution in spray bottle
f) Zip lock bags( for your gadgets and
cellphones if you intend to bring one,
may be recycled)
If applicable, depending on where you are
going: 2 pairs of rubber or nitrile gloves
(optional) , 1 fluid impermeable gown
(disposable, optional)
2. Place your gadgets in a clear zip lock.
Place all materials you will need in a separate
bag for easy disinfection. (wallet, car keys,
documents, pens, etc.) As much as possible
do not bring unnecessary items when going
out.