Coronavirus infections around the world have been talked about since early 2020. The pathogen has been causing anxiety among Poles for a long time, and since March - when the first cases of infection were found in Poland - the fear among Polish citizens has been definitely increasing. Shelves in some shops are becoming deserted, some people are avoiding leaving their homes at all if possible. While some fears are definitely justified, there is definitely - at least currently - no reason to panic. [Article dated March 2020]
Table of contents:
- Coronavirus - the current situation in Poland
- Coronavirus infections in Poland - is there anything to fear?
- Prevention of coronavirus infections: what to do to reduce the risk of COVID-19?
The number of cases of coronavirus infection worldwide is - as expected - steadily increasing. To date, more than 107,000 people have been infected, of which more than 80,000 cases have occurred in China, more than 7,000 infections have occurred in South Korea, and almost 6,000 people have been infected with coronavirus in Italy (as of 8 March 2020).
In principle, the fact that the coronavirus and the disease it causes, referred to as COVID-19, is causing an incredible degree of fear in people is not surprising - after all, the entity started to be found in humans only recently, moreover, the nature of the virus is only just being discovered and much relevant information about it remains a mystery. However, just as some fears are fully understandable, heightened anxiety, bordering on panic, is no longer necessarily justified.
Coronavirus - current situation in Poland
Until recently, Poles have only been observing in the media the dynamics of coronavirus infections in other countries of the world. The situation changed with the beginning of March, when the first cases of infection with this pathogen in Polish patients were confirmed. By 8 March 2020, six coronavirus infections had been confirmed in our country, but this was already enough for Poles to become extremely anxious, and in some of them even to panic.
In the media, it is not difficult to come across reports, for example, that in some shops goods are simply disappearing from the shelves. Poles are starting to stock up on basic foodstuffs - groats, pasta, products with a long shelf life, moreover, in some shops it is difficult to buy soap, and basic hand disinfectants are disappearing from the shops at a very fast rate. On the one hand, this situation should be welcomed as it means that Poles have decided to comply with sanitary and epidemiological recommendations. Frequent hand washing is, after all, an essential method of reducing the risk of coronavirus infection. On the other hand, at least at the moment, there is no reason to fill the household larder or to buy several litres of soap - at the moment there is no indication that the supply of food or other products to Poland is going to be disrupted in any way.
Coronavirus infections in Poland - is there anything to be afraid of?
In principle, the fact that COVID-19 would start to be found in Polish citizens was entirely predictable, given the dynamics of the worldwide spread of the pathogen responsible for its occurrence. At the moment, the number of coronavirus infections in Poland is low, but it is impossible to say how many cases will occur in our country. It is worth mentioning here, however, that while more than 100 000 cases of infection and more than 3 000 deaths caused by the coronavirus have so far been reported, more than 60 000 infected people have made a full recovery. Not everything is yet known about the pathogen, but it has already been noted that the greatest risk of severe coronavirus infection is in the elderly and in patients with weakened immunity (resulting, for example, from HIV infection or the use of immunosuppressive drugs).
Virus, photo: panthermedia
Given these figures, it can be said with certainty that COVID-19 is indeed a dangerous disease, but it is noticeable that most people infected with coronavirus recover. Concerns about the micro-organism arise, among other things, from the fact that, just as in the case of influenza, the course of the infection is known, in the case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, its course and consequences are still to be known. The most important thing, therefore, is to limit the rate of spread of the coronavirus as much as possible by observing the recommended sanitary and epidemiological measures.
Prevention of coronavirus infection: what can be done to reduce the risk of COVID-19?
Panicking - avoiding leaving the house or stockpiling a lot of food in the household larder - will definitely not protect against coronavirus. The risk of infection can be reduced by at least following basic hygiene recommendations. Frequent hand washing should now become as basic as breathing, and ordinary soap can be used for this purpose. In more and more places, e.g. hotels and shopping centres, dispensers with disinfecting liquids are becoming available, and it is worth using these products when in such places.
In countries with a high incidence of coronavirus infection, such as Italy and Germany, it is advisable to avoid large crowds of people. In Poland, measures are also being taken to reduce the risk of increasing numbers of infections - in some cities, mass events such as concerts and conferences are being cancelled.
Among the recommendations aimed at reducing the incidence of COVID-19 are those for people with symptoms suggestive of flu or a cold. Ideally, patients struggling with such ailments should stay at home, but when they go to places where other people are present, they are advised to cover their nose with a handkerchief or elbow when coughing or sneezing, and then try to wash their hands as soon as possible.
However, those who are most concerned tend to be those who have recently travelled to areas of the world affected by a high incidence of COVID-19, such as Italy. In such a situation, it is not worth panicking either; simply keep a close eye on your health for 14 days. If you have symptoms suggestive of infection - such as fever, cough, worsening of mood or muscle pain - call the health authorities or go directly to an infectious or observation ward. The appearance of the above-mentioned symptoms is not synonymous with coronavirus infection, but appropriate tests may be necessary to determine conclusively whether a patient has developed COVID-19.