As the world continues to deal with the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, we at DotConnectAfrica (DCA) group convey our admiration and solidarity to all the emergency, medical support team and volunteers all over the globe who through these truly difficult circumstances are continuing to work selflessly to fight the pandemic.
As an organization that promotes the use of technology to drive our day to day business, we encourage everyone who has access to such resources to connect with each other to ensure that even in these tough times of social distancing, the engine of positive connectivity does not stop. We urge everyone to embrace the tools that are available online to keep the flame burning.
Reach Out and Call Someone - Make it Human!
We all belong to one huge human family. Therefore, use this opportunity of flattening the curve to call the people you love and friends to show you care. Share helpful information or simply help and encourage one another at this time. Indeed together, we can and will overcome this and also emerge stronger.
Flattening The Curve.
Indeed as visible, the coronavirus pandemic has negatively impacted the world ecosystem resulting in travel restrictions; shut downs of the global supply, schools, and conferences among many others. Several African states have also imposed far-reaching restrictions in a bid to curb the spread of the virus. This means that essential resources are affected.
All these decisions by public officials and businesses are aimed at a
single goal
: slowing down the spread of the virus to avoid overburdening a healthcare system that doesn’t have the infrastructure to handle a sudden surge of tens of thousands of cases at once.
What You Need To Know About The Coronavirus Outbreak:
What is the Coronavirus?
On Wednesday March 11 the World Health Organization announced the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) a
global pandemic,
sending a message to world leaders that this outbreak is spreading internationally.
How did this outbreak start?
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease with severe flu-like symptoms caused by a coronavirus that was first identified on December 31 in Wuhan, China. It is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans.
How is it spread?
Coronaviruses typically spreads in droplets through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. The virus can move from person-to-person, either by someone inhaling the droplets, or by touching them on surfaces then touching their face. This is why social distancing is vital to slowing the spread of the virus.
We think that one of the best cures for anxiety is knowledge. Here is what you can do on your part to stay healthy and productive:
- Regularly clean up: This is the first line of self-care, therefore, ensure you your hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand rub, sanitizer or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
- Maintain social distancing and self-quarantine in case of suspected infection: According to the WHO, common symptoms include fever, fatigue and a dry cough. Aches and pains are also common. About 80% of those infected can recover without any special treatment. Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing and follow advice given by your healthcare provider.
- Stay on, remain interconnected: We are advocates for utilizing available online resources to continue our daily work, that means continuous use of online platforms such as emails, online remote work and conferencing tools in place of in-person meetings.
- Watch out for each other, care for Community: COVID-19 has been found to affect the elderly populations, the CDC notes that people of any age with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease face higher risks. Children face lower risks of severe illness, which is a marked contrast from a typical seasonal flu. Should you know a member of family or community who may need help, kindly let us be the first in line and the best we can to support them.
- Sharing is caring, support others with available resources: Many across the world are doing their best to secure enough utilities to curb the infections. Let us all be there for each other by sharing our resources so that we can all beat this pandemic.
- Stay informed: Last but not least, keep informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Remember to also watch out for any misinformation and help curb such by sharing and always getting information from official sources.
Stay healthy, don't forget to regularly wash your hands
#StrongerTogether
!
