Prevention of COVID-19: Facts to Overcome the Myths

The entire world has slowed down since the outbreak of a highly contagious virus, i.e., Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Extensive efforts are being made to reduce disease transmission, optimize the management strategy to reduce deaths and to come up with a vaccine as a preventive measure. Though several scientists across the globe are working tirelessly for developing an effective vaccine, it may still take several months to launch it successfully in the market. The behavioural interventions like maintenance of physical distancing (at least one meter), hand hygiene and cough etiquette, and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) are the currently available effective strategies to break the chain of disease transmission. All these interventions have been implemented at the population and individual level with or without linking with regulations. Based on the risk of exposure, provision and use of appropriate PPE is the need of the hour. The healthcare professionals working in COVID-19 areas have been recommended to use full PPE, which includes gloves, N-95 face masks, face shields, goggles, full-body gowns, and shoe covers. The general population has been asked to use homemade or triple-layered surgical masks in addition to the maintenance of physical distancing and hand hygiene. There are other additional strategies or measures which may or may not prevent the COVID-19 transmission. This chapter attempts to clarify the important and effective measures for the prevention of COVID-19 at the individual and community levels. It also tried to demystify the myths related to COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19, Diet, Disinfection, Face mask, Face shield, Filtering facepiece, Gloves, Hand hygiene, Home quarantine, Hydroxychloroquine, Institutional quarantine, N95 mask, Pandemic, Personal protective equipment, Physical distancing, Prevention, Sanitization, Screening, Transmission, Travel.