The newest form of coronavirus, COVID-19, is causing a pandemic of fear to spread across the globe. There’s even a name for the fear: coronavirus anxiety. Here’s what you need to know to remain healthy, both mentally and physically.
Why Are People So Anxious about Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Two types of anxiety are at work around COVID-19: health anxiety and fear of the unknown. These are common forms of anxiety that, when they occur together, can be debilitating and cause panic.
Health anxiety involves excessive fear, worries, and what-ifs about illness that consume time and attention. The more someone thinks about health-related anxieties, the more stuck in these fears they become. In the case of coronavirus, it has become hard to think of other things. Everywhere we turn, we hear reports (some factual and some fear-based rumor) that people are getting sick and dying.
These emotional reports are fueling fear of the unknown. This is a new strain of coronavirus (a coronavirus is simply a type of virus, responsible for strains of the common cold and more serious illnesses such as SARS). Because it’s new, doctors and scientists don’t know everything about it. Anxiety loves to step in with anything unknown and fill in the blanks with assumptions rather than fact. When left unchecked, they consume us.
How to Deal with Coronavirus Anxiety?
Reduce coronavirus anxiety and stay well with these tips:
*Keep your perspective. Rumors that society is shutting down because of coronavirus are just that—fear-based speculation. Remember that this gossip is fueled by health anxiety and fear of the unknown, and let your own knowledge override the rumors you hear.
*Do what you always do to stay healthy. Wash your hands often. Keep surfaces clean. Stay away from crowds when you can. Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious foods to boost your immune system.
*Don’t let empty store shelves fuel your own fear*. People are panicking because of exaggerated news reports,social media posts, and uninformed buzz. Use bleach, vinegar, baking soda, and other basic supplies you likely already have at home to sanitize like you do in any cold and flu season.
The COVID-19 threat is something to be taken seriously, but when you remember that the panic is fueled by fear of the unknown and health anxiety, you can pause, regain your perspective, and do what is in your control to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy.
MENTAL ILLNESS, IT IS WITH US
Source: Unknown
Thursday, 12 March 2020
GHANA CONFIRMED 2 COVID-19 CASES
The global number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has surpassed 100,000. Before 12th March 2020, there was no confirmed case in Ghana, although some countries in the sub region (Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Senegal) with strong cultural and economic ties to Ghana had confirmed cases. Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) reminded all countries and communities that the spread of this virus can be significantly slowed or even reversed through the implementation of robust containment and control activities.
Ghana has confirmed two cases of COVID-19 later on Thursday March 12, 2020, being the first cases to be reported in the country.
The Minister for Health disclosed in a press statement that the two confirmed cases were received at the same time from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
Read full statement from the Health Ministry below:
Ghana has confirmed two cases of COVID-19 later on Thursday March 12, 2020, being the first cases to be reported in the country.
The Minister for Health disclosed in a press statement that the two confirmed cases were received at the same time from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.
Read full statement from the Health Ministry below:
Sunday, 8 March 2020
WHO statement on cases of COVID-19 surpassing 100 000
The global number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has surpassed 100 000. As we mark this sombre moment, the World Health Organization (WHO) reminds all countries and communities that the spread of this virus can be significantly slowed or even reversed through the implementation of robust containment and control activities.
China and other countries are demonstrating that spread of the virus can be slowed and impact reduced through the use of universally applicable actions, such as working across society to identify people who are sick, bringing them to care, following up on contacts, preparing hospitals and clinics to manage a surge in patients, and training health workers.
WHO calls on all countries to continue efforts that have been effective in limiting the number of cases and slowing the spread of the virus.
Every effort to contain the virus and slow the spread saves lives. These efforts give health systems and all of society much needed time to prepare, and researchers more time to identify effective treatments and develop vaccines.
Allowing uncontrolled spread should not be a choice of any government, as it will harm not only the citizens of that country but affect other countries as well.
We must stop, contain, control, delay and reduce the impact of this virus at every opportunity. Every person has the capacity to contribute, to protect themselves, to protect others, whether in the home, the community, the healthcare system, the workplace or the transport system.
Leaders at all levels and in all walks of life must step forward to bring about this commitment across society.
WHO will continue to work with all countries, our partners and expert networks to coordinate the international response, develop guidance, distribute supplies, share knowledge and provide people with the information they need to protect themselves and others.
China and other countries are demonstrating that spread of the virus can be slowed and impact reduced through the use of universally applicable actions, such as working across society to identify people who are sick, bringing them to care, following up on contacts, preparing hospitals and clinics to manage a surge in patients, and training health workers.
WHO calls on all countries to continue efforts that have been effective in limiting the number of cases and slowing the spread of the virus.
Every effort to contain the virus and slow the spread saves lives. These efforts give health systems and all of society much needed time to prepare, and researchers more time to identify effective treatments and develop vaccines.
Allowing uncontrolled spread should not be a choice of any government, as it will harm not only the citizens of that country but affect other countries as well.
We must stop, contain, control, delay and reduce the impact of this virus at every opportunity. Every person has the capacity to contribute, to protect themselves, to protect others, whether in the home, the community, the healthcare system, the workplace or the transport system.
Leaders at all levels and in all walks of life must step forward to bring about this commitment across society.
WHO will continue to work with all countries, our partners and expert networks to coordinate the international response, develop guidance, distribute supplies, share knowledge and provide people with the information they need to protect themselves and others.
Monday, 2 March 2020
Ghana Investivating the Death of a Coronavirus Case
Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Badu Sarkodie has revealed that one person who showed symptoms of the deadly coronavirus died in Kumasi over the weekend, though he tested negative for the Covid-19 test.
The deceased according to Dr Badu Sarkodie, arrived in Ghana from Germany and reported of a condition that mimicked the Covid-19; but an emergency test on him proved that he was free of the virus. He, however, died later at the hospital.
The revelation is curious because, at least 129 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Germany, with the number of cases doubling yesterday.
More than half of the cases are in North Rhine-Westphalia, which counts Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Dortmund as its biggest cities; there are large Ghanaian communities in all these cities.
Dr Badu Sarkodie, however, could not readily tell what killed the person but said the Ghana Health Service is still investigating the matter with the aid of the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research; this is the first death in the 26 suspected cases of the deadly disease that have proven negative in Ghana since the outbreak.
This comes on the back of pressure group, OccupyGhana’s seven-point recommendation that could help Ghana position itself to counter the outbreak of the virus.
In planning for a possible COVID-19 outbreak, OccupyGhana has suggested that Ghana considers the following variables:1 – Surveillance;2 – Containment; 3 – Prevention; 4 – Testing; 5 – Treatment; 6 – Coordination; and 7 – Finance.
But Dr Badu Sarkodie says the country’s points of entry are under constant surveillance to curb the infiltration of the disease; he spoke with Kwame Sefa Kayi on Peace FM on Monday morning.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
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