How to fight the coronavirus

Frequent hand washing or disinfection, social withdrawal and the use of a mask are the main forms of prevention!

COVID-19 entered the lives of Mozambicans and the whole world and came to change, drastically and suddenly, our way of life. This is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus in humans and the best way to prevent the disease should be applied, such as washing or disinfecting your hands frequently, social exclusion, wearing a mask.

Quarantine for suspicious people and isolation for people with COVID-19 so they don't contaminate others.

What to do if you suspect you have COVID-19

The most common signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are persistent dry cough, fever above 38 degrees, feeling tired and breathing difficulty, but the symptoms seem to vary a lot in general.

If you suspect you are infected with COVID-19, you can do an evaluation on an application on the Ministry of Health's website http://riscocovid19.misau.gov.mz/, or you can still contact the health inspection hotline at 84158.

The test for the diagnosis of covid-19 is only performed on suspicious people according to the case definition adopted by the Ministry of Health.

If you are suspicious and have to go to the hospital, use general preventive measures like washing your hands, social distance, and use a mask.

I was diagnosed with COVID-19, now what?

If you have been diagnosed, you must remain calm and follow the Ministry of Health's instructions, which include isolation, which means that you should not have contact with anyone. Whenever possible, isolation should be done in a house different from the house where you live with your family. If it is not possible, he must remain isolated in a defined compartment of the house, without contact with the family.

If you are responsible for children or the elderly, you should ask someone else for help during this time.

You must ensure that whenever food is delivered, there is no contact, the utensils used must be properly handled, with the necessary protection. If possible, also use a separate bathroom. If not, disinfect the common bathroom after each use.

You should monitor the signs and symptoms and maintain a healthy diet.

Disinfection of supermarket purchases

Studies show that the coronavirus can remain on surfaces, so we advise you to disinfect your purchases before storing them in your pantry.

Place all your purchases on a surface that you will consider infected, and which will be disinfected after you are finished. Move the disinfected purchases to another well-defined and separate area, which will be considered a disinfected area.

Products that come in sealed boxes such as cereals and porridge, can be removed from the boxes, and stored without disinfecting, as we consider that the inside of the box is isolated.

Canned, flaked and plasticized products can be disinfected with a disinfectant of choice (70% alcohol or 0.1% bleach), or washed with soap and water. Vegetables and legumes can also be washed with bleach.

How can we alleviate anxiety generated by social isolation

In three months, the coronavirus has spread worldwide and Mozambique was no exception. It is considered a pandemic, and thousands of information are circulating on social networks. All of this can generate a load of stress in people, so we leave some tips to reduce anxiety in the face of the COVID-19 scenario.

Be supportive of people who have been affected by the coronavirus, because no one is to blame for having the disease, and we should not refer to people as victims, sick or infected, but people with COVID-19.

Avoid reading or watching news that cause stress or anxiety, look for information that helps to protect or to update from time to time.

Chat with friends, over the phone or apps. If you have the means, make daily video calls to friends, relatives and - if you have them - children and grandchildren, to make you feel homesick. Or, establish a common moment of prayer. This can provide a sense of belonging and connection.

Look for examples of people who have been cured of the disease, or of people who have helped someone close to them to recover and offer emotional support to those in need.