Awareness important: Expert

Vijayawada: Precautions are necessary to prevent Covid-19 since there is no medicine for the disease, said noted professor in community medicine Dr J Ravi Kumar while addressing the weekly health programme at Vasavya Nursing Home here on Wednesday with Dr G Samaram in the chair. Dr Ravi Kumar said that so far the Covid-19 spread in over 70 countries and 80,000 were affected and 2,912 people died in China alone.

"Six cases were reported in India but there were no casualties," he said. Referring to the symptoms

of coronavirus, he said that fever, fatigue, severe headache, muscle pain, throat ache, cough, cold, shortness of breath, trouble in breathing and others.

Very few would face threat to life within short time, he said.

Narrating the preventive measures, the professor said that frequent washing of hands with soap or Dettol water, particularly after coming out of large groups is important. "Do not touch the face or eyes or nose," he said and advised people to drink lots of water.

In case of cough or sneeze, people should cover with a kerchief and if some others were coughing or sneezing, it would be better to keep off them.

It is always better to put on N95 masks as part of preventive measures, he said.

In case of finding symptoms of the virus, the health officials should be contacted immediately to take remedial measures. Dr Maru proposed a vote of thanks.