Precautions to be Taken in COVID-19 Pandemic

The novel coronavirus that started in the province of Wuhan in China has rapidly spread worldwide, infecting millions and resulting in numerous deaths. The symptoms of this virus are similar to those of any other respiratory virus infection, which include cold, dry cough, fever, or shortness of breath. Though most people may have mild symptoms, some may become very sick. The virus is known to have spread through the respiratory droplets produced when a person sneezes or coughs, if the infected surface is touched by someone, or even through direct physical contact such as shaking of hands.

Though there is no current cure or vaccine for COVID-19 currently in the world, there are several precautions that you can take to prevent yourself as well as others from its spread. Further, the availability of an adequately covered medical insurance plan can aid your treatments in the event of an emergency.

If you feel you have been exposed to a person positive with COVID-19 and are displaying symptoms of the same, it is advisable that you call and inform your doctor prior to visiting.

Some of the basic preventive measures you can adopt to protect yourself from the coronavirus are to practice good hygiene:

1. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you sneeze, cough or blow your nose. Adopt this measure even when you finish using the bathroom or come back home from outside.
2. If soap and water are not available, you can use an alcohol-based sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol capacity.
3. Avoid touching your hands to your mouth, eyes, or nose with unwashed hands. Do not consume food without washing hands.
4. Stay home and practice self-quarantine when you are sick or displaying symptoms.
5. Avoid close contact with people who are sick and displaying symptoms or have had recent travel history, especially to widely infected areas.
6. Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Dispose of the tissue in the trash and immediately wash your hands. If tissues are not readily available, cough or sneeze in your elbows than your hands.
7. Regularly disinfect and clean surfaces that are frequently touched by people such as doorknobs or handles, light switches, telephones, mobile phones, etc.
8. As far as possible, separate cups, dishes, glasses and other eating utensils should be maintained amongst family members and not be shared.
9. Towels and hand napkins should not be shared amongst household members.
10. It has become mandatory to wear a face mask – cloth or those acceptable under medical guidelines, in public places. Surgical masks and N-95 respirators are to be utilized for medical staff and healthcare workers.
11. Practice the art of social distancing, especially when out in public settings, to buy groceries, or other necessities. It is advisable to maintain a gap of at least 6 feet from others in public places to ensure the respiratory droplets do not travel on to you.
12. Avoid entertaining guests to your home.
13. Restrict travel. Many nations have adopted strict guidelines to restrict travel and stay at home, except to buy groceries and medicines. Further, domestic and international non-essential out-station travel should be completely avoided.
14. Work from home should be adopted and practised as far as possible.
15. Adopting self-isolation can be mentally stressful at times, and therefore, you should ensure you work on your mental well-being and practice stress-relief through various means. Indulging in a hobby or practicing some form of physical activity such as yoga can aid in this.

Ensuring that adequate medical insurance for family is available will go a long way in safeguarding you and your loved ones from the financial implications of the infection. As per the IRDAI guidelines, comprehensive health insurance plans in India are mandated to cover treatments and medical costs associated with COVID-19. Your medical plan – individual, family floater or senior citizen, should also have sufficient health insurance coverage to meet your treatment and other related costs. Relatively more care and precaution should be taken for the elderly and young children since these age groups are more susceptible to contracting the virus.

Know more about PNB MetLife Mera Mediclaim Plan which is combination of Health insurance + Life Insurance. 

Visit website to know more on Mera Mediclaim Plan, term plan and term insurance.

Whether you are trying to lose weight or making a shift towards a healthy life, understanding your BMI (Body Mass Index) is one of the first necessary steps you can make. The BMI calculator can indicate your body’s fat content based on your weight and height. Once you have a clear view of this, you can go through different health insurance plans on the PNB website and secure your future financially against the growing healthcare costs.