Dongguan's Battle against Covid-19 Outbreak > Prevention Tips
32 Q&As for Overseas Chinese Students during COVID-19 Pandemic
2020-04-01 15:36     Source : Eastday, Paper.cn, Shine

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I. Personal protection

1、Q: Many people abroad aren't wearing masks, what should I do?

A: Whether or not to wear a mask depends on cultural habits and the perceived protective efficiency. In the United States, masks are used mainly to prevent sick people’s virus-containing saliva from splashing onto others’ faces. Besides, many countries are facing a dearth of protective gear, therefore masks are being prioritized for medical care providers.

(Source: Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University)

2、Q: Overseas countries are severely hit by the coronavirus, should I hoard some medicine?

A: It is not recommended that you hoard a large amount of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, whose efficacy needs to be verified by further clinical trials. The best “medicine” is to drink more water and milk, eat more eggs, sleep more and not go out socialising.

(Source: Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University)

3、Q: If I get no symptoms during the 14-day quarantine period, does it mean that I am virus free?

A: At present, it is uncertain whether there is an “ultra-long incubation period”. Even if there is, it is not a common phenomenon. According to the current situation, the 14-day incubation view can remain unchanged. But at the same time, infection can't be ruled out simply because there has been no fever within 14 days, so isolation can’t be released based on symptoms alone. For the isolated people, if having any physical discomfort such as cough and fever, they should report their symptoms by calling the appropriate coronavirus emergency number in their country or region.

(Source: Cai Weiping, director of the Infectious Disease Center, Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital)

4、Q: If I choose to stay abroad and not return to China, what should I pay attention to in my daily life?

A: Stay at home to avoid unnecessary exposure. Take care when going out to buy daily necessities by wearing a mask and washing hands. Wash hands after any contact in public areas. Eat more vegetables and fruit when staying at home and take appropriate dose of tranquilizers when having sleep problems.

(Source: Zhu Lei, chief respiratory physician, Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University)

5、Q: My school has reported confirmed cases. But, unlike in China, there are no apps to find out if I have had close contact with infected people. What should I do?

A: Conduct self quarantine and live a normal life with enough sleep and nutrition. Consult the doctor if you have a fever.

(Source: Zhu Lei, chief respiratory physician, Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University)

6、Q: If I have symptoms like a cough and fever, how can I judge whether or not I have contracted the coronavirus? Should I go to hospital at once?

A: Influenza and novel coronavirus may both cause a cough and fever, making it difficult for ordinary people to distinguish the two. 80% of the people infected with coronavirus have mild symptoms, and can survive it without seeking medical assistance. Whether to seek medical assistance mainly depends on your breathing. If you find it difficult to breathe, or hard to breathe when going up stairs, seek medical assistance. Fever is not necessarily the decisive point of seeking medical assistance, breathing is.

(Source: Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University)

7、Q: The weather is becoming warmer, but the coronavirus does not seem to be contained by temperature like SARS. When will the epidemic in America turn a corner?

A: The epidemic has not been effectively controlled in many areas around the globe. Europe is now the “epicenter” of the global coronavirus pandemic and the US is also badly affected. Great uncertainty still exists in the future, so currently it is difficult to predict when the pandemic will end, and it is the people in every country who will play the decisive role.

(Source: Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University)

8、Q: Should I wear a mask when I go outside and there are no other people around me?

A: The public does not need to wear masks when they are at home or outside their home where there is no gathering of people and ventilation is good. Patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, patients with asymptomatic infection, close contacts of confirmed cases, as well as inbound travelers (from the entry time to the end of quarantine) are advised to wear surgical masks or protective masks with a rating of or higher than KN95/N95 and without an exhalation valve.

(Source: The National Health Committee of the PRC)

9、Q: Is there a danger when opening windows for ventilation?

A: Ventilation is very important. The concentration of virus in the air is quite low, so there is no need to fear that the virus may come in through the opened windows. The virus will gradually diminish or lose vitality once it becomes dried after exposure in the air. Besides, the air flows fast, and if a patient emits a breath, the exhaled air is dispersed quickly and the concentration of virus becomes low. So it is important to keep indoor ventilation, or mechanical ventilation and purifier ventilation to ensure oxygen levels stay high.

(Source: Prof. Cao Junji, research fellow at the Institute of Earth Environment & director of Key Laboratory of Aerosol Chemistry and Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Editor: 谭晶