Information is best antidote to nCov

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

PANGASINAN residents need not panic over the news that a Chinese tourist was found positive of nCoronavirus, and because drug stores have run out of face masks to sell.  

On the internet, a number of useful information and tips that can help fight off the virus. Here are some:

“1. The ncoronavirus is pretty large in size (cell is about 400-500nm diameter), so any normal mask (not just the N95 feature) should be able to filter it out. However, when someone who’s infected sneezes in front of you, it will take a great 3 meters (about 10 feet) before it drops to the ground and is no longer airborne. 

“2. When the virus drops on metal surface, i.e., door handles, car, jeepney, bus, motorcycle, tricycle surfaces, etc., it lives for at least 12 hours. So if you come in contact with any metal surface, wash your hands with soap thoroughly. 

“3. The virus that falls on fabric survives for 6-12 hours. Normal laundry detergent should kill the virus. But if you are really worried, you can add some non-chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach. For winter clothing that does not require daily washing, you can put it out under the sun to kill the virus. 

“About the symptoms of the pneumonia caused by Coronavirus:

“1. It will first infect the throat, so the throat will have the dry sore throat feeling which will last for 3 to 4 days

“2. Then the virus will blend into the nasal fluid and drips into the trachea and enter the lungs, causing pneumonia. This process will take 5 to 6 days. 

“3. With pneumonia, comes high fever and difficulty in breathing. The nasal congestion is not like the normal kind. You will feel like you are drowning in water. It’s important to go seek immediate medical attention if you feel like this.

“About prevention:

“1. The most common way of getting infected is by touching things in public, so you must wash your hands frequently. The virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 mins, but a lot can happen in those 5-10 mins.

“2. Aside from washing your hands frequently, you can gargle with Betadine Gargle and Mouthwash to eliminate or minimize the germs while they are still in your throat (before dripping down to your lungs).”

*          *          *          *          *

GO TO THE BEACH. But there is one particular situation in Pangasinan that should provide us added protection.

The new coronavirus can’t stand high temperature environment.

CoronaVirus shall be dead in 56’C environment for 30mins. To strengthen, why not go to the beach, expose yourself to the sun for at least 30 minutes anytime in the morning but not beyond 10am!

And to consciously, strengthen your immune system – Make Vitamin C your best friend!

*          *          *          *          *

EDUCATING TRICYCLE, MOTORCYCLE RIDERS. Last January 17 was the date set by DILG Sec. Eduardo Año requiring local governments to strictly enforce the rule on the use of highways by tricycles and motorcycles that don’t run faster than 40kph: to stay on the outermost lane or shoulder lane of highways.

In Pangasinan, only Lingayen Mayor Pol Bataoil has expressed determination to enforce in his town. Bully for Lingayen, it has a mayor that has the political will to do what’s right and doesn’t need being told by the President or the DILG secretary.

But what of the other mayors?

The rule does not prohibit the use of highways by tricycles and slow-moving motorcycles except that they occupy and move on the outermost lane. It’s the best and the only way to save lives of motorcycle riders, and prevent vehicular accidents.

In most dangerous highways in Pangasinan are in Central area because of the heavy  volume of traffic in the wide highways: Starting from Dagupan City outward to Mangaldan and San Fabian, outward to Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, Urdaneta City and Rosales, outward to San Carlos City.

There are no signs that the local police stations and traffic enforcers are taking the order of Sec. Año seriously.  Obviously, even the town and city DILG directors are cool to the idea.

But all it takes really is to assign barangay tanods under the supervision of one police officer to do a 2-week intensive campaign to flag down tricycles and motorcycles that occupy center lanes on the highways, and direct them to the outermost lanes.

What will reinforce the enforcement in towns and cities would be the passage of ordinances restating the guidance provided in R.A. 4136.

But the best strategy to see to its enforcement is for Sec. Año to impose administrative sanction vs. mayors, police chiefs and DILG-LGUs directors who are not lifting a finger to enforce it.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments