The Rapid Spread of Coronavirus
It is no secret that the Coronavirus is highly infectious. The rate at which the virus has spread around the world and infected populations have taken nearly everyone by surprise. The most at risk are of the course, the older generation, or those with pre-existing health issues. If you are reading this, there is every chance you fall into the older generation category. The Full Range Camping membership and our audience are more likely the grey nomads or older travellers. The main reason why we are actively finding facts from the Government and Media. This is to update our audience who might be at high risk.
The experts in the USA have received new information from CDC (Centre for disease control) and WHO (World Health Organisation). It concerns the transmission of the Coronavirus COVID-19 virus. The below video is extremely informative on how microdroplets are expelled by simply sneezing, coughing, talking, or even breathing and can be suspended in the air for more extended periods than was previously believed.
It appears that the transmission of the virus is quite possible through its airborne presence. This is in light of the rate of infection that is occurring overseas.
This claim was backed by Anthony Fauci, head of infectious diseases at the US National Institutes of Health. He cited “recent information that the virus can be spread even when people just speak as opposed to coughing and sneezing”.
The initial news was that the virus can be transmitted by people touching surfaces where the virus was. Or by people coughing or sneezing on or near others.
Updated information now is that those airborne droplets can last in the air for up to 20 minutes. Authorities are now receiving data that the virus can spread through people simply talking or breathing.
Overseas authorities, lately in the USA, Germany & France, are encouraging people to cover their nose and mouth when out in public. The WHO (World Health Organisation) is also reviewing its advice on wearing masks. However, advising people to wear masks could provide a false sense of security. It may lead to people relaxing their protocols of hand washing and social distancing.
To date, at the time of this article, Professor Paul Kelly, Deputy Chief Health Officer in Australia, told reporters, that the Australian Government officials have recommended, there is no need for healthy Australians to wear face masks.
The media and international governments are scrambling to provide PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) for their frontline medical staff. The USA seems to be in dire need of masks to protect hospitals, doctors, and nurses. One of the major concerns in a public announcement for people to wear masks is panic buying and hoarding. It would then diminish the already limited stocks of medical-grade masks for health care workers.
The Risks
There is also the concern that people may not fit the devices correctly and could still become infected with Coronavirus. Professor Paul Kelly also suggested, wearing a mask could increase the likelihood of contracting the virus.
We know that there is a social norm in Australia, not to cover our faces while in public. A habit that a lot of the Asian countries now accept as a normal trait. Countries like Singapore, Taiwan, and North Korea have some of the lowest rates of infection in the world. They adopt facial coverage religiously while in public.
Things might be changing here in Australia very soon.
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