COVID-19 awareness at Maseru United Church

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ROCKSON AMENYO

MASERU – Congregants at the Maseru United Church were this week beneficiaries of an in-depth COVID-19 awareness campaign aimed and sensitizing the public on necessary action steps to avert infection and the spread of the deadly disease by expert doctors.

COVID-19 was first reported at Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019, and was March 11 declared pandemic by the World Health Organisation. The doctors educated the congregation on the preventive measures for getting infected and spreading the disease, which include to:

  • Regularly and thoroughly wash hand with soap under running water or the use of alcohol-base rub.
  • Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from oneself and anyone coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid the touch of eyes, nose or mouth.

The team of doctors advised people should stay home in the case of any feeling of being unwell, while also constantly seeking early medical attention. Some church members took the opportunity of the presence of the doctors to ask series of intriguing questions based on the ad-hoc measures to prevent as well as treat COVID-19.

The doctor said there was no specific vaccination or antiviral medication available for treatment of the COVID-19, mentioning that there were ongoing clinical trials that involved both western and traditional medicines to avert and stop the menace. The gathering was advised to wear mask to fight and gloves to curb COVID-19 infection; according to the doctors, the virus may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days.

“The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low. The risk of catching this virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low” the doctors said.

This team of doctors also helped clear the emergence of several conspiracy theories and also deceit on the reality of COVID-19 as doing rounds in social media platform. They further gave a situation update on the severity of the pandemic around the world, but sharply turned to defend Lesotho as a country that has not had a confirmed case as at the time of their presentation.

The church was encouraged to engage in clean and healthy practices and behaviour patterns that could increase chances of infection. Coronavirus is a large family of viruses which is known to cause respiratory infections ranging from common cold to more severe diseases.

It spread from one person to another through a small droplet from the nose or the mouth when the infected person coughs or exhales. COVID-19 symptoms are tiredness with aches and pains, fever, sore throat with dry cough, diarrhea with running nose, and difficulty in breathing couples with nasal congestion – among others.

The incubation period of the disease is between 1-14 days after exposure. The symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually, some people, it has been reported, are also infected without showing any symptoms and continue to feel well. Older people and people who have health problems are more prone to COVID-19 and can develop serious illness. Maseru United Church is an interdenominational church with a community of different nationalities, colour and background.

 

 

 

 

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