COVID-19 has affected more than 14 Million people worldwide and claimed around 6 hundred thousand lives so far. In the past few months, coronavirus pandemic has spread rapidly around the world, leaving no life untouched. So much so, it has impacted our lives in many ways which is visible across all age groups and all sectors of the economy.
In healthcare facilities across India, the efforts and spirit of all healthcare workers including Doctors, Nurses, and Paramedics are being widely acclaimed at all levels. Coordinated steps taken by COVID warriors along with various authorities have contributed to a gradual surge in recovery rate of over 60%.
During the course of the work, healthcare workers are equally exposed to the virus, and even after taking all necessary precautions, they are at high risk of getting infected and consequently, putting their family members at risk as well.
But wait. All is not lost once you get infected by the virus. The key to fight the COVID-19 virus is to be in a positive state of mind, keep your immunity high, catch the symptoms early and then follow all important instructions laid down by our eminent team of Doctors to overcome the disease.
For the majority of patients, including any infected healthcare worker, the road to recovery is not tough unlike those who are elderly or are affected by comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, chronic kidney disease and respiratory disease, etc.
Here are few insights from the healthcare workers who recovered from this dreadful disease while saving the lives of plenty of others!
· Catch the symptoms early. If anybody has influenza like symptoms then please do not consider it as a simple viral or seasonal flu. They should immediately contact with their treating Doctor and follow the advice given by him in self-interest as well as for the interest of family members and society
· Keep yourself motivated as recovery rate in this illness is high and almost everybody has a fair chance to defeat this infection.
· Follow the guidelines in a responsible manner as advised by authorities regarding quarantine and isolation.
· Avoid any self-medication and consult with the medical team; follow whatever Doctors are advising.
· COVID-19 positive patients with comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, chronic kidney diseases and respiratory diseases, etc should keep in touch with their healthcare provider on regular basis.
· If you are diagnosed having COVID-19, take medical advice, follow it, and most importantly to protect others from contracting the illness, we should take due measures as a part of our responsibility.
Being a healthcare worker, most of them are mentally prepared given the chances of contracting the virus while at work. However, almost all of them who got infected are either recovering or have completely recovered and started again to serve community.
There is life beyond COVID-19 for great majority of the people. Don’t focus on the horror stories that fuel anxiety and fear. Keep yourself informed and check the factual updates from the trusted sources only.
Many leading institutes and researchers all over the globe are already working round the clock to find a vaccine to fight COVID-19 and we are all combined force to fight and defeat this COVID-19 virus.
The Author is Senior Consultant Medicine and Incharge, Medeor Hospital, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi
