Corona Virus/ COVID-19 awareness and SMIS's prevention efforts
Circular 3:
Dear parents, students and staff,
This circular provides you information that can guide your actions and help keep your family and our community safe.
This is a link to a site that provides COVID-19 statistics for India: https://covidout.in/
May not update as quickly as the next link. So check both.
This link is for COVID-19 information across the world. Including India: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
The above site provides a lot of other fascinating information as well, should you explore other sections.
Learn about how Singapore and Taiwan acted proactively to protect their citizens. Hopefully, our government and all of us can follow many of the same measures.
https://slate.com/technology/2020/03/countries-contain-coronavirus-spread.html
There are many myths, that is fake news or false stories doing the rounds specially on social media like Whatsapp. This World Health Organisation site, that is WHO site, clarifies what to believe and what not to. And is a place you can go to for the most reliable information about the coronavirus.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
How does the virus spread from country to country?
What we are learning about the spread of the virus is now from actual cases.
Travel is a risk. Major airports receive passengers from across the world. Recent cases show infection from other travellers.
All non-essential international travel is now strongly not recommended by experts. I had an important conference to attend this month. The conference was cancelled as was my trip.
Our recommendation includes avoiding out of Rajkot/Gujarat domestic travel as well. Be safe. Do not board a plane, train, bus or boat out of Rajkot/Gujarat unless you have to.
Other cases have resulted through receiving guests and family members in homes. Those coming or returning from other countries. And guests in hotels. They may show no signs of sickness when they arrive, but they may have been infected elsewhere and now may possibly infect others.
This is not to say we must refuse to receive any guests and family members of course. Just take note if anyone is coughing, sneezing, showing symptoms. And take appropriate precautions.
Do note that it can be several days after infection that patients show symptoms like fever and cough. This virus is tricky.
A dinner party in Singapore, resulted in several new cases. One person possibly infected all. Such cluster events are more likely once there are multiple virus cases in a community. We are not there as yet, but it may be only a matter of time.
This graphic below explains very simply what the fight is going to be about.
Dear parents, students and staff,
This circular provides you information that can guide your actions and help keep your family and our community safe.
This is a link to a site that provides COVID-19 statistics for India: https://covidout.in/
May not update as quickly as the next link. So check both.
This link is for COVID-19 information across the world. Including India: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
The above site provides a lot of other fascinating information as well, should you explore other sections.
Learn about how Singapore and Taiwan acted proactively to protect their citizens. Hopefully, our government and all of us can follow many of the same measures.
https://slate.com/technology/2020/03/countries-contain-coronavirus-spread.html
There are many myths, that is fake news or false stories doing the rounds specially on social media like Whatsapp. This World Health Organisation site, that is WHO site, clarifies what to believe and what not to. And is a place you can go to for the most reliable information about the coronavirus.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters
How does the virus spread from country to country?
What we are learning about the spread of the virus is now from actual cases.
Travel is a risk. Major airports receive passengers from across the world. Recent cases show infection from other travellers.
All non-essential international travel is now strongly not recommended by experts. I had an important conference to attend this month. The conference was cancelled as was my trip.
Our recommendation includes avoiding out of Rajkot/Gujarat domestic travel as well. Be safe. Do not board a plane, train, bus or boat out of Rajkot/Gujarat unless you have to.
Other cases have resulted through receiving guests and family members in homes. Those coming or returning from other countries. And guests in hotels. They may show no signs of sickness when they arrive, but they may have been infected elsewhere and now may possibly infect others.
This is not to say we must refuse to receive any guests and family members of course. Just take note if anyone is coughing, sneezing, showing symptoms. And take appropriate precautions.
Do note that it can be several days after infection that patients show symptoms like fever and cough. This virus is tricky.
A dinner party in Singapore, resulted in several new cases. One person possibly infected all. Such cluster events are more likely once there are multiple virus cases in a community. We are not there as yet, but it may be only a matter of time.
This graphic below explains very simply what the fight is going to be about.
Our hospitals, that is the healthcare system, can handle only so many patients at a time. China had to set up new hospitals within 10 days. They did. I am not sure we can. If we take proactive protective measures now, while we have very few infections, we may be able to lessen the burden on our medical infrastructure. Chaos and far more deaths may result otherwise.
Why are conferences being cancelled across the world? Why are sports events being played in empty stadiums? Why large gatherings are being banned? No more than 100 people in an indoor function, and 500 outside is already the rule in several countries. Why are visas being cancelled?
All are attempts to control the spread of the disease. There is no cure or vaccine as yet. And the virus will travel. Through people. No country can totally close its borders.
Governments are attempting to control the rate at which the virus spreads so that hospitals and the health system can cope with the numbers of people who are likely to get sick. It is unlikely that India will be an exception three months from now.
While there is no need to panic, we must all realise and accept that our lives and routines will have to change. At least temporarily. Till we defeat the virus. Till it dies out or abates.
Hopefully, these changes may not be as drastic as in China and Italy if we take strong and decisive early proactive measures, and not wait for the virus to strike before responding.
Thank you for your attention and support. Together, we can minimise the impact of the virus. Take care. You are all precious.
Yours sincerely,
Kiran Bhalodia
On behalf of all Trustees
PS
NOTE: This guide will help immensely. Parents and teachers. Please follow through.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/05/health/coronavirus-how-to-talk-to-children-trnd/index.html
PPS
NOTE: Do not believe anything just because someone forwards it or claims they are an Infectious Diseases expert!
For those of you who may have questions about the virus, WHO site provides the most reliable information.
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
Why are conferences being cancelled across the world? Why are sports events being played in empty stadiums? Why large gatherings are being banned? No more than 100 people in an indoor function, and 500 outside is already the rule in several countries. Why are visas being cancelled?
All are attempts to control the spread of the disease. There is no cure or vaccine as yet. And the virus will travel. Through people. No country can totally close its borders.
Governments are attempting to control the rate at which the virus spreads so that hospitals and the health system can cope with the numbers of people who are likely to get sick. It is unlikely that India will be an exception three months from now.
While there is no need to panic, we must all realise and accept that our lives and routines will have to change. At least temporarily. Till we defeat the virus. Till it dies out or abates.
Hopefully, these changes may not be as drastic as in China and Italy if we take strong and decisive early proactive measures, and not wait for the virus to strike before responding.
Thank you for your attention and support. Together, we can minimise the impact of the virus. Take care. You are all precious.
Yours sincerely,
Kiran Bhalodia
On behalf of all Trustees
PS
NOTE: This guide will help immensely. Parents and teachers. Please follow through.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/05/health/coronavirus-how-to-talk-to-children-trnd/index.html
PPS
NOTE: Do not believe anything just because someone forwards it or claims they are an Infectious Diseases expert!
For those of you who may have questions about the virus, WHO site provides the most reliable information.
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses