April 7 of each year marks the celebration of World Health Day. From its inception at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950, the celebration has aimed to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization.
The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, acknowledging what has seemed clear for some time - the virus will likely spread to all countries on the globe.
What is Coronaviruses (CoV)
Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) .
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans and MERS-CoV from dromedary camels to humans. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.
How Coronavirus is transmitted
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is transmitted both directly and indirectly
Directly: SARS-CoV-2 spreads mostly from person to person through close contact or from droplets that are scattered when a person with the virus sneezes or coughs. Although it's much less common, there's a possibility that someone who is infected with the coronavirus can transmit the virus even if they're not showing symptoms.
Indirectly: It's also possible that the virus can be transmitted via touching virus-contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth or nose. However, this isn't the main way the novel coronavirus spreads.
Symptoms of Coronavirus
Day 1-3 Run a fever Mild Sore throat
Day 4 Sore throat Hoarse Voice Body temperature increases Begin anorexia Have headache Have diarrhea
Day 5 Experience fatigue Muscle Pain Dry Cough
Day 6 Mild fever (about 37 C) Productive cough or dry cough Difficulty in breathing Diarrhea or Vomiting
Day 7 High fever Cough and have more spulum Body aches and Pains Vomiting and Diarrhea
Day 8-9 Symptoms get worse Messy fever Cough get worse Difficult breathing
At this stage, a patient should visit doctor for blood test and chest X-ray to check COVID-19 infection
How to protect yourself from Coronavirus
- Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with soap and water. for at least 20 seconds. If you don't have soap and water, you can also use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
- Practice respiratory hygiene
- If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
- Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
Other ways to protect yourself include the following:
- Don't share personal items with others. This includes things like drinking glasses, utensils, toothbrushes, and lip balm.
- Wipe down high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, and stair rails in your home with household cleaners or a diluted bleach solution.
- Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer after touching surfaces like elevator or ATM buttons, gas pump handles, and grocery carts.
Islamic Emphasizes on self-healthcare
From an Islamic perspective health is viewed as one of the greatest blessings that Allah Almighty has bestowed on mankind. It should be noted that the greatest blessing after belief is health, as narrated in the following Hadith:
The final messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) mounted the pulpit, then wept and said, "Ask Allah (swt) for forgiveness and health, for after being granted certainty, one is given nothing better than health."
Allah Almighty has entrusted us with our bodies for a predestined period of time. He will hold us to account on how we looked after and utilised our bodies and good health.
It has been narrated that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"No one will be allowed to move from his position on the Day of Judgement until he has been asked how he spent his life, how he used his knowledge, how he earnt and spent his money and in what pursuits he used his health".
CoronaVirus (COVID-19) Fate or Strategy?
Fate and Strategy are two separate subjects. Following precautionary measures and submission to the will of Allah Almighty is another separate topic. These two things are mingled by the people due to the lack of knowledge. Allah Swt and Prophet Swt has strictly commanded to act upon the precautionary measures against any disease and neglecting is disliked near Allah swt and Prophet saw.
Prophet ﷺ adopted strategy for Plague (Taoon)
The plague is one of the epidemic diseases occurred in the period of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Which also caused hundreds of casualties. Prophet ﷺ gave strict orders against the disease. As mentioned in the Hadith below:
Narrated 'Amir bin Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas:
That he heard Usama bin Zaid speaking to Sa`d, saying, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) mentioned the plague and said, ' whoever hears that there is an outbreak of plague in some land, he should not go to that land, and if the plague breaks out in the land where one is already present, one should not run away from that land, escaping from the plague."
There have been ten such disease spread in the world. In this situation of epidemic disease both, the government and general public has some responsibilities. Neglecting precautions is also a disliked act Infront of Allah Almighty and Prophet ﷺ. It is the social responsibility of everyone spread the awareness and follow the precautions to protect the people from virus around you. May Allah Almighty protect us from all diseases including coronavirus, bless recovery to the sick ones and rest the departed souls in eternal peace.