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We don't need face masks for coronavirus. But there are other ways to protect ourselves 我们不需要口罩保护我们，有其他方式保护自己不感染新冠病毒。 今年澳洲对口罩的需求供不应求，从新年山火蔓延到现在新冠入侵。WHO世界卫生组织形容新冠是人类的大敌 COVID－19 目前已经让全球超过6万9千人感染，其中超过1600人已经死亡。 目前不清楚这种病毒有多容易传播，但是澳洲健康部门人员说健康的民众不需要戴口罩。有其他方式保护自己不感染新冠病毒。 专家相信新冠病毒是通过飞沫传播－类似于感冒流感，通过打喷嚏或咳嗽。 医用口罩提供一种阻隔 － 隔离大型飞沫从得病的人身上。 新南威尔士大学的流行病学专家Abrar Chughtai说医用口罩并不能完全密封隔离口鼻。但在流行病中心比如武汉，是有必要的。Abrar Chughtai说：“有病的人戴口罩是对的。但在社区大家无必要戴口罩。”同样医护人员因为近距离接触病患，医护也有必要戴口罩。 P2口罩，比如在山火时期很多人戴的，太厚了，戴久了很不舒服无法舒适的呼吸。所以也不建议在没有爆发疫情地区佩戴。 认真洗手，饭前便后，接触宠物后，咳嗽打喷嚏后，接触可能带病者后，都应该认真的用肥皂洗手至少20秒。或者用含有至少60%酒精的清洁手的干洗手液也可以。并且不要乱摸，乱揉眼睛抠鼻，也非常重要。 什么时候需要去看GP？如果你近期去过中国，或接触过可能有新冠的人，并且有类似感冒症状，应该马上去就诊。 It's been a big year for face masks — and it's only February. First, it was bushfire smoke. Now, Australians have been panic-buying face masks to protect themselves from coronavirus. Coronavirus: What you need to know Here's a rundown of all the facts about coronavirus, and how you can make sure you're protected. Described by the World Health Organisation as 'public enemy number one', the coronavirus outbreak — dubbed COVID-19 — has more than 69,000 confirmed cases, and more than 1,600 people have died. It's not clear how widespread or deadly the flu-like infection will be, but Australian health officials say there is no need for the general public to wear face masks. There are, however, a number of ways you can reduce your risk of being infected — and in doing so, improve your odds of staving off other infections, including the flu and common cold. Surgical masks 'no use' for healthy people Experts believe those with coronaviruses most often spread the infection via "respiratory droplets" — the little secretions we generate when we sneeze or cough. Because of this, the virus tends to spread between people who are in close contact. Surgical masks — the ones you typically see in public — provide some barrier against larger droplets and splashes of fluid being shared by infected people. This is why people who are sick are encouraged to wear them, and why they are a sensible precaution in a place like Wuhan, the disease epicentre. Surgical face masks, however, are not designed to provide respiratory protection, said Abrar Chughtai, an infectious disease epidemiologist from the University of New South Wales. "When face masks were designed in the early 19th century, surgeons started using them to prevent the spread of their pathogens into operating fields," Dr Chughtai said. "The main objective ... was to prevent the spread of infection." Surgical masks do not provide a seal around the face, and therefore do not filter viral airborne particles. "Sick people should use face masks. For healthy people ... at the community level, there is no use for face masks," Dr Chughtai said. It's a different story for health care workers, and the Australian Government has urged them to wear face masks. "They are in direct and close contact with patients ... so they should use face masks or respirators," Dr Chughtai said. Respirators, such as the P2 masks recommended for bushfire smoke, are thicker than surgical masks and able to filter 95 per cent of airborne particles. However, these masks are uncomfortable and difficult to wear for long periods of time, so they are not recommended for general use in countries where transmission is not widespread. Wash your hands properly Given there is no vaccine to prevent the latest strain of coronavirus, the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus. Instead of worrying about face masks, healthy people should take every precaution they normally would to avoid catching the flu. As with colds and other seasonal viruses, one of the most important things you can do is wash your hands — and wash them often. Research shows hand washing significantly helps to prevent illness and the spread of infection. Hand washing shouldn't just follow toilet use. You should also wash your hands: after you cough or sneeze, before you eat and when you prepare food, after you handle animals, when you care for someone unwell. Your handwashing technique is also important — a quick splash under the tap won't cut it. To get properly germ-free hands, you need to wash them for at least 20 seconds with soap under clean, running water. When there's no water, a hand sanitiser or gel that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol is your best bet. Be mindful of what you touch The most common way seasonal illnesses spread is when our hands pick up bugs from contaminated surfaces. Once the virus is on our hands, it's all too easy for it to be transferred to our mouth, nose or eyes, where it can more readily enter cells and make us sick. So, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, especially if you haven't washed your hands for a while. If you cough or sneeze, try to cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue, before throwing the tissue into a closed bin. It's a good idea to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. As is the case for colds and flus, avoid close contact with people who are sick. And if you're sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. When going to the GP If you have been to China and you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, you should immediately phone your GP and explain your symptoms and your travel history. Do not make an appointment or attend a GP practice or hospital without informing them first, as they will need to make arrangements to protect others before you arrive. If you have come into contact with someone who might have coronavirus, you can find more detailed advice here. 原文链接 https://www.abc.net.au/news/heal ... prevention/11958878  |
