Coronavirus (Covid-19) The Complete Guide

Coronavirus (Covid-19) The Complete Guide

UPDATE (APRIL 6TH, 2020)

CDC now recommends cloth face masks!
At Life Sprout we will continue to do our best to give you the most up to date information on the Covid 19 situation.

As you know, each day we learn new things about this virus, and naturally, our Governments initiatives change as their knowledge progresses.
In our COVID-19 survival guide, we mentioned that wearing a face mask was not necessary. Until recently that was the case. But the CDC has now changed their strategy and recommend everyone wear a face mask.
Please note, they DO NOT recommend professional masks like 3m, those masks are necessary for our healthcare workers and are already scarce, so please don’t hoard them!
Here is the NEW FACE MASK RECOMMENDATION from the CDC
Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
Do NOT use a facemask meant for healthcare workers.
Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
(If you would like to make your own face mask, you’ll find complete printable instructions with images at this address: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/DIY-cloth-face-covering-instructions.pdf
Make your own Cloth Face Mask out of recycled clothing!
Materials Needed:
Two 10”x6” rectangles of cotton fabric
Two 6” pieces of elastic (or rubber bands, string, cloth strips, or hair ties)
Needle and thread (or bobby pin)
Scissors
Sewing machine
Tutorial
1. Cut out two 10-by-6-inch rectangles of cotton fabric. Use tightly woven cotton, such as quilting fabric or cotton sheets. T-shirt fabric will work in a pinch. Stack the two rectangles; you will sew the mask as if it was a single piece of fabric.
2. Fold over the long sides ¼ inch and hem. Then fold the double layer of fabric over ½ inch along the short sides and stitch down.
3. Run a 6-inch length of 1/8-inch wide elastic through the wider hem on each side of the mask. These will be the ear loops. Use a large needle or a bobby pin to thread it through. Tie the ends tight.
Don’t have elastic? Use hair ties or elastic head bands. If you only have string, you can make the ties longer and tie the mask behind your head.
4. Gently pull on the elastic so that the knots are tucked inside the hem. Gather the sides of the mask on the elastic and adjust so the mask fits your face. Then securely stitch the elastic in place to keep it from slipping.



Hustlers have made tons of cash reselling Disinfectant Wipes, 
Hand Sanitizer and other essentials during this time of crisis!

So, what can you do to protect your home and family without breaking the bank? 

We’ll tell you some tips and tricks you can easily do at home, which are just as safe, if not more, than overpriced products you’d otherwise have to buy from scamming hustlers.

ALSO INSIDE, we’ve compiled what’s true, what’s false. There is so much fake information out there, and at some point you just don’t know what guide to follow. We’ve separated myth from truth and compiled advice and TRUTHS from the top health organizations world wide. Keep reading for your DOs and DON’Ts…

Recipe – At-home hand sanitizer, with the scent you love

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has people so worried about getting sick that hand sanitizer is selling out.

And sadly, many people are profiting from people’s fears… shame on the people who have!!!


Here's how to make your own hand sanitizer with a customized scent you love!
 

  • 3/4 cup of isopropyl or rubbing alcohol (99 percent)
  • 1/4 cup of aloe vera gel (any brand you find at the grocery store)
  • 10 drops of essential oil, such as lavender oil, eucalyptus or orange

Mix all ingredients and funnel into a spray bottle. It’s as simple as that!

 

Homemade Disinfectant Wipes that kill 99% of bacteria

If you're worried about getting sick during the Covid-19 outbreak, chances are you’ve probably encountered a MAJOR issue: essential cleaning supplies being sold out everywhere due to popular demand. Instead of searching far and wide for expensive cleaning wipes, did you know you can actually make your own for less than a dollar? 

There are a lot of recipes you’ll find on the internet for at home DIY wipes, and although those recipes will produce wipes that clean, they WON’T disinfect. To make effective homemade disinfectant wipes that will truly disinfect, the liquid disinfecting solution needs to be at least 70% alcohol according to the CDC. 

It’s easy to make DIY disinfectant wipes that are natural and don’t have any harsh chemicals.  You just need the right recipe.  And here at Life Sprout Bioceuticals™, we’ve got you covered. The ingredients for these homemade wipes cost just about nothing, and are effective for proper disinfection, which means you can have a can of wipes in every room of your home. 

Ingredients:

1-Alcohol

is a natural antibacterial and antiviral. How does alcohol kill viruses and bacteria?  Alcohol damages the cell walls of organisms. That allows the alcohol to enter the organisms and destroy them.

70% rubbing alcohol (or)

91% rubbing alcohol (or)

99% rubbing alcohol

2-Hydrogen Peroxide

Published studies suggest that viruses can be “efficiently inactivated” with disinfectants that contain alcohol and 0.5% hydrogen peroxide.

3-Antiviral Essential oils

These essential oils have antiviral disinfecting properties:

√  tea tree √  lavender √  geranium √  lemon √ orange √  eucalyptus √  cinnamon √  clove √ thyme √ peppermint

STEPS: 

STEP 1:  mix the following in a large measuring cup or pitcher:

  • 3 cups alcohol
  • 3/4 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide
  • 50 drops total of essential oils (you can mix your favourites) 

STEP 2:   pour about 2 cups of the alcohol/hydrogen peroxide/essential oil mixture into your wipe container

Tip: Choose a container that’s made from materials safe to use with diluted essential oils. Glass, stainless steel, and certain types of plastic work well.

Tip: Choose a container that’s large enough to hold 30-40 paper towel sheets plus the 3 cups of disinfecting solution.

STEP 3:  prepare the paper for your wipes

You can use paper towels, dinner napkins, or disposable guest towels. Make sure that whatever you choose to use is thick, high quality paper so that it will stand up to the disinfectant and use.

Use about 30-40 paper towel sheets, dinner napkins, or disposable guest towels.

If using paper towels, fold each in ½, then stack the 30-40 wipes on top of each other.

STEP 4: Place your wipes in chosen container.

STEP 5: Pour remaining mixture over wipes. Close lid.

STEP 6: Turn the wipes container on its side and swirl the disinfectant liquid around the wipes, trying to get all the wipes wet. And you’re done! Happy disinfecting!  


Also in this article: About the virus, what you need to know, and what to do if you experience symptoms, as well as how to protect yourself and your family. 

What exactly is Covid-19, the illness that started in Wuhan?

It is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before. Like other coronaviruses, it comes from animals.

What are the symptoms?

The virus can cause pneumonia. Those who have fallen ill are reported to suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties. In severe cases there can be organ failure. As this is a viral pneumonia, antibiotics are of no use. The antiviral drugs we have against flu will not work. Recovery depends on the strength of the immune system. Many of those who have died were already in poor health.

Should I go to the doctor if I have a cough?

No. Recent medical advice now states that anyone with a cough or high temperature should stay at home for seven days, keeping away from other people, including those in your home if you can. This applies to everyone, regardless of whether they have travelled abroad. If your symptoms get severe, it is recommended to call the covid-19 help number in your community. This number varies by country, state, etc.

Basics steps to protect yourself, your home, and your loved ones:

  • Wash your hands with soap. Lather your hands, including the backs, between your fingers, and under your nails and scrub for at least 20 seconds before rinsing.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the bin and wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue at hand, cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than your hands.
  • Face masks offer some protection as they block liquid droplets. If you’ve started to experience symptoms, if you’re in contact with others, wear a mask. However, you must change your mask every 3 hours.
  • Seek medical help if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, and share your travel history with healthcare providers.
  • If you have returned from an affected area in the last two weeks, stay indoors and avoid contact with other people for 14 days. This means not going to work, school or public areas.
  • If you have returned from an infected area and develop a high temperature, cough, runny nose, sore throat or difficulty breathing, do not leave your home until you have been given advice by a doctor.
  • And if you can, stay home, avoid as much interaction with others, now more than ever is the time to catch up on a good book, watch that Netflix series you’ve been longing to see, start writing a book or take up drawing. Together we can reduce the ravages of this virus!
  • Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day. “High-touch” surfaces include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables.
  • Disinfect areas that have come into contact with bodily fluids. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or bodily fluids on them.
  • Household cleaners: Use a household cleaning spray or wipe, according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product.
  • As much as possible, an ill person should stay in a specific room and away from other people in their home, this will make disinfection more effective. Knowing which area of the home is more contaminated will allow you to take extra sanitary precautions in that area. It will also minimalize the chance of spreading germs throughout many areas of the home.
  • The caregiver can provide personal cleaning supplies for an ill person’s room and bathroom, unless the room is occupied by a child or another person for whom such supplies would not be appropriate. These supplies include tissues, paper towels, cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants.
  • If a separate bathroom is not available, the bathroom should be cleaned and disinfected each time it's been used by an ill person. If this is not possible, the caregiver should wait as long as practical after use by an ill person to clean and disinfect the high-touch surfaces.
  • Wear disposable gloves when handling dirty laundry from an ill person and then discard after each use. If using reusable gloves, those gloves should be dedicated for cleaning and disinfection of surfaces for COVID-19 and should not be used for other household purposes. Clean hands immediately after gloves are removed.

 

Claims about Corona Virus Covid-19 – True or False???

Claim: “If I get sick, I will need antibiotics” X FALSE!

As this is a viral pneumonia, antibiotics are of no use. The antiviral drugs we have to fight against flu will not work. Recovery depends on the strength of the immune system.

 

Claim: “Drinking water kills Covid-19” X FALSE

A viral list of coronavirus tips purportedly from Stanford University and other medical experts is filled with questionable advice, including the false claim that drinking water can “kill” the virus.

The list is being shared on social media platforms, with many people incorrectly attributing it to Stanford University, or other “reliable” sources, such as doctors in China.

Its most alarming claim is that drinking water every 15 minutes will wash coronavirus “down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid will kill all of the virus”.

That’s false, and has been confirmed false by multiple experts.

 

Claim: “Covid-19 dies at 26-27 degrees C” X FALSE

The viral list apparently from Stanford university also says the virus “hates the sun” and isn’t heat-resistant. It can be “killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees Celsius”, (roughly 78 degrees Fahrenheit). This is not entirely true. Although, ultra-violet light is not best friends with viruses, it is not guaranteed to kill the coronavirus. Subsequently, “hot countries” like Cuba, Iran ands others are still experiencing the outbreak. So, turn those thermostats back down, the last thing we want is to drain our country’s electrical supplies!

 

Claim: “Wearing a mask protects me from catching Coronavirus” X FALSE (or mostly)

Wearing a face mask is certainly not an iron-clad guarantee that you won’t get sick – viruses can also transmit through the eyes and tiny viral particles, known as aerosols, can penetrate masks. However, masks are effective at capturing droplets, which is a main transmission route of coronavirus, and some studies have estimated a roughly fivefold protection versus no barrier (although others have found lower levels of effectiveness).

If you are likely to be in close contact with someone infected, a mask cuts the chance of the disease being passed on. If you’re showing symptoms of coronavirus, or have been diagnosed, wearing a mask can also protect others. So, masks are crucial for health and social care workers looking after patients and are also recommended for family members who need to care for someone who is ill – ideally both the patient and carer should have a mask.

However, masks will probably make little difference if you’re just walking around town or taking a bus so there is no need to bulk-buy a huge supply.

 

Claim: “The Covid-19 virus is mutating” √ TRUE

All viruses accumulate mutations over time and the virus that causes Covid-19 is no different. This doesn’t necessarily mean more dangerous for people though, as viruses that kill people rapidly are less likely to be transmitted.

 

Claim: “It only kills the elderly, so younger people can relax” X FALSE

Even if you are young and healthy, you should still do your diligence to stop Covid-19 from spreading. While most people who are not elderly and do not have underlying health conditions will not become critically ill from Covid-19, the illness still has a higher chance of leading to serious respiratory symptoms than seasonal flu. The actions that young, healthy people take, including reporting symptoms and following quarantine instructions, will have an important impact on protecting the most vulnerable in society and in shaping the overall outbreak.

 

Claim: “It’s important to have a healthy immune system”. √ TRUE

 When it comes to fighting Coronavirus, you already know that handwashing and avoiding those who may be sick are key precautions. But experts say that boosting your immune system may also give you an edge in fending off viruses and staying healthy this season. Here are some suggestions that may help boost immunity:

 

Stay active

Obviously, you’ll want to avoid the gym because it's germy. But working out is a powerful way to boost your immune system. So ok, skip the gym, but there’s plenty you can do from home; dance to your favourite music, jump rope, do sit-ups, whatever you can to stay active. Exercise causes your body's antibodies and white blood cells to circulate more rapidly, which means they may be able to detect and zero in on bugs more quickly.

 

Watch your diet

Eighty percent of your immune system is in the gut, so when it's healthy, we tend to be able to fight off infections faster and better. When it's not, our immune system is weaker and more susceptible to fighting off infection.

 

Chill out

There's a strong link between your immune health and your mental health. When you're under chronic stress or anxiety, your body produces stress hormones that suppress your immune system.

Although you can't avoid stress in your life, you can adopt strategies to help you manage it better.

A study looked at adults 50 and older and found that those who either did a daily exercise routine or performed mindfulness meditation were less likely to get sick with a respiratory infection than subjects in a control group.

You’re too stressed to meet friends for coffee, why not do a group chat, or hold your book club by Skype. So everyone… make a coffee, cozy up on the couch and let's `Skype! Keeping social will help you relieve stress and the more you chill out, the easier you’ll be able to fight infection.

 

Get enough sleep

Your immune system is like your computer — it needs moments of rest so it doesn't become overheated.

 “Sleep reboots the system.” When you're sleep-deprived, your body produces stress hormones like cortisol to keep you awake and alert, which can suppress your immune system. People who get at least 8 hours of sleep had higher levels of T cells than those who slept less. A study demonstrated that people who get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night were four times less likely to come down with a cold than those who slept less than 6.

 

Be strategic about supplements

There's no magic herb or vitamin you can take to automatically prevent a cold, flu or other virus. But a moderate daily dose of vitamin D may offer protection if you're already low in the sunshine vitamin. Others that have been claimed to aid immunity are: Ashwagandha, ... CoQ10, ... Vitamin B12, ... Iron, ... Creatine, ... Citrulline, ... Beetroot Powder.

  

All in all, we wish you good luck throughout this journey and thank you for considering us a trusted partner during this very difficult time for our country and our world. We wish you much health and encourage you to enjoy this forced “vacation” with your loved ones. Take the time to rekindle with the things you love, read a good book, start those stretching exercises you’ve wanted to try for so long, and don’t forget, we’re there for you, and united, we’ll get through this as a strong community!

 

Sources: The CDC, The World Health Organization, The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Stanford Health, Global Health Council, Health Canada

 

 

 

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