The fight against COVID-19 is still going on, and every force must be gathered to win this challenging "epidemic combat". In addition to self-protection, a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the epidemic-related knowledge and the latest situation will help the people to effectively defend themselves against the epidemic.
On February 14th, the "Experts Opinions on Epidemic Combat" launched by SCIMEA, together with Health China TV (http://tv.cctv.com/yskd/special/jkzg/index.shtml), an exclusively authorized platform by National Health Commission, and Sichuan Guancha (http://webpagescgc.sctv.com), was started as scheduled. The second column of the "Experts Opinions on Epidemic Combat" invited Zhang Shu, deputy director of the emergency department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, master tutor, and vice chairman of the Emergency Medical Special Committee of SCIMEA, to be a guest speaker at the studio of West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Via live video streaming, on "Basic Knowledge and Common Misunderstandings - How the People Can Deal with COVID-19 Epidemic", he shared the basic common knowledge of the epidemic, common misunderstandings and details that need to be noted, which attracted 1.56 million online real-time audiences.
Basic Knowledge of and Precautions against COVID-19
Professor Zhang Shu first popularized the basic knowledge of COVID-19. He introduced that COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets and contact, and that it is highly contagious due to asymptomatic (invisible) infections. Professor Zhang Shu also compared the case fatality rate of the new coronavirus with that of other viruses, and explained the differences between case fatality rates and death rates.
In face of the menacing epidemic outbreak, Professor Zhang Shu's emergency department is also shouldering important tasks, actively reaching out to Wuhan, and participating in diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Regarding the current epidemic-combat situation in Sichuan province, he said that, compared with the resident population, the overall incidence of disease in the province is relatively small, and the epidemic situation is preventable and controllable, but we still cannot relax our vigilance.
Regarding the situation when patients come to see doctors in the hospital during the epidemic, Professor Zhang Shu mentioned that in view of the impact of the current epidemic, patients with common illnesses can receive treatments through online inquiry and prescription; when patients with urgent illnesses come to the hospital for treatment, they must conduct proper self-protection.
Are You Infected with COVID-19? Are You Close Contacts?
During the epidemic, many patients are worried about whether they are infected with COVID-19, or whether they are close contacts, and struggle with lots of doubts and anxieties. To this end, Professor Zhang Shu also gave specific explanations and answers. As to the question whether a person is infected or not, it should be determined comprehensively through a number of indicators such as epidemiological history, including the history of travelling or living in Wuhan or surrounding areas, contacting with patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection, contacting with patients with fever or respiratory symptoms from Wuhan and surrounding areas, participating in a group where cases are now confirmed, etc. As to the question whether a person is a close contact or not, there are many affecting factors, but the most critical one is nothing but close contact or failure to take protective measures.
How to Choose and Use a Mask Correctly?
Speaking of the hotspot issues, such as the current shortage of masks in the market, ways we choose masks correctly, and ways we ensure self-protection at the same time, Professor Zhang Shu analyzed what kinds of people and places various types of masks are intended for, such as disposable medical masks, medical surgical masks, daily protective masks, medical protective masks, etc. He suggested that citizens choose masks according to their needs in certain situations. Generally speaking, disposable medical masks can fully meet the protection needs of the general public on most occasions. At the same time, when the function and structure of the mask remain intact, its hours and frequency of use can be extended.
Interpretation of Common Misunderstandings
During the live broadcast, Professor Zhang Shu, in an easy-to-understand manner, specially explained possible misunderstandings and concerns of many netizens, such as "Can viruses be killed by drinking a lot of hot water and taking hot showers?", "Are fresh food safe to eat?", "Is it safe to take a plane?", "Should a person sanitize his whole body with alcohol?", "Is the disinfectant 100% effective?”, "How to deal with aerosol transmission?", and so on.
Hotspots
In the end, Professor Zhang Shu shared his views on the two recent real-time hotspots, “the number of confirmed cases has surged” and “antibodies identified in the plasma of recovered patients can be used to treat COVID-19”. He pointed out that the substantial increase in confirmed cases was mainly due to the inclusion of clinically diagnosed cases. Regarding the treatment of COVID-19 with the plasma of recovered patients, he said that it is a treatment thought, but it still takes time to test its effect before promotion.
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, SCIMEA has been publicizing the epidemic protection knowledge accurately and scientifically, by giving full play to its advantages, using innovative forms, and actively using online media to create popular science highland. The second column of "Experts Opinions on Epidemic Combat" was launched, through platforms such as Sichuanguancha (http://webpagescgc.sctv.com), Cover News (http://www.thecover.cn/), Youku (https://www.youku.com/), MicroBlog (https://www.weibo.com/), Tencent Video (https://v.qq.com/), Jinri Toutiao (https://www.toutiao.com/), NEWSCCTV (https://www.newscctv.net/), Zhongsou Soyue (http://www.souyue.mobi/), etc., together with industry vertical media such as Biomedical Engineering Think Tank, GMP Industry News , Yihuibao (http://www.medmeeting.com/), Yiye Guancha (https://5260.shangyexinzhi.com/), MedSci (https://www.medsci.cn/), etc. Presented from the network in the form of real-time live featuring and short video, it greatly increases coverage among people, and is also convenient for citizens to watch at any time and any place, which has effectively achieved the purpose of timely publicizing the epidemic prevention knowledge and empowering the whole nation to combat the epidemic scientifically.
