Covid-19 Preparation
Last update: April 20, 2020
While many of our friends in the medical field are fighting on the frontlines against the coronavirus, what can we all do to help? The best thing we can do now is to keep ourselves and our love ones out of the hospitals so we don’t overwhelm our medical system. We know social distancing and hand washing is absolutely essential. But, is there anything else we can do to better prepare our parents and our kids? We are bombarded by so much information from the media that makes it hard for many people, including my parents, to process. And, what do we do if someone in our family starts coughing? We had to deal with this situation just a few weeks ago. We felt so helpless at that moment. Do we go see a doctor or not? We are now faced with questions that used to be simple before the pandemic. Because of this, I started to do some research. I would like to share this with the community so we can all be better prepared. If you know of anything else that you would like to add, please let me know. I will keep updating this page as more information becomes available.
Recommendations from WHO
Wash hands frequently with soap and water or with an alcohol-based hand rub
Purell doesn’t work because it needs at least 60% alcohol to be effective.
Maintain distance
WHO is recommending 3 feet. CDC is recommending 6 feet. An early study from China indicates that the transmission distance could be as far as 13 feet! The reality is that this is not exact. The farther the better!
We were initially given the impression that it is OK to hang out in small groups. This is very risky because we would be helping the virus to spread exponentially between different households. Bill Gates wrote an informative article on exponential growth and decline.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Cover your cough
Masks can help even though they are not an N95.
If you have fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, seek medical help early. One unique symptom reported for Covid-19 is a sudden loss of smell and/or taste.
This recommendation from WHO is not easy to follow for the general public because it is not easy to tell the difference between the common cold, flu, or Covid-19 based on symptoms. For those interested in self-diagnosis, please see below for more info. But, this isn’t recommended because it is not easy to do.
For most of us, we will have to ride it out at the moment because testing for Covid-19 isn’t readily available. Until then, there isn’t much doctors can do for us unless it becomes an emergency. For the common cold and flu, doctors will prescribe the same treatment just as before. We came to this realization when our family was coughing a few weeks ago.
What more can we do - before we get sick
Wear masks - but not N95
Since the outbreak, public health authorities have been advising the public against wearing face masks. The problem is that we have a shortage of N95 masks needed for health care workers. We should definitely save the N95s for people at the front line. For the rest of us, we should wear masks as an additional layer of protection and to stop the spread of the virus at the very least. If everyone wears one, it would make a huge difference in reducing the transmission rate since coronavirus can be spread by people without symptoms.
Professor Michele Barry at Stanford recommended paper-based masks over cloth-based masks as a protection against the virus. Paper-based seems to be better than cloth-based. And, cloth-based is much better than no protection.
Additional information on masks:
Wash your hands before putting on a mask and avoid touching you face when you have the mask on.
Wash your hands before taking off the mask and then wash your hands again after removing it.
Good information on how to make your home-made masks more effective
Wear gloves when necessary
Some experts believe gloves are not effective because they can be contaminated as well. But, if we take proper care of the gloves, one more layer of protection is better than none. It also serves as a good reminder to stop touching our face.
Wash often
It is unfortunate to hear that the virus can cling to our hair and our clothes. If we have to be with people in close quarters, we might need to wash everything. Some of our friends also recommend nasal irrigation. To do nasal irrigation, we need to do it properly and in moderation because it can cause harm.
Stay healthy - exercise, eat well, sleep well, and reduce negative stress
This is the worst time to get sick especially since the flu season is still ongoing. CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 39 million flu illnesses, 400,000 hospitalizations and 24,000 deaths from flu. We should do everything we can to stay healthy!
Regular exercise has far more health benefits than we know. According to a research at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, exercise boots the production of an antioxidant known as “extracellular superoxide dismutase”, which in turn, protects against acute lung disease.
Connect with community - More important than ever!
Even though we are separated because of this pandemic, it is even more important for us to stay connected to others in the community. Good connection and social support has been shown by research to improve health and increase longevity. In times of stress and anxiety, we need each other more than ever. If we are alone, we need to reach out for support. One of the best places to seek support from the community is through local organizations like churches. If you need help finding a local group near Pasadena, reach out to us.
Gargle, gargle, and gargle
In Japan, gargling is strongly encouraged by the national government, along with other practices like hand-washing, wearing face masks, and social distancing, as a matter of routine hygiene during the regular cold and flu season. There are some early studies that show positive results in preventing upper respiratory infections. But, this isn’t scientifically conclusive without rigorous trials. Nevertheless, there is no harm gargling regularly. In fact, I see many benefits in keeping good oral hygiene.
Maintain a well-functioning immune system
As we know, Western and Eastern approaches to health and medicine are very different. One is more reactive and the other is more about prevention. I believe both are important. From the Western medicine perspective, there is no proven scientific treatment or prevention for the Coronavirus. However, both Western and Eastern medicine would agree that we need to maintain a well-functioning immune system. From the Western medicine perspective, the best prevention is to avoid (i.e. physical distancing) and the best way to stay healthy is to exercise regularly, to eat a balanced diet, to get adequate rest, and to reduce negative stress. Doctors are actively advising people against the use of supplements, especially those making false claims about the ability to cure or treat the coronavirus, because some can do more harm than good if not taken properly. At the moment, there is no effective cure or treatment for Covid-19. Instead, we should be looking at natural food that can provide the nutrients and minerals needed to support a healthy immune system. As with anything we consume, too much of anything is not good. Moderation is key. With this in in mind:
Zinc - People who are deficient in zinc are more susceptible to cold, flu, and other viruses. Good sources of zinc include oyster, beef, crab, lobster, pork, beans, and chicken.
Vitamin B6 - Vital for supporting biochemical reactions in the immune system. Vitamin B6-rich foods include chicken, salmon, and tuna.
Vitamin C - Supplementing with Vitamin C has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of upper respiratory infections, including the common cold (source: National Institutes of Health). Vitamin C-rich foods include oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, kale, and broccoli.
Vitamin D - Low Vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of upper respiratory tract infections, including influenza and allergic asthma (source: National Institutes of Health). The best source for vitamin D is the sun! Take a 20 minutes walk in the sun each day.
Vitamin E - A powerful antioxidant that helps body fight off infection. Vitamin E-rich foods include nuts, seeds, and spinach.
Garlic - Whole garlic contains a compound called alliin. When garlic is crushed or chewed, this compound turns into allicin. Allicin may help the body resist or destroy viruses by boosting the immune system according to some studies.
Mushrooms - Used for healing benefits for hundreds of years in many places like China, Russia, Japan, and Tibet. Some of them are being marketed as medicinal mushrooms because of their potential health benefits in preventing cancer, stimulating higher brain function, and supporting immune function. The most commonly used medicinal mushrooms include Shiitake, Reishi, Chaga, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, and Turkey tail. To use it for medicinal purpose, we should check with our doctors for effectiveness and dosage. To use it as a supplemental food, there is no harm adding Shiitake mushrooms to our diet.
Turmeric - According to a research published in the journal PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), curcumin, a compound found in turmeric is known to have anti-inflammatory properties that helps boost immunity.
Echinacea - Used by Native Americans of the Great Plains region as a dietary supplement for the common cold. Currently, there is not enough scientific data to show its effectiveness against the common cold. For more information, see National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
Elderberry - Over the centuries, elderberry has been used to treat colds, flu, fever, burns, and cuts. Scientists have found the Black Elderberry, has the ability to ward off flu infections quickly (Zakay-Rones 2004). Black Elderberries are rich in anthocyanins which are a type of flavonoid – anthocyanins are antioxidants that may protect cells from free radicals and support your body’s immune system. While additional scientific studies are still needed, adding a little bit to our diet could be beneficial. Time for some elderberry tea!
Green Tea - Traditionally, the Japanese, Chinese and Indians have utilized green tea in their medicine to boost the immune system and to prevent various ailments. Compared to other types of tea, green tea has the highest concentration of Polyphenols with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Protein - “Protein is very important when fighting viral illnesses.” Mark Hyman, Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine.
My personal recommendation:
Eat a well balanced diets of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and meat.
Drink green tea with honey.
Add mushrooms, garlic (raw is the best), turmeric, and elderberry to our diet.
Take a 20 minute walk in the sun every day!
What more can we do - when we first notice symptoms
Common cold, flu, or coronavirus
How can we tell if it is the common cold, flu, or coronavirus? The answer is not simple. The chart on the right can give us some idea. But, it is not definitive especially when coronavirus seems to be exhibiting different symptoms in different people. In addition, it can be asymptomatic - as many as 25% of the people infected with the coronavirus may not show symptoms according to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The only way to know with certainty is testing.
To talk to someone or to get some answers right away, try:
Teladoc - if you have access to Teladoc, it is a great way to talk to a doctor anywhere by phone or video.
Buoy Assistance - an AI-enabled virtual assistant to help check symptoms. It isn’t perfect yet. But, it might give you some answers.
Stock up your medicine cabinet ahead of time
Buy these ahead of time for your family because some of them have a long lead time now.
Emergen-C - Take it at first sign of symptoms. Based on our experience, we have found that Emergen-C to be very helpful when we are feeling under the weather. It contains vitamin C, Zinc, and other nutrients to help boost the immune system.
Nature’s Way Original Elderberry Syrup - Take at first sign of symptoms.
Zinc Lozenges - Take it when you start feeling something in your throat. Recently, zinc lozenges are getting quite a bit of attention because of an email from James Robb, a pathologist and molecular virologist who was the first to work on coronaviruses. While this isn’t a proven treatment for Covid-19, it is good to have zinc lozenges handy in case of sore throat and cough. In the email, he mentioned Cold-Eeze specifically. Because of him, Cold-Eeze is temporarily out of stock in most places. But, there are other zinc lozenges available from Nature’s Way. Zinc is harmful if taken too much. Use it in moderation!
Buckwheat Honey - Honey, especially Buckwheat, is very effective for coughs or sore throats.
Organic Honeysuckle Flower Tea - This is the Chinese herbal tea for sore throat. It has both antibacterial and antiviral properties.
Acetaminophen preferred over ibuprofen - On March 14, the French minister of health, Olivier Véran, issued a statement recommending that people infected with the novel coronavirus not use ibuprofen or aspirin to treat symptoms of the disease. Instead, he urged followers to take acetaminophen, noting that use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen could actually worsen the illness caused by the new coronavirus. While this isn’t grounded on any scientific study, we prefer to take acetaminophen when given a choice.
Saline nasal spray
Nasal irrigation could be helpful in getting rid of irritating and infectious agents that make their way into the nose. It is important to use in moderation (no more than one to three weeks) because saline solution can also wash away beneficial antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents.
Oximeter - For most people, we don’t need a pulse oximeter. When our lung is compromised as in the case with coronavirus, it is helpful to get an estimate of our blood-oxygen saturation level. For the engineer in me, I want to know what’s happening within my body. And, for doctors, it is helpful to give them an additional data point to assess the situation. Since this isn’t perfectly accurate, we can use it to measure the change in our condition. To me, this could be helpful.
Recommendation from doctors at the front line
Technology resources
Covid Near You - uses crowdsourced data to visualize maps to help citizens and public health agencies identify current and potential hotspots for the recent pandemic coronavirus, COVID-19.
The Covid Tracking Project - In early March, two journalists at The Atlantic, Robinson Meyer and Alexis Madrigal, built a tracker for their COVID-19 testing investigation. Separately, Jeff Hammerbacher, Founder and General Partner at Related Sciences, built a tracking spreadsheet. The two efforts came together March 7, and made a call for volunteers, and the COVID Tracking Project was born.
HealthMap - an electronic information system for monitoring, organizing, and visualizing reports of global disease outbreaks according to geography, time, and infectious disease agent.
Covid Tracker by Microsoft Bing
COVID-19 Symptom Map by Facebook and Carnegie Mellon University
Buoy Health - an AI-enabled virtual assistant to help check symptoms.
Thermia - an online platform to educate, advise, and track fever around the world.
IBM Functional Genomics Platform - Visualize, search, and query -omics data from genotype to phenotype.
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