Don’t go out unless absolutely necessary

The government is doing its bit to stop the spread of Covid-19 in the UAE and you need to do yours. In the third piece for this five-part #KTForGood series, we explain why going out unnecessarily could be harmful to yourself and your loved ones.

Keeping in mind one of the most dangerous aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic — that it has no vaccine — doctors and experts have warned people from stepping out unnecessarily.

“As we don’t have any available vaccine for Covid-19 and the effectiveness of treatment is still not proven, the only way to help yourself in such pandemic is not to catch the infection. The coronavirus can be contracted from asymptomatic people who can spread it in the community unknowingly. Therefore, to stay at home and to go out for just necessities has proved to be a very effective protocol in protecting people and containing the disease,” said Dr Ahmed Abdelhameed, specialist internal medicine, Medcare Women & Children Hospital.

He added that if one needs to go outside, then he/she should avoid crowded places and social gatherings, use face mask all the time and maintain minimal distance of two metres from other people. Keeping in mind the importance of restricting movement and keeping people engaged at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, Pallavi Bhargava, founder of a Dubaibased food company, launched budget-friendly surprise recipe boxes called Basil Box.

Bhargava said: “Be more responsible now than ever, use online services and do your part to help flatten the curve by staying home as much as possible. Hence, we have launched this recipe box to minimise movement, receive good produce, avoid unnecessary wastage and give household an activity to do to take away boredom and anxiety.”

Dr Sandeep Pargi, specialist pulmonology, Aster Hospital, Mankhool, added that the need of the hour is to limit face-to-face contact with others. “This is the best way to reduce the spread of Covid-19. In addition to everyday steps to prevent this virus from spreading, limit close contact with others outside your household in indoor and outdoor spaces. Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to stay away from others when possible, even if you—or they—have no symptoms.”