Coronavirus Archives

October 26, 2020 By Neha Goyal Leave a Comment

Should You Avoid Going To The Gym?

With India slowly unlocking, all the public places which were high risk areas are slowly opening. With some ease in restrictions in many parts of the country, local gyms and yoga centers are reopening gradually. Despite this, we can’t overlook the fact that India is still in the top 5 affected countries. This begs the question if it is safe to go to the gym or avoid it completely!

Why Do You Feel Like Going To The Gym?

Physical activity or exercise is a very crucial part of a healthy lifestyle. Everyone who wants to stay healthy understands its importance as well as how hard it is to stay motivated and not miss our daily workout. Gym & fitness classes don’t just provide us personalized instruction to help achieve our fitness goals but they also give a sense of community & support. Considering the current situation, we cannot deny the fact that they are also crowded, where risk of infection is much higher due to a lot of surface area that people commonly come in contact with.

Have You Tried Joining the New Fitness Revolution?

They say where there is a will, there is a way and the same applies to keeping fit as well. People are now turning to fitness apps and workout videos to stay fit. Exercising at home has become the new normal. Besides, studies have shown that it’s better to workout in open and natural spaces than poorly ventilated and crowded places. But, if you’ve been regular at the gym for a few years, you might be missing the discipline and support it provides. It’s natural to feel the urge to hit the gym as soon as it opens.

Things To Consider Before Rushing To The Gym Again

While it’s natural to have an increased urge to go back to your pre-pandemic fitness regime, you still need to ensure that the risk of infection is minimized. So consider these points to stay safe:

Check if the strength of group fitness sessions is low so maintaining distance is possible.
Check if gym staff is sanitizing the equipment often and between the sessions.
Ask if they are checking temperatures of staff & members before entering.
Avoid gyms which do not have enough ventilation, or are located in the basement.
Carry your own sanitizer, towels, mask, water bottle, yoga mats, etc. every time you visit.
Do not share any of the above things with anybody.
Stay home if you are not feeling well.
Avoid going if there is a surge of infections around the locality.

With so many things to consider before going to the gym, what’s your take? Let us know in the comments below!

If you’re still unsure, consider working out at home till things change for the better. Moreover, you can download the GOQii App and workout with our fitness experts online on GOQii Play. If you’re looking for home workouts or more information on fitness and an active lifestyle, check out Healthy Reads.

If you will be heading out to the gym, then #KeepAWatch on your health with the GOQii Smart Vital that comes with 18 exercise modes to help you get the most out of your workout. It also helps you track your body temperature, blood oxygen (SpO2), heart rate and blood pressure – all of which can help you detect infections at an early stage.

Stay safe and #BeTheForce

October 15, 2020 By Navnee Garg 1 Comment

Washing Hands Can Save Your Life and Here’s How!

Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, WHO has deemed washing hands as one of the standard precautionary steps! But have you wondered by washing hands is important? How does it help?

Fact: Did you know that washing hands can prevent about 30% of diarrhoea-related sicknesses and about 20% of respiratory infections?

The Science Behind Washing Hands

Washing hands definitely plays a key role in the battle against COVID-19. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean water. If one does not wash hands properly, the germs get onto hands and may spread while shaking hands, touching other objects, sneezing and coughing. Washing your hands properly reduces these risks and stops viruses such as the coronavirus from spreading.

According to Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Washing Hands prevents from infection because:

People frequently touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without even realizing it. Germs can get into the body through the eyes, nose and mouth.
Germs from unwashed hands can get into foods and drinks while people prepare or consume them. Germs can multiply in some types of foods or drinks, under certain conditions, and make people sick.
Germs from unwashed hands can be transferred to other objects like handrails, table tops, or toys, and then transferred to another person’s hands.

How to Wash Your Hands?

Washing hands is a day to day task, but if done with ideal steps, it can surely make a positive difference. CDC (Centre for Disease Control), an international organisation, recommends cleaning hands in a specific way to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

Follow these steps:

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

WHO recommends that “If your hands are not visibly dirty, frequently clean them by using alcohol- based hand rub or soap and water.” CDC recommends washing hands with water and soap but in case water and soap is not available, only then a hand sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol can be preferred to wash/clean hands.

This is because:

Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of microbes but they DO NOT ELIMINATE all types of germs.
Hand sanitizers are not recommended when you get your hands greasy or visibly dirty.
Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicals, like pesticides and heavy metals, from hands.

Click here for the right way to use a hand sanitizer: https://goqii.com/blog/the-correct-way-to-use-hand-sanitizer-to-kill-99-9-germs/

When Do You Wash Your Hands?

According to WHO, Wash your hands:

After coughing or sneezing
When taking care of a person who is ill
Before, during and after preparing food
Before entering your home
Before eating your meals
After using the toilet
When hands are visibly dirty
After handling animals or animal waste
Before and after using gloves

Washing your hands is an easy, cheap, and effective way to prevent the spread of germs and keep kids and adults safe from the virus and various diseases. Let’s spread awareness among our kids by demonstrating the correct technique of washing hands, by making this a regular part of their routine with their eating habits, giving frequent reminders to each other and carrying sanitizers in the community areas.

For more information and safety tips, tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

Let’s end this pandemic together and #BeTheForce

July 10, 2020 By Dr. Vaidya's 3 Comments

How to Disinfect Your Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

With the coronavirus pandemic showing no signs of abating, it’s up to us to do everything we can to slow its spread. This means protecting ourselves, our families, and those around us, especially the most vulnerable. While social distancing is the most important thing that you can do in this regard it is also important to pay more heed to hygiene. Sanitization and disinfection of your home and surroundings is something that you can actively do to lower the risk of contagion. Although contact with contaminated surfaces is not the primary mode of transmission of COVID-19, it can increase your risk. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), contact with contaminated surfaces is a likely secondary mode of infection. Before you attempt to clean and disinfect your home in panic, take a breath and calm down. To effectively disinfect your home and lower the risk of coronavirus infection, find out which products work, how you should use them, and which areas of your house require your attention.

Disinfectants and Cleansers to Sanitize Your Home

Not every cleanser is effective at killing microorganisms like the coronavirus and some are only effective for bacteria or weaker viral strains. Here are the different categories of cleansers.

Bleach: If you’re looking to thoroughly disinfect and kill any pathogen in your house, nothing’s more effective than sodium hypochlorite – the active ingredient in bleach. Bleach is so effective as it destroys the protein and RNA, which is the defining feature of any virus. When cleaning with bleach, make sure to follow package directions and leave it on the surface for at least 10-15 minutes before mopping or wiping down.
Surgical Spirit or Ethanol: is one of the most powerful disinfectants you can find. It is therefore a common ingredient in many of the best disinfectants and sanitizers. From research, we know that ethanol can kill most types of coronavirus in about half a minute of exposure. It works in the same manner as bleach, destroying the virus’ RNA. When using surgical spirit or any ethanol-based cleanser, you simply need to moisten a cloth with the solution and rub it over the surface area. The point is to apply the solution over the area, not to rub it or wipe it off, as such liquids evaporate rapidly.
Surface Wipes: Depending on the type and quality of surface wipes, efficacy of such products can vary. Many contain antiseptics like benzalkonium chloride, which can kill germs, while some may also have natural antiseptics. The main benefit of such products is that they can help physically remove pathogens from surfaces, but they are unlikely to kill the virus itself.
Hand Sanitizers: are extremely useful for disinfection, especially for personal hygiene when you are forced to step outdoors and come in contact with surfaces. Hand sanitizers can also be used to clean household surfaces if needed. They are so effective because of the same primary ingredient in surgical spirit – ethanol. If you are looking for natural or herbal sanitizers, these should also contain alcohol to have any efficacy. An Ayurvedic herbal sanitizer would probably list the alcohol as prasanna or madya.
Soap and Water: As stated by health care authorities across the world, soap and water is your first defense against the virus. This is true with hand washing, but there’s a caveat. Almost all soaps and detergents will simply help to remove the virus and allow it be flushed away with water. However, these products will not kill the virus. This means that soaps and detergents, although helpful for hand washing, are not of much use when disinfecting household surfaces.

CAUTION

When using chemical-based disinfectants and cleansers like bleach, you need to exercise great caution. Bleach and other chemicals can be toxic if ingested or inhaled and can also cause severe skin and eye irritation. Make sure to use gloves and ensure good ventilation when using these products. If you’re using herbal Ayurvedic cleansers with ingredients like neem and aloe, this isn’t a concern at all.

When using bleach, make sure to dilute it precisely as directed and avoid mixing it with any other products as this can be deadly. Also keep in mind that bleach isn’t suitable for cleansing all surfaces as it can damage or discolor some surfaces.

Areas of Focus When You Disinfect Your Home

1. Household Surfaces
Because of the relative novelty of the COVID-19 virus, there is a lack of extensive research, but we are learning more each day. Studies show that the coronavirus has different survival times on different surfaces. Plastic and stainless steel surfaces deserve the most attention when you disinfect your home, as the virus could survive on such surfaces for up to nine days. On the other hand, paper and cardboard surfaces were found to be most inhospitable to the virus, with survival times of no more than a day.

Keeping this in mind and the efficacy of the various disinfectants that we have already discussed, you should focus on cleansing the following areas in your house.

Kitchen and cabinet counters
Door knobs, door handles, door bells, and all switches
Remote controls, keyboards, joysticks, and other frequently used devices
Laptops, tablets, and phones
The outside of your wallet or bottom and handle of your purse
Mattresses, cushions, and other upholstery that cannot be washed frequently may be cleansed with disinfectant sprays

2. Things You Bring into Your Home
Despite the lockdown and social distancing measures, trips to the ATM, grocery store, or pharmacist can be unavoidable. When you return with groceries and other supplies, you need to be aware of the risk of surface contamination. Every item that you purchase and bring into your home, from the packaging to the individual items, is handled by a chain of people – the employee who stocks the shelves, the cashier, and other customers who may have handled the product before.

This makes the cleansing and sanitizing of all things you bring into the house more important than other household cleansing. Wipe the surfaces of all bottles, cans, plastic bags or boxes, and other containers with disinfectants like sanitizer before you put them in your cabinet or fridge. For the same reason, it would also be a good idea to put your clothes to wash with detergent each time you enter your home. Similarly, it would be a good idea to cleanse your car’s steering wheel, dashboard, and door handles each time you return home.

We hope this article helps you disinfect your home and stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more useful information, you can check out Healthy Reads or tune in to experts on GOQii Play.

Ayurvedic cleansers are available on the GOQii Health Store within the GOQii app as well.

#BeTheForce

July 3, 2020 By Dr. Vaidya's Leave a Comment

Shopping For Essentials? Take These Precautions!

With global lockdowns and all of us being home, we must be very vigilant when we step out for those essentials that we need. While it is most advisable to stay home completely, one may need essentials like everyday groceries and medicines for basic sustenance. The first choice is of course to go out, and use online stores if available (although this may also have its own supply chain issues). Many societies are also organizing deliveries to flats or having a vendor come into the society. While these solutions can be used by some, there are certain cases where one has to go out. In these cases, it is important to do what one can to protect oneself. So, what should we do to protect ourselves and others when shopping for essentials?

Precautions While Shopping For Essentials

Make sure you are fully ready and prepared before taking that step out the door.

Carry your own shopping bags.
Wear, as far as possible, the same clothes you always do when you go out. As far as possible, wear long trousers/dresses/joggers etc and also wear long sleeved tops.
Most important, wear your mask, as soon as you step out. Doesn’t have to be the fancy ones, a simple cloth one made at home will do as long as it covers your mouth and nose. Most importantly, make sure the mask is new or clean (has been washed).
Take gloves, to handle the items you are buying and in case you touch anyone or anything.
Wear footwear which is comfortable and if possible, washable.
Try not to carry a purse, either a wallet or loose money/cards in your pocket are the best.
Pocket sanitizers to use 2-3 times during visit.
Wash your hands before you go out and when you come back home.
Try your best not to touch your face with your hands or with gloves while out.

Once you reach your shop/supermarket of choice. You will probably have to wait in line to get in. Please make sure you are at least 5-7 feet away from the person in front and from the person behind. Maintaining this social distancing is necessary. If the shop does not have an organized line up system, think about going to another shop or maintain the distance yourself regardless of whether the shop is maintaining it or not.

If possible and if available, pre-order and pickup, or order at the door and request them to give you the items. If this is not possible, go inside, get what you want and leave as soon as possible. Try your best not to browse and cause crowding. Remember, these are essentials and even this small action from your end can benefit everyone around you.

Once back home, change your clothes immediately and ensure that you keep footwear outside. Wash your hands with soap and if possible take a shower to ensure maximum cleanliness so as to not risk others at home. For items in plastic, tetra packs or carton packaging , wipe them down using normal cleaning detergent with a cloth/sponge. For vegetables, wash them with water. Medicine packets/bottles strips should also be wiped down and sanitized.

We hope these tips help you when you go out shopping for essentials. Are there any specific precautions you’re taking? Let us know in the comments below.

For more useful tips, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to experts on GOQii Play.

Stay home, stay safe and #BeTheForce