Over the past few months, the coronavirus pandemic seemed to stay out of the African continent. Coronavirus came around in the world's largest concentration of people with HIV. However this is no longer the case as people are now starting to prepare for the worst.
The first cases of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa were confirmed just three weeks ago but the rate of infection in countries like South Africa is climbing easily.
With more than 200 people infected, the government has announced that schools are shutting down and large gatherings are banned.
The police is arresting citizens who test positive to the coronavirus and refuse to go into quarantine.
However, the authorities can't stop the coronavirus spreading and just about everyone in this country understands it, including South Africa's health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize.
"In any community, 60% to 70% of the population will be affected by the virus. We can't hide that... most of us will have this virus," he told a group of doctors in the capital Pretoria.
He asked the nation to be careful and understand the harmful effects of coronavirus, while South Africa has "unique dynamics" he said, with the world's largest concentration of people with HIV, plus a significant number with tuberculosis.
One of the main measures to stop the spreading of coronavirus is social distancing, which means that gyms are closed. Even if there are such circumstances, we need to stay fit and healthy.
Simple and regular exercise are essential for supporting healthy immune function; preventing weight gain; boosting your mood for the whole day; and keeping you healthy during this difficult times.
It is important to limit the prolonged sedentary behavior, especially during quarantine, that’s why we should make up a schedule which include some simple but efficient indoor exercise.
Cardio workouts are important during this sedentary routine days. It boosts your health and mood for the whole day, and you do not have to spend much time for this exercises. You can have an effective cardio workout at home during quarantine, even if you don’t have much space or special equipment.
You still have some equipment at home, for example a chair which you can use. Our fantasy is great, so we can invent our equipment, like some bottles of water, maybe some weight stuff from home and other. Here are some exercises you can do with home inventory.
You can also challenge yourself for a week to make some moves, a calendar titled “Weight loss challenge” can motivate you to start losing weight and spend your time correctly during quarantine and not only. Maybe you would like workout so much, that you will continue this routine after quarantine.
It is also important during quarantine to involve the whole family for some physical efforts, especially when your kids are at home. Here are some exercises you can do with your children, motivating them to be healthy, but also have an healthy occupation during quarantine. Cycling is the choice of those who have a private house on the ground, and respectively space around the house, where children can cycle without coming in contact with other people.
You may be also motivated by another type of exercises, called Name Fitness. We, Bemorepanda challenge you to spell your name and do the workout everyday. Here are some exercises for each letter from your name, let’s take a look:
Dear friends, stay healthy and try to make a minimum physical effort daily, we concern about your well being
and good mood. Have a productive quarantine near us!
Just a few months ago, quarantine and the new conditions of social distance were unimaginable for most of the world’s population. Now, isolation, uncertainty, and the loss of former ways of being are a new reality to which one has to adapt. Naturally, we can find in ourselves and loved ones a variety of reactions to what is happening: denial, depreciation, fear of infection, frustration, boredom, anger, and stressful reactions to resources (food, money, housing). Many people may encounter emotional and psychological difficulties during this period, including those who were sufficiently stable before the crisis.
You can respond with a series of “symptoms” to what is happening. Maybe you:
- began to worry more and worry about your health,
- have difficulty sleeping and eating
- problematic fall asleep and out of focus
- experiencing an exacerbation of chronic diseases
- increased the amount of alcohol, nicotine, and other substances consumed.
It is important to note that all the reactions that appear are normal, it is useful to notice them and take appropriate care to yourself and relatives. Man by nature is a social animal. And of course, the loss of habitual social functioning and isolation can cause us anxiety, depression and feelings of helplessness.
The World Health Organization published an appeal to the world population with recommendations regarding the preservation of psychological health. Among them:
- Maintain your social connections. Physical isolation in modern times is not an obstacle to emotional or professional connectedness.
- Call, write to each other, conduct video conferences.
- Try as much as possible to adhere to the personal schedule, structure of the day.
- In stressful moments, pay attention to your needs and feelings.
- Include healthy activities that you like and help you relax in your daily schedule.
- Engage your body, stick to your sleep schedule, take care of food quality.
- A constant powerful flow of news about the dynamics of the virus can contribute to the emergence of anxiety. Select a specific time of day at which you can keep track of WHO news and practice. Avoid rumors and unverified sources of information.
Seeking support in difficult times is normal. If your social structure is not enough to help you stabilize, you can go to an online psychologist or join an online therapeutic group. The European Association of Psychotherapy has published an appeal about supporting the online format of psychotherapy as a quarantine crisis measure.
Countries are intensely preparing to welcome their tourists. This is also the case of the French who have already arranged the first beach during the pandemic, with separate areas to respect the distance. People are sunbathing in pens on Couchant Beach.
The new beach makes the holidays completely different than you knew them. As soon as people enter the airport, they go through filters to prove that they are healthy, wear a mask, including on the plane, and on landing undergo other checks. No one assumes that a person infected with coronavirus will enter their country. And once you arrive at the hotel it is possible to find out that only one in two rooms is occupied or that the neighboring hotel is closed.
There is no need for congestion in the resort, at bars and especially on the beach, where equally drastic measures are taken.
If in Italy, on the beach, we could sit on sunbeds between plexiglass panels, in France, on Couchant beach, some kind of pens were arranged. Tourists sit in the sun on the sand, surrounded by four pairs tied with string between them. That is practically the perimeter in which they are allowed to move.
Couchant Beach is located in La Grande-Motte, a town in the south of France. It is known for its fine sand and wide beaches, with many yachts anchored ashore. One night accommodation at a 3-star hotel costs on average 490 lei, and at a 5-star hotel, 807 lei.
"People are likely to travel less abroad, and holidays at home may become commonplace. Travel must be based on mutual respect, solidarity and responsibility, ”says Andy Rutherford, founder of the UK-based travel company Fresh Eyes.
Passengers will wear masks from the entrance of the airport of departure to the exit of the airport of destination, the companions will not be allowed to enter the airport except in exceptional cases, and the high temperature will not be a good reason to refuse to board the passenger. All these rules, plus many others, are found in the protocol prepared by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) for air travel.
On 21 May 2020, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued a guide, "COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol", a set of rules for air travel in during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guide is valid for EU countries, but we will certainly have similar regulations around the world. It is enough to browse the document to understand that we are entering a new era of air travel. Just as much has changed since the 9/11 attacks, so much will change now.
- First of all, common sense is used. For example, airlines are not required to sell fewer tickets so that flights can no longer be cost-effective, but it is recommended that physical distance be respected where possible.
- Thermal scanning will not be done at all airports. In addition, the two European institutions recognize the limits of passenger thermal scanning. If, say, the passenger is over 38 degrees, he is not invited to the door outside, the temperature is checked once more, then the man is directed to a specialized control, also at the airport. It does not start from the beginning that the passenger with high temperature is sick with COVID-19.
- The basic principle is that people with symptoms of COVID-19 should be discouraged from arriving at the airport. How is this done? One of the recommendations made by EASA / ECDC to airlines is to reimburse the value of the passenger's ticket which proves, on the basis of a medical certificate, that it is confirmed with COVID-19. Refunds are made up to 6 hours before the flight.
- Airlines must also inform their passengers of COVID-19 symptoms before they show up at the airport: when checking in online, via SMS, etc. But not more than 24 hours before the flight.
- Passengers will complete a self-declaration that they are not sick with COVID-19 before receiving the boarding pass. It is preferable that this statement can be completed when checking in. Passengers will assume that if they lie in this statement, they may not be allowed to board the plane.
- Each airport will have a specific person designated to coordinate the activities and implementation of anti-COVID-19 security measures.
- Access to airports will only be allowed to passengers, flight crew and airport staff. Not the people who accompany the passengers. As an exception, persons accompanying passengers with disabilities, minors, etc. will be allowed to enter airports.
- Passengers are urged to check in online to avoid airport formalities as much as possible.
- Passengers will wear a mask from the entrance to the airport of departure to the exit of the airport of destination. Exceptions: security checks and border control. People with provable health problems and children under 6 are also exempt.
An Italian priest infected with coronavirus gave up his respirator which his parishioners bought for him to a younger patient — and then died from the deadly virus.
Giuseppe Berardelli, the main priest in the town of Casnigo, died last week in Lovere hospital, after he refused to take the respirator after finding out the other younger patient, who was a complete stranger, also needed it.
He was one of at least 60 priests who died in Italy this month as the European nation was the epicenter of the deadly pandemic and suffered the biggest amount of deaths, while having the oldest population in Europe.
People living in Casnigo were reported to have applauded from their windows and balconies as the coffin was taken for burial. There was no funeral, but people tried their best to express their regrets and love.
On Tuesday, Pope Francis led a prayer for the deceased doctors and priests, "thanking God for their heroic example in serving those who were sick".
Italy has 63,927 people with Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. So far it has reported 6,077 deaths and 7,432 people who have been discharged from hospital after recovering.
