Let’s face it, the flu season happens to us all year round. It affects our noses and respiratory system that make us sneeze, sniffle, stuffy and runny. Not only the flu can be a total nuisance for our daily routine, but it also associates with the likes of headaches, sore throat and aching muscles.
Not to mention, the current coronavirus, officially known as Covid-19 or 2019-nCoV, has caused many of us worrying about catching it.
That said, we have rounded up an essential list of the must-have necessities for flu.
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Can’t find the nearest washroom to keep your hands clean with soap and water? Fret not since Dettol Instant Hand Sanitizer comes in handy. It contains 69.4% denatured alcohol content -- an essential ingredient that helps to eliminate germs around your hand.
And it’s easy to use as well. All you have to do is squeeze down the green bottle cap and pour a pea-sized drop onto your palm. Then, rub both hands together in a brisk motion until dry.
More: 10 Best Hand Sanitizers To Save Yourself From Soap-less Situations
Wearing a face mask is essential if you are sick while in the public area like having the flu or cough. And more so, given the current Covid-19 outbreak. A mask isn’t exactly foolproof but it does protect you and others from spreading germs in certain situations, particularly if you are in a confined area such as on the train.
Among the face masks you can consider buying are the Sensi Surgical Mask, which boasts a three-ply design. Not only does it offer protection against moisture from the outside, but also shields against 95% of airborne particles like bacteria, viruses and pollen.
The mask itself comes with a form-fit design and latex-free earloop to ensure comfort even for long hours. Each purchase contains a box of 50 pieces in total.
More: Surgical and N95 Masks: Which To Get? (And Where To Get 16 of Them!)
Fight off the flu and boost your immune system with Blackmores Bio C 1000mg, the popular Australian-based health supplement product that needs no introduction. It contains no harmful chemicals like preservatives or artificial flavours. Instead, it contains mineral ascorbates to help to minimise the effect of gastrointestinal distress commonly associated with the acidity of citrus extract.
The Blackmores Bio C 1000mg comes with 150 tablets in total, which can last you around 5 months since it only requires 1 tablet each day with a meal or as directed by your physician.
More: 10 best Vitamin C Supplements to Support Your Immune System
We tend to use a lot of tissues when suffering from the flu. But not every tissue is created equal. For instance, some are either too thin or feels rough on the nose. Not with Vinda Deluxe Soft Pack, where the tissues are made from imported 100% virgin pulp using the signature knitted fiber technology.
As a result, the tissues do not tear easily, and that they are both absorbent and soft enough for those who have runny noses. It also helps that each sheet has the durability of a 3-ply thickness. Each unit comes with a pack of four totalling to 120 sheets each.
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One of the age-old home remedies to relieve the flu and common colds are sipping certain teas. A hot one, that is, and among them happens to be the ginger tea since it has antioxidant properties to help stimulate the immune system.
But if you find it troublesome to make ginger tea from scratch, this Gingen Instant Ginger Tea comes in handy whenever you need them. Available in a bundle of two containing 20 sachets each, it comes with a strong taste of 80 per cent’s worth of 100% natural ginger extract.
It also contains no caffeine and is free from preservatives whatsoever. For better effect, try adding a slice of lemon and honey.
When comes to lozenges, Strepsils easily ranked among the top in the list. They are readily available in supermarkets, pharmacies and even local grocery stores. If your flu or cold symptom comes with a sore throat, this Strepsils Orange with Vitamin C variant might be just the thing you need.
Each drop not only provides soothing relief to your throat infections. It’s also a combination of orange and added Vitamin C helps to alleviate the flu and other common colds.
When you are down with cold or flu, it is important to boost your fluid intake for a speedy recovery. Among the fluids you can drink is hot water, which helps to loosen secretions in the chest and ease congestion.
Which brings us the Cornell Thermo Pot, an easy-to-use dispense that has an auto sensor function to boil water and keep warm. It can hold up to 4.2 litres of water capacity while the inner pot itself is made from 304 stainless steel - a reliable material that can withstand corrosion and oxidation.
Known for producing high-quality household appliances, Dyson’s Pure Cool Purifying Tower Fan TP04 is a minimalist product with minimal footprint that won’t take up much floor space. It comes with 360-degree HEPA and activated carbon filters to capture 99.97% of pollutants and allergens while removing odour and purifying the air in the room.
Other key features include the tower fan’s oscillation capability of up to 350 degrees for more airflow around the room. Meanwhile the remote control comes in handy for adjusting the likes of fan speeds and night-time mode.
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Old but gold; this decades-old Axe Brand Universal Oil is an all-time favourite among many households regardless of young or old. Although the oil is commonly used for headaches and stomachache, it also provides instant relief for stuffy nose and other common colds, thanks to its combination of menthol, camphor and eucalyptus oil.
To apply, simply pour a few drops to a tissue paper or handkerchief and inhale deeply. The Axe Brand Universal Oil comes in a travel-friendly handy pack where you can store it easily in the likes of your pocket and backpack.
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Common areas that we normally touch such as doorknobs, TV remotes and light switches are prone to germ inhabitations. So, when you have flu, it’s best to disinfect these commonly-touched spots. Enter the Clorox Disinfectant Wipes, which can eliminate 99.9% of flu-related viruses and bacteria.
It boasts triple-layered wipes for better disinfecting and cleaning action and it can be used for almost all surfaces. This includes the likes of the kitchen counter, sink, bathtub, chair, table and even computer peripherals such as the keyboard and mouse.
More: 12 Best Disinfectant Sprays To Sanitise Your Home With
To know how to protect yourself from the virus is to understand its causes and effects. Here's all you need to know about the virus:
What is a pandemic?
WHO (World Health Organization) has defined that any disease which unexpectedly spreads/outbreak, and that humans have no immunity over is considered a pandemic. To simply put, it's not how life-threatening the disease is, but how easily it affects the human race no matter the geographical profile of a person. That means diseases like cancers isn't a pandemic.
Why does a pandemic happen?
A pandemic doesn't happen overnight. In fact, a pandemic is first an epidemic, whereby a disease spreads quite rapidly across an area or a region. Before the novel Coronavirus happened, some of the last epidemic outbreaks include the Zika virus and the Ebola virus, first appeared in Brazil and West Africa accordingly. But because they weren't as widespread globally, therefore they were classified as epidemics.
So, how does an "epidemic" evolve into a pandemic? Actually, this is declared by WHO and that there's no clear set of classifications to define a disease as a pandemic. In fact, it depends on the whole picture in general. For example, HIV was actually a pandemic when it first appeared. But thanks to modern medicine, the disease is now under controlled and has ceased to be called a pandemic.
Regarding the Coronavirus called COVID-19, this fatal virus managed to spread rapidly on a global scale. It happened due to travellers who visited where the virus first appeared, unintentionally hosted the virus within them and thus, carried it back into their country. And unfortunately, the disease affects everyone of every age, spreading (and disguising) as flu-like symptoms.
What is COVID-19, and what are the symptoms?
A member of the coronavirus family, this virus can infect humans similarly to how SARS and MERS did (both of which are of the same virus family). In terms of common symptoms, they are quite similar to the common flu. Even worse, some people do not show signs of symptoms at all, hence it's best to practice good hygiene and social distancing during this crucial period.
The common symptoms in question to watch out for are mild respiratory illnesses, such as runny nose, fever, cough, headache and sore throat. In severe cases (with many deducing it’s more common in weaker-immune system bodies or older people), the novel coronavirus can also cause pneumonia and fatality.
How does the coronavirus spread?
It has been confirmed by the Chinese authorities that human-to-human transmission is the main cause, and it occurs mainly through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing.
If an infected person coughs or sneezes, its droplets can land on the nose, eyes or mouth of another individual. These droplets can also land on surfaces, and an uninfected individual might be exposed to it afterwards.
Coronavirus on a global scale
The effects of coronavirus are severe in many countries. To date, the emergence of new cases in countries such as Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America is alarming, with the curve graph (that displays the turnover rate of new cases) not showing any signs of flattening soon. This is due to people still being out and about, unknowingly spreading the disease.
At the moment, no clear vaccine has been invented yet to cure the disease. Normally, those with a mild case of the virus generally recover in 6 days. Whereas those with a more severe case develop pneumonia-like symptoms, with the worse case being death.
Coronavirus & Temporary Relief Fund in Singapore
Back when SARS hit 26 countries including our country in 2003, there were over 8000 cases and 238 locally, with 774 deaths, where 33 occurred in Singapore. Although the mortality rate was higher (15%), the symptoms were much more severe and thus, easier to identify, which led to easier containment of the virus.
Learning from the lessons graced by the dangerous touch of SARS, our government is able to contain the virus from spreading sporadically. Moreover, there are several financial assistance for Coronavirus(dubbed The Resilience Budget) to help Singaporeans.
- COVID-19 Support Grant: $800 per month for 3 months to low and middle-income workers that face unemployment due to the virus.
- Temporary Relief Fund: For the less-fortunate who aren't under ComCare assistance will be able to receive funds immediately for basic living expenses.
- Jobs Support Scheme: In order to avoid a recession and lower the loss of jobs for citizens due to the virus outbreak, firms will receive wage subsidies of between 25%-75% for local workers. Those in food sectors including hawker stalls are to receive 50% higher in wages.
- Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS): A new scheme that's aimed towards helping self-employed citizens. Those eligible can receive up to $1,000 every month for 9 months.
- Household funds: All Singaporean adults age 21 and older will be entitled to receive a one-off payment of $100, $200 or $300 in order to help cover household expenses. For citizens with a Singaporean child that's 20 years old and below, an extra $100 will be given out.
- Grocery vouchers: If those aged 21 and above live in a 1-2 bedroom HDB and do not own any property, they are entitled to $300 grocery vouchers.
- Loan and fee freezes: All government services and fees will cease for a year, from April 1st 2020 to March 31st, 2021. Moreover, loan repayment for fresh graduates will be suspended for 1 year from June 1st 2020 to May 31st, 2021. Also, late payment for HDB mortgage will be suspended for 3 months.
These are few of the many assistances that citizens can receive. Several criteria apply so do check with your nearest Social Service Offices.
It may just be a common flu, but the weakened body is not as strong as it was to protect you from the virus! Hence, it's crucial that you rest aplenty and focus on healing the body.
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How to get rid of the flu or prevent Coronavirus?
Technically, there's no known vaccine at the moment that treats Covid-19. But just like flu, prevention is possible and it's always better to practice it.
- Minimise interactions and close contacts.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap. If you can’t access soap, use a hand sanitizer.
- Use a face mask especially when you need to go to a "crowded place"
- Practice social distancing. This is highly required from us in order to not waste the efforts of front-liners risking their lives to serve the community (such as those in the medical, security and logistic force).
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Other things you can do is rest as much as you can, take Vitamin C and remember to drink plenty of fluids such as hot water and certain hot beverages like ginger tea and herbal tea. If home remedies are not working, your next best move is to visit your nearest clinic or hospital for further checkup.