Some Suggestions for Community Self-Help in the Virus Crisis

These suggestions have been prepared for general use and especially for the vulnerable in society such as those with heart/lung disorders, the elderly (over 60s) and immune-suppressed, for example, those on chemotherapy.

1. Check your neighbours, particularly the elderly and/or vulnerable.
2. Minimise exposure by avoiding public transport, public gatherings and groups of people (e.g. in pubs, restaurants and places of worship). For churches, services are available either on-line via live-streaming or on the radio. If possible, keep exercising such as walking in the open air being careful to maintain separation from anyone you meet.
3. Make sure that you exchange contact details with neighbours and friends (phone numbers, email etc).
4. If you know any housebound individuals, check if they need your help, e.g. with shopping or other essentials.
5. Talk to your postman and see if he noticed anything unusual in the neighbourhood.
6. Foodbanks are experiencing shortages because people are understandably holding onto supplies, and supermarkets are selling out of goods that they would formerly have donated to the foodbank. Consider making a charitable donation to your local food bank so that they can buy essential supplies for their vulnerable clients.
7. Avoid visits to/from family. Keep in touch by phone and with technology such as Skype, Facebook Messenger, Apple FaceTime.
8. Hygiene is vital to minimise your risk. Wash your hands in hot water according to the advice, use soap and wash for 20 seconds (sing Happy Birthday through twice). Always wash if you can rather than use gel. Washing with soap and water is the most effective way of getting rid of any virus on your hands. Open windows for a time in the house/flat. Use sanitiser such as Dettol Anti-bacterial Surface Cleaner on a tissue to wipe all exposed surfaces, particularly handles and buttons, don’t forget TV remotes – bin the tissue. Change all towels daily. Do not share towels.
9. If you suspect you are infected, follow the published guidelines on NHSinform.scot. Self-isolate – although the guideline is for 7 days, 14 days is probably more sensible. Let your neighbours know what is happening. Arrange for help (without physical contact). If you experience difficulties, then contact your GP and tell your neighbours. Watch for any updated advice from the Scottish Government.

World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and a study of pandemics show that in order to minimise the number of deaths from a pandemic, it is essential to slow the spread of the disease. If this is not done, then vital public health services are overstretched and the result is that many times more people die unnecessarily. Most of us have no experience with the rate of growth of pandemics. Because they spread exponentially, the longer we wait to act, the faster they spread. If they spread beyond the capability of the system to cope then the death rates can be increased up to ten times. As of today, the afternoon of Saturday 14 March 2020, the published number of cases of infection in Scotland is 121. This is a doubling period of two days. If this were to continue to double every two days, then within a month nearly 4 million people in Scotland would be infected!

We must do everything we can to slow this rate down!