Everything Southeast Asians (and others) need to know about Coronavirus / COVID-19
Data visualisation by Mona Chalabi
Last Checked / updated: 30 March 2020
I first wrote this guide as an email to my family because there is a lot of information on COVID-19 out there and it can get overwhelming.
My family is scattered across Asia (mainly in Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong), so I wanted an easy guide for all of us to refer to. We also have quite a few older people in my family (hi Mom, hi Dad), so this email was also to inform them of what they can do without me nagging incessantly at them.
As it could also be helpful to others, I’m posting it here too.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
There is currently no vaccine for COVID19 – everything is in clinical trial stages. So here’s what we can do to protect ourselves:
Wear a mask. The virus can stay alive in air for a few hours, and on surfaces for days.
Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds (sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice, or whatever song you want to). Here's how
Use hand sanitiser when water is not available (also rub for at least 20 seconds)
Take regular showers and don’t wear your outside clothes at home (immediately change out of them when you enter the home and place them in the wash basket and isolate the basket if you’re not putting them in the washer)
Clean surfaces with a 1:99 bleach and water solution (here's how). Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your home, such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables, every day — the virus can stay on various types of surfaces for hours. Also disinfect your mobile phones.
Do NOT shake hands with others or touch others (or let them touch you)
Do NOT come within 1 metre of others (WHO reported that in an analysis of 75,465 COVID-19 cases in China, airborne transmission was not reported, but transmission of the COVID-19 virus can occur by direct contact with infected people and indirect contact with surfaces in the immediate environment or with objects used on the infected person [e.g., stethoscope or thermometer].)
Put down the toilet seat when you flush as there is some evidence that COVID-19 infection may lead to intestinal infection and be present in faeces.
Stay away from people who are sick
Stock up on an approximate 2-week supply of groceries and 30-day supply of household supplies and medication prescriptions, just in case. Best to have them delivered to you
You can get more information here.
How to take care of yourself during this period
One way to stay healthy is to ensure your immune system gets all the help it can. Here are some habits you can cultivate while we’re all social distancing and staying home:
Drink 8 glasses of water a day
You don’t have to take a sip every 15 minutes (that’s a false rumour) but as you’ll be wearing a mask for most of the day, you might become dehydrated. Dehydration can lead to heart disease and kidney failure. Try to drink 8 glasses or 2 litres of water a day.Have a healthy diet
When I fell sick early last year, I changed my diet and really saw improvement in my health. So take in more fruit, vegetables and whole foods. I’ve also been sharing this video on immunity-boosting foods to consume (also the video above) with my family and friends. This diet of natural foods (stay away from the processed foods) has been working for us so far.Sleep 7 to 9 hours every night
Get seven to nine hours of sleep. This is when your body repairs and recharge. With us being at home more, there is no excuse not to sleep.Stay active
Just like a healthy diet, exercise can contribute to general good health and therefore to a healthy immune system. It may contribute even more directly by promoting good circulation, which allows the cells and substances of the immune system to move through the body freely and do their job efficiently. Do what you can – I really like Yoga with Adriene as she has videos for all intensities and durations (even 15-minute ones).Watch your weight
Maintain a healthy weight. It’s tempting to eat all your quarantine stock in one night, but self-control will take you further (and farther).Manage your stress
Sharing the facts (or this page) about COVID-19 and understanding the actual risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful. Limit exposure to the news on COVID-19 (yes, this will help keep stress levels down), keep up with regular routines, and talk to each other. At all costs, do NOT believe what Trump says. For those with kids, here are some great tips.Talk to someone
If talking to each other stresses you out (because let’s face it, you’re in each other’s space all day now), there are many virtual outlets out there for you to get in touch with: here’s a list of online counsellors, an app known as Safe Space or Heart Chat (an online platform that links you up with professional counsellors and coaches) who is doing a free pilot scheme.Take breaks
Give yourself breaks, especially if you’re working from home, or if you’re in charge of taking care of everyone else.
SYMPTOMS
There might be no symptoms for up to 14 days after exposure (1/3 of the cases may be silent carriers). If you’re unsure and have no symptoms, try NOT to go to the hospitals / clinics to get tested as they are hotbeds for COVID-19 and you might get infected if you aren’t already.
The following symptoms may also appear 2 to 14 days after exposure:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion or inability to arouse
Bluish lips or face
What the World Health Organization (WHO) says:
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough.
Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.
These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell.
Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing.
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
Where to get tested
In Singapore:
At Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs), as well as polyclinics. These will provide special subsidies for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents diagnosed with respiratory illnesses (e.g. common cold).
In Indonesia:
There are 132 hospitals that have been designated across Indonesia to cope with the COVID-19. They are known as the ‘COVID-19 Referral hospitals’. Please take precaution whenever you enter a hospital / medical facility (wear masks, keep hand sanitizing, and try to keep a distance if possible).
In Bintan: those with symptoms should go to the RSUD Prov Kepri (hotline: +62 0813 7879 0002) at Batu 8. If you have no symptoms, go to the Tanjungpinang City Hospital (+62 771 313000) at Jalan Sudirman.
In Batam: it’s RSUD Embung Fatima and RS Badan Pengusahaan.
In Medan:
RSUP H. Adam Malik
RSU Djasamen Saragih
RSU Padang Sidempuan
RSU Kabanjahe
RSUD Tarutung
TRAVEL
To Singapore:
Please click on image to enlarge
From 2359h on 23 March, short-term visitors are no longer allowed entry or transit.
You can enter if you’re Singaporean or Singapore PR but have to stay at home for 14 days
Work pass holders providing essential services, such as in healthcare and transport, will be allowed by the Manpower Ministry to enter or return to Singapore. This includes their dependents.
(For more information, the Ministry of Health, Singapore has updates)
Out of Singapore:
All travel out of Singapore (for Singaporeans) has been halted. But on the side of the other countries…
Entry and transit of visitors from Britain, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Vatican City, Iran is prohibited from 20 March due to coronavirus concerns
In addition, all travellers who wish to visit Indonesia for the next month will have to resubmit their visa and obtain a health certificate from their home countries
Malaysia
Hong Kong
From 0000h on 25 March, only HK residents and citizens are allowed to enter
WHERE TO GET UPDATES / HELP
Mainly Singapore-related news as I find them to be most reliable and up-to-date. There is also a source for Indonesia:
Via Telegram:
Latest alerts (various sources) (I’m not happy with the name of this channel but they did name this quite early on)
World Health Organization (WHO) has daily press briefings (video link above)
Via Whatsapp:
Gov.sg – fill up this form (you’ll need a Singapore phone number)
World Health Organization WhatsApp Business account that will answer all your questions about COVID-19. Just tap on this link and send “Join” to WHO in the chat
Help from medical professionals:
Singapore
In Singapore, these are the government-approved companies that provide video consultations via mobile phone.I like Whitecoat for how easy it is to sign up (you need a Singapore phone number and your NRIC), and you can consult the doctors on Mondays to Sundays from 8am to 12am, for yourself or your dependant. The cost is SGD25 per consultation, and you can link it up with your corporate or personal insurance.
For cheaper consultation fees (from SGD18), you can try Doctor World.
KKH Urgent Paediatric Advice Line (UPAL) is an online service for parents and caregivers to seek advice for common paediatric conditions (for children below the age of 17 years) such as fever, cough, diarrhoea, vomiting and common injuries. KKH UPAL is available from 8.00am to 11.00pm daily. Users will need to provide their phone numbers and email addresses.
Indonesia
For overall view:
Press releases from the Singapore Government:
Information from the Indonesian government:
For those living in the rest of the world who are now going through the virus, here’s what you can expect:
If there is more information you’d like me to compile, leave a comment below and I’ll try to update accordingly.
