Namaste, not handshakes, to prevent Covid-19
Officials have suggested many simple measures to its various departments to keep virus at bay
PMC departments, IMA members and charity commissioner’s office come up with suggestions so that coronavirus is contained
As the coronavirus scare has led people across the world to abandon handshakes, now various departments ofPune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Indian Medical Association (IMA) and charity commissioner are urging people to opt for traditional namaste while greeting relatives, friends and colleagues.
The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) spreads when the virus responsible for it, SARS-CoV-2, is transmitted by one person to another in respiratory droplets. That means the virus can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and releases these droplets into the air, where they are either inhaled by others or can land on other people’s mouths or noses if they’re near enough — generally a distance of about 6 ft.
Dr Ramchandra Hankare, the PMC health chief, said they would raise awareness among people working in the civic body’s three prime departments — health, education, and women and child development — to abandon handshakes or fist bump and hugging. “With the IMA, we will work closely taking into consideration the havoc coronavirus has wreaked in several countries. The health officials working in PMC institutes should be made aware how this can avoid spreading of not just coronavirus but swine flu and other virus and germs, causing respiratory illness,” said Dr Hankare.
Health experts said coronavirus fear has led people around the world abandon handshakes. Handshakes can pass along germs that can cause diseases, especially respiratory infections like cold or flu. Traditional handshake transmits the most amounts of bacteria and a fist bump transmitted the least amount of bacteria. “Even if someone wants to greet anyone, they can try the traditional namaste for doing it. Soon, an advisory will be issued about this. This hand hygiene and prevention will also be included in the PMC brochures. People having flu-like symptoms should avoid handshakes and use cloth while sneezing, clean their hand and if possible use masks,” said Dr Hankare.
Eye surgeonSanjay Patil , president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Pune branch, said avoiding handshakes with a person suffering from flu-like illness and cleaning hand after touching them or handshakes is considered universal precaution. “Taking the condition of coronavirus impact, the Singapore government has launched ‘no-contact policy’. For flu-like diseases and germs transmission, the hand is the vector. Even if the doctors follow this, healthcare workers, who are unaware about such conduits, can unknowingly pass on the infection to their family and friends,” said Dr Patil.
“In the next meeting, we will take the topic for discussion and awareness to our doctors. IMA members will do the same among their staff and friends. With participation of PMC, we will create the same awareness in the public,” said Dr Patil.
Navnath Jagtap, deputy charity commissioner, said that handshake can transfer various virus, germs and bacteria from person to person. “We appeal to promote ‘namaste’ to avoid spread of not just coronavirus but other flus and diseases that can spread through people-to-people contact. People should avoid taking small children and overcrowding while visiting patients,” he said.
As the coronavirus scare has led people across the world to abandon handshakes, now various departments of
The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) spreads when the virus responsible for it, SARS-CoV-2, is transmitted by one person to another in respiratory droplets. That means the virus can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and releases these droplets into the air, where they are either inhaled by others or can land on other people’s mouths or noses if they’re near enough — generally a distance of about 6 ft.
Dr Ramchandra Hankare, the PMC health chief, said they would raise awareness among people working in the civic body’s three prime departments — health, education, and women and child development — to abandon handshakes or fist bump and hugging. “With the IMA, we will work closely taking into consideration the havoc coronavirus has wreaked in several countries. The health officials working in PMC institutes should be made aware how this can avoid spreading of not just coronavirus but swine flu and other virus and germs, causing respiratory illness,” said Dr Hankare.
Health experts said coronavirus fear has led people around the world abandon handshakes. Handshakes can pass along germs that can cause diseases, especially respiratory infections like cold or flu. Traditional handshake transmits the most amounts of bacteria and a fist bump transmitted the least amount of bacteria. “Even if someone wants to greet anyone, they can try the traditional namaste for doing it. Soon, an advisory will be issued about this. This hand hygiene and prevention will also be included in the PMC brochures. People having flu-like symptoms should avoid handshakes and use cloth while sneezing, clean their hand and if possible use masks,” said Dr Hankare.
Eye surgeon
“In the next meeting, we will take the topic for discussion and awareness to our doctors. IMA members will do the same among their staff and friends. With participation of PMC, we will create the same awareness in the public,” said Dr Patil.
Navnath Jagtap, deputy charity commissioner, said that handshake can transfer various virus, germs and bacteria from person to person. “We appeal to promote ‘namaste’ to avoid spread of not just coronavirus but other flus and diseases that can spread through people-to-people contact. People should avoid taking small children and overcrowding while visiting patients,” he said.
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