Page 4 • VOICE OF ASIA (Section A)
FRIDAY, March 27, 2020
Family Health
Section 2
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
New Coronavirus strategy – stop the spread and mitigate the impact
by Dr. Samba Reddy
H
OUSTON, March 23, 2020 - The latest coronavirus strategy is to stop the spread and mitigate the impact of infection. Now, it is more critical and very urgent to stay home, stop the spread, and save lives.
The Coronavirus has incited panic and fear worldwide, with very rapid and uncontrolled positive cases in many cities worldwide. Now, we are fighting a global war with an invisible enemy, the COVID-19 virus. It is the most catastrophic event we ever witnessed in our lifetime. It has already is devastated many countries and spreading rapidly in India and both Telugu states. Coronavirus is about 50-times more serious and lethal than flu viruses. Presently, there is no medical treatment and no vaccine available for combating this respiration infection. Scientists have never seen anything like this before; there is long way head and we must adapt to rapid responses with daily information or updates. The coronavirus mainly spreads through airborne droplets (such as from coughs, sneezes, spit, laughter, or talking) between people who are within about 6 feet of each other. It can also transfer from infected surfaces to the mouth, eyes, or nose through direct contact or intermediate contact via the hands, after touching surfaces that have the virus on them, such as objects, phones, or doorknobs. Mild or serious signs may appear within 3 days to 13 days after exposure. The most common symptoms are fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, fatigue or
body pains; these can eventually progress to serious lung damage and death. Not all people show the same set of symptoms. Coronavirus affects everyone, including children and adults. It is fatal to older people and adults with health conditions (diabetes, BP, cancer, heart & kidney ailments, asthma and lung diseases) are more susceptible to serious infections or death. Lymphocytopenia (reduced white blood cells) is observed early and then pneumonia occurs in severe cases. Men are at more risk than women. It is also affecting children with serious outcomes. How to survive from this virus. Here are some tips to stop the spread and mitigate the impact of coronavirus. Avoid crowds and keep your distance from others (social distancing). Since this virus can be transmitted through the air (spreads by air droplets from coughs, sneezes, laughter, etc.) the best way to limit its spread is through “social distancing” or keeping a safe distance from other people. Since we do not know who is infected or carrying the virus until they are tested positive or show serious symptoms (fever, cough, breathing problems), the safest option is to stay home for a few weeks to limit risk of exposure. The chances of catching infection are higher from breathing air in crowded or contaminated places (the virus is viable for 3 h in the air). It is highly contagious than the flu; it takes 4 to 14 days to show full-blown symptoms such as high fever. It spreads from both symptomatic (with fever and cough) and asymptomatic (no symptoms yet) persons. If you urgently need to go a public or crowded place with a suspected outbreak, use a scarf or facemask, avoid large crowds and stay at least 6 feet away from others. Frequently wash hands with soap in the home, office, and travel (good hygiene). Since this virus is airborne, infected droplets can settle and persist on the surface of common objects like metal doors and utensils for 4 to 72 h, a thorough hand washing can clear such contamination. At every place, frequently wash your hands with soap and water frequently for at least 20 sec-
onds. Hand sanitizers or sprays containing >60% alcohol are an alternative when soap and water are not available. Avoid shaking hands when greeting others. Proper sanitation of surfaces with disinfectants like Clorox and Lysol are extremely helpful to kill settled virus particles. Frequently clean common points of contact like doors, elevator knobs, kitchen surfaces, toilets, and home entry surfaces with Clorox or Lysol solution. Also, surface clean all objects brought into the home, including cloths, objects and grocery bags. A mild soap water is good for cleaning vegetables brought from the street or flea markets. Clean all kitchen utensils with soap water and more frequently wash clothes. Avoid sharing utensils and objects with others. A household bleach is also effective to cleanse the virus when properly diluted. This virus can stay alive in refrigerator for many days; use a cloth soaked with Clorox solution (1 ml in 1000 ml water) to disinfect the stuff in the refrigerator. Since this virus enters the body through the nose and mouth (from contaminated air and objects), limit touching or rubbing your face with your hands, especially around the nose, mouth, chin and eyes. Touching facial mucous membranes – the nose, eyes and mouth – gives the virus a source of entry into your body. Face washing is helpful every time you come home from outside. We are at unprecedented time with big uncertainty. It is hard to predict when this epidemic will end, but do your best to increase your chances to stay healthy for next 3-4 weeks. Stay home; take balanced food rich in probiotics (curd, yogurt). Also, get plenty of sleep and stop drinking and smoking for better combating infection. Again, minimize trips to crowds or markets to reduce your chances of exposure. -----------------------------The author, Dr. Samba Reddy, is a reputed medical scientist in Texas. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this scientific article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy of any institute or agency or the U.S.
Coronavirus and Alzheimer’s: What Family Caregivers Need to Know The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the health of millions in this country and around the world, but the novel coronavirus presents unique challenges for more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and more than 16 million family members and friends serving as their caregivers. “Public health strategies aimed at limiting contact with others are nearly impossible for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias who rely on family caregivers and others to live their daily lives,” says Beth Kallmyer, vice president, care and support, Alzheimer’s Association. “This reality affects these individuals across all settings, including home, adult day services, residential and assisted living facilities and nursing homes.” To help family caregivers navigate the complex COVID-19 environment, the Alzheimer’s Association is offering additional guidance to families, including: • Foster safe hygiene habits. People living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias may forget to wash their hands or follow other precautions to ensure safe hygiene. Caregivers are encouraged to be extra vigilant in helping individuals practice safe hygiene. • Monitor sudden or sustained behavior changes. People living with Alzheimer’s and other de-
-Photo source: Courtesy of Alzheimer’s Association
mentias may not be able to communicate if they are feeling bad or showing early symptoms of illness. Caregivers should monitor family members closely and respond quickly to any signs of distress, discomfort or increased confusion. These signs do not necessarily indicate a serious condition like COVID-19, but it’s important to determine the underlying cause. • Prepare for potential changes in care and support. As public health containment strategies for COVID-19 escalate, families need to anticipate that less help may be available. It’s important for families to anticipate these changes and make plans for filling gaps in caregiving. • Be calm and create a nurturing environment. The current
COVID-19 pandemic is creating added anxiety for everyone. Do your best to remain calm, particularly in your interactions with family members living with dementia. These individuals often take their cues from the people around them. Creating a calm environment will help them feel safe and protected. • Play gatekeeper with outside caregivers and guests. Carefully monitor who is coming into the home to ensure all who enter are healthy. Be proactive in asking outside caregivers and guests about their current health status and make sure they are not experiencing any early or recent symptoms of illness. • Ask residential care facilities
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Insurance Companies will cover Testing of Coronavirus Cigna and Aetna said they are waiving consumer co-pays, cost sharing and other out-of-pocket costs. Insurers are voluntarily covering the diagnostic testing of the coronavirus, according to the Board of Directors for America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Health insurers will cover needed testing when ordered by a physician. They are taking action to ease network referral and prior authorization requirements, and/ or waiving patient cost-sharing, as per AHIP AHIP said it is also working with public and private-sector partners so that out-of-pocket costs are not a barrier to people seeking testing and treatment for COVID-19. The trade association is also working with state and federal policymakers to provide more guidance and flexibility for preventive services, benefit design and treatment options. In a separate statement, Cigna said its customers will have access to coronavirus testing, as prescribed by health practitioners, and the company will waive all co-pays or cost-shares to help fight the rapid spread of the virus. Cigna will cover the medical test similar to a preventive benefit for fully-insured plans, thereby waiving co-pays, coinsurance or deductibles for customers. CVS Health also said it is providing COVID-19 diagnostic testing with no out-of-pocket costs or cost sharing for Aetna members. Also, Aetna members will have access to telemedicine visits with no out-of-pocket costs or cost sharing, Current testing is available through the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and is being offered at no cost. Testing is expected to expand shortly as more commercial testing becomes available at a designated lab approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. President Trump today signed an $8.3 billion coronavirus funding package. Funding, insurer and policy efforts are aimed at stopping the spread of the virus. One way this is being done is through a provision in the spending package to waive telehealth restrictions for Medicare beneficiaries.
Sudhir Mathuria HEALTHLIFE 360 713-771-2900
On February 29, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration issued a new, streamlined policy for certain laboratories to develop their own validated COVID-19 diagnostics. This second HCPCS code may be used for tests developed by these additional laboratories So that labs and providers get when submitting claims to Medireimbursed for testing, the Cen- care or health insurers. ters for Medicare and Medicaid The Medicare claims-processServices has developed a second Healthcare Common Procedure ing systems will be able to accept Coding System code that can be these codes starting on April 1 for used to bill for certain COVID-19 dates of service on or after Februdiagnostic tests. The second ary 4. HCPCS billing code (U0002) alThe coronavirus has infected lows laboratories to bill for nonCDC laboratory tests for SARS- over 100,000 worldwide and several hundred people in the U.S. CoV-2/2019-nCoV. Source: AHIP Last month, CMS developed To choose the right Medicare the first HCPCS code (U0001) to bill for tests and track new cases Advantage Plan, Medicare Supof the virus. This code is used plement Plan or Medicare Prespecifically for CDC testing labo- scription Drug Plan including Inratories to test patients for SARS- dividual or Small Business Group Health Plan, contact Sudhir MathuCoV-2. ria 713-771-2900 AHIP said it is encouraging the use of telehealth, at-home care and other technology-enabled options to expand access to care while avoiding the potential risk of infection.
Criminals taking advantage of coronavirus anxiety to defraud victims online
L
YON, France – INTERPOL is encouraging the public to exercise caution when buying medical supplies online during the current health crisis, with criminals capitalizing on the situation to run a range of financial scams.
With surgical masks and other medical supplies in high demand yet difficult to find in retail stores as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, fake shops, websites, social media accounts and email addresses claiming to sell these items have sprung up online. But instead of receiving the promised masks and supplies, The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to a rise in counterfeit face masks unsuspecting victims have seen and other personal protection and hygiene products (Italy). INTERPOL their money disappear into the hands of the criminals involved. Telephone fraud – criminals - Blocking and recovering This is one of several types of call victims pretending to be fraudulent payments financial fraud schemes connect- clinic or hospital officials, who Monetary loses reported to INed to the ongoing global health claim that a relative of the victim crisis which have been reported has fallen sick with the virus and TERPOL have been as high as to INTERPOL by authorities in request payments for medical hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single case, and these crimes its member countries. treatment; are crossing international bor- COVID-19 fraud schemes Phishing – emails claiming to ders. Scams linked to the virus in- be from national or global health INTERPOL’s Financial Crimes authorities, with the aim of trick- Unit is receiving information clude: ing victims to provide personal from member countries on a credentials or payment details, or near-daily basis regarding fraud to open an attachment containing cases and requests to assist with malware. stopping fraudulent payments. In many cases, the fraudsters Targeted victims have primarily about communication policies. impersonate legitimate com- been located in Asia, but the crimTo protect the health of residents, panies, using similar names, inals have used bank accounts many facilities are restricting ac- websites and email addresses in located in other regions such as cess to outside visitors. Ask the their attempt to trick unsuspect- Europe, to appear as legitimate facility about alternative com- ing members of the public, even accounts linked to the company munication methods during the reaching out proactively via which is being impersonated. crisis, including phone calls, emails and messages on social In one case, a victim in Asia video chats or emails. If your media platforms. made payments to several bank family member is unable to en“Criminals are exploiting the accounts unknowingly controlled gage in calls or video chats, ask fear and uncertainty created by by criminals in multiple Europethe facility how you can connect COVID-19 to prey on innocent an countries. With INTERPOL’s with staff to get health updates. citizens who are only looking to assistance, national authorities For more information, visit protect their health and that of were able to block some of the alz.org, the website of the Alz- their loved ones,” said INTER- payments, but others were quickheimer’s Association or call its POL Secretary General Jürgen ly transferred by the criminals to second and even third bank free 24/7 Helpline at 800-272- Stock. 3900. “Anyone who is thinking of accounts before they could be traced and blocked. Many primary caregivers are buying medical supplies online should take a moment and verify INTERPOL has assisted with not good about asking for help even as care responsibilities es- that you are in fact dealing with some 30 COVID-19 related fraud calate. It’s important for family a legitimate, reputable compa- scam cases with links to Asia and members and friends to be pro- ny, otherwise your money could Europe, leading to the blocking of active during the current crisis in be lost to unscrupulous crimi- 18 bank accounts and freezing of asking caregivers how they can nals,” concluded the INTERPOL more than $730,000 in suspected Chief. fraudulent transactions. help.