How a Japanese Student Learns About COVID-19

I received a letter from my nephew. He is now 9 years old.

The letter described what happened before summer vacation. He learned about the coronavirus in school. He sent those learning notes to me. He cared for me because he was worried about my situation. Because he knows how bad things are in New York City.

I thank him for that. So I'm sharing this note with you. This shows how much Japanese children are learning about the coronavirus.

A new type of virus is attracting worldwide attention. It's a hot topic in the news every day, and it's become a problem close to home, with schools being temporarily closed. Let's find out what the new coronavirus is.

What is a virus?

Viruses are so small that they are invisible to the eye. There are many different kinds, and they can infect humans and animals and cause disease. Bacteria are also small and can cause disease, but they are not the same thing as viruses.

The main characteristic of viruses is that they cannot grow on their own. They enter the cells of other organisms and use substances in those cells to grow. And as the virus increases in the body, symptoms of various diseases appear.

There are several ways in which the virus can enter the body. Splash inhalation, droplet infection, doorknobs, switches, buttons and toilet seat surfaces can all carry the virus. This is a contact infection that can be transmitted by touching a surface that the virus is attached to.

One of the most well known viruses is the influenza virus. Influenza is often spread by droplet infection. As the flu virus spreads in the body, symptoms such as fever over 100.4 degrees fahrenheit, headache, joint pain, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and coughing occur. People who have the flu usually recover within a week or so, but it can cause complications such as pneumonia and encephalopathy.

You can reduce the likelihood of contracting the flu by getting a vaccination, and decrease the chance of getting seriously ill. It is hoped that this will prevent the disease from occurring. Also, by starting anti-influenza virus medication within 48 hours of the onset of the disease, it is possible to reduce the symptoms. It can be relieved.

As such, some viruses have vaccinations and treatments available. But what about the new coronavirus?

What makes new coronaviruses so scary?

There are several types of coronaviruses, and the one that is spreading in many countries is newly discovered. For example, a different type of coronavirus has spread in the United States than in China. It causes fever, coughing, lethargy, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, and pneumonia.

It differs from the flu virus in that there is currently no vaccination and no cure.

New coronaviruses are thought to be spread by droplet or contact transmission.

In most cases, the symptoms of new coronaviruses do not become severe in primary school children who are infected with them. But if the elderly or people with an autoimmune disease are infected, the symptoms can be severe and even fatal. So it's important to make sure that you, as well as your family and those around you, don't get infected.

How do you prevent the spread of new coronaviruses and other types of infections?

The new coronavirus has been in the news every day. Let's know what you can do to prevent yourself from getting infected and spreading it to others.

Wash your hands of soap and water　

First of all, wash your hands carefully with soap and water after returning home. Wash the virus off your hands and do not bring it into your home.

Clean your hands with disinfection sheets

The new coronavirus is known to be vulnerable to alcohol disinfection. High concentrations of alcohol with an alcohol concentration of 60% or more have been recommended for hand disinfection. When choosing a spray or sanitizing sheet, check the alcohol concentration.

Wipe doorknobs and other parts of the house with disinfection sheets.

In order to prevent infection in the home, it is advisable to disinfect switches, doorknobs and toilets that are often touched by family members. The effectiveness of alcohol disinfection decreases when the alcohol evaporates. Therefore, some products contain a silver-based antibacterial agent that keeps its effectiveness by retaining silver ions on the disinfection surface.

Put on a mask

Because of the increased exposure to the virus, it is important to avoid going to places where there are many people gathered, especially in poorly ventilated areas, as much as possible.

The virus can get into your body without you even realizing it. When coughing or sneezing, wear a mask or cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief to prevent the virus from entering your body.

Basically, masks are worn by people who have symptoms to avoid spreading the virus to others through droplet infection. However, it is possible for a healthy person to be infected by touching his or her nose or mouth with a virus-covered hand when wearing a mask. It is important to remember that wearing a mask is not a cure-all.

If you have a fever, runny nose or cough, don't assume it's just a cold. Find out how you can be safely tested for the virus.

Each of us should try to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus by doing our best to avoid catching it and not catching it.