What is Covid-19?

What are the symptoms of COVID-19  and how does it spread?

COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalization.

Most common symptoms:

• fever
• dry cough
• tiredness

Less common symptoms:

• aches and pains
• sore throat
• diarrhea
• conjunctivitis
• headache
• loss of taste or smell
• a rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes

Serious symptoms:

• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• chest pain or pressure
• loss of speech or movement

How does COVID-19 spread from person to person?

The virus is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person (generated through coughing and sneezing). Individuals can also be infected from and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and touching their face (e.g., eyes, nose and mouth). 

Responsibilities of Food Business Operators (FBO):

Food business operators (FBO) as per FSSAI 2006 have been defined as any undertaking, whether private or public, for profit or not, carrying out any of the activities related to any stage of manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution of food, imports and including food services.

Physical Distancing

Physical distancing helps limit the spread of COVID-19 – this means we keep a distance of at least 1 metre from each other and avoid spending time in crowded places or in groups.

Personal hygiene

1. Wash Your Hands Frequently:Washing your hands is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of disease. You should especially wash your hands before and after you eat, after going to the bathroom and when you come into contact with someone who is sick. In order to achieve effective results, make sure you wash your hands properly. Wet your hands with clean water and apply soap. Lather your hands by rubbing them thoroughly with soap.

Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

Rinse your hands well.

Dry your hands with a towel or air dry.

2. Bathe:Cleaning your body washes away dead skin cells and dirt and helps fight the spread of disease. For older adults, it’s recommended to shower or take a bath at least twice a week to achieve the positive effects.

3. Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day:Make sure you are brushing your teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, to maintain good oral hygiene along with regular dental checkups.

4. Floss Your Teeth Daily:In addition to brushing your teeth, floss your teeth once a day for optimal oral hygiene.

5. Take Care of Your Nails:Cleaning and trimming your nails reduces your risk of hangnails and infected nail beds.

6. Wear Clean Clothes:After you wear clothes, wash them with a detergent and dry them immediately upon rinsing. Dirty clothes can harbor bacteria that could lead to body odor or even skin irritations.

7. Cover Your Mouth When Your Cough or Sneeze:This is extremely important to avoid spreading germs to people around you.

8. Get Restful Sleep:Restful sleep is essential to well being, no matter your age. It is recommended for all adults to sleep between seven to nine hours a night.

9. Create a Routine:Whatever your process may be to maintain good personal hygiene, make either a mental checklist or write it down. This way, you’ll remember and keep up with the steps you need to take to stay clean and healthy.

10. Visit the Doctor:Maintaining regular healthcare appointments can help you catch infections and illnesses early, making it easier to treat them. Visit your healthcare provider when you have a concern and schedule routine check-ups.