Pinoys in South Korea Advised to Take Precautions vs. MERS-CoV
Filipinos staying in South Korea were advised this week to take precautions against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) amid a reported rise in the number of cases there.
In an advisory, the Philippine Embassy in Seoul gave eight tips for Filipinos there to take to avoid contracting the disease.
“Currently, the World Health Organization has not declared any outbreak or epidemic of MERS-CoV in South Korea. Moreover, there are no travel restrictions to and from the country. Despite these, the Philippine Embassy is encouraging Filipinos in Korea to practice (these) precautions for their own protection,” it said.
The tips include:
- Practice proper hand hygiene always: Wash your hands with soap or hand rubs with alcohol before and after eating; before and after handling, cooking and preparing food; after coughing, sneezing and using the toilets; and after touching animals.
- Practice proper cough etiquette by covering your mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing. Use a facial tissue when coughing or sneezing and cover your mouth and nose with it. Dispose of the tissue in a waste basket.
- Avoid contact with farm and domesticated animals, including camels.
- Avoid contact with sick or infected with MERS-CoV. If you have respiratory illness, stay home and wear a surgical mask.
- If you are a health worker, strictly follow infection control protocols in your work.
6.Visit your doctor, a hospital or health facility immediately if you have symptoms of MERS-CoV such as persistent coughing.