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Keep Your Distance to Slow the Spread. Limiting face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). WHAT IS SOCIAL DISTANCING? Social distancing, also called “physical distancing,” means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. To practice social or physical distancing: Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people Do not gather in groups Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings Limit close contact with others outside your household in indoor and outdoor spaces. Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to stay away f...

How what you consume can affect your immune system and your susceptibility to infection Published:  March 23, 2020, Keith J. Fernandez, Special to Better Health In recent weeks, much attention has focused on the role of the immune system and its role in defending against disease-causing microorganisms. While the body has an impressive array of weapons to battle any invaders, there are moments when pathogens bypass these warriors, virus and bacteria sometimes do get through. In such cases, your first port of call should be a medical professional who can advise on treatment routes. That said, there are a number of ways to reduce your vulnerability, including enhanced hygiene and other eve...

Ramadan is a special time of the year for those who are fasting. However, those with certain health conditions, should keep a few pointers in mind while fasting, particularly during summer. Good diet is key to healthy digestion during Ramadan. If a correct diet is not followed during the Ramadan period, a person is prone to getting ailments related to the digestive health. Some symptoms frequently encountered during Ramadan include indigestion, bloating and heartburn, particularly after eating too much at iftar or suhour meals. Eating in moderation and elimination of foods that can trigger gastro-oesophageal reflux are helpful. Avoid fried, fatty and acid-containing foods and fruits (citru...

Published:  April 13, 2020 / Kamakshi Gupta, DHA It is now mandatory for all residents to wear face masks in public Wearing a face mask when going out of the house to buy groceries or medicines, along with other important measures — such as physical distancing, hand washing frequently for a minimum of 20 seconds or using a hand sanitizer with at least 60 per cent alcohol — are important steps to protect against COVID-19, said a top health official. Dr Hend Al Awadhi, head of health promotion and education section at DHA’s Public Health Protection Department, said, “In public places, wearing a mask reduces the spread of the virus and helps people who may have the virus and do not know it f...

Good hygiene and cautious travel will significantly reduce your risk of infection Published:  March 02, 2020, Kamaskhi Gupta, DHA With coronavirus spreading beyond its epicentre in China and numbers of the disease increasing globally, questions such as what distinguishes it from a common flu and what are some of the precautions that people should take become pertinent? Dr Hend Al Awadhi, Head of Health Promotion and Education Section in the DHA’s Public Health Protection Department. She highlighted that in general, maintaining hand hygiene, particularly hand washing, avoiding travel to places with a high-rate of the infection and taking certain precautions, which are the same to avoid the...