On March 29, 2020, the UK Society of Chinese Automotive Engineers (UKCSAE) invited Professor Wang Xin from the University of Manchester to provide online science knowledge and answer questions about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Take precautions, isolate scientifically, make rational judgments, and don’t panic.

​

Professor Wang Xin is the director of the Department of Cardiology at the School of Biomedical Health, University of Manchester, UK, executive editor of the British Journal of Pharmacology, and an internationally renowned cardiovascular disease research expert.

Pathology and vaccines

The existing public domain knowledge about the new coronavirus will not be repeated here. The following information will be helpful for personal risk control and behavioral judgment:

• COVID-19 is a virus with an envelope structure. Its basic structure includes spike-like S protein and positive-phase single-stranded RNA. The main mechanism of virus inactivation in vitro is to break the envelope and expose the RNA chain to the air, thereby destroying it and becoming ineffective (for example, alcohol).

• The development of vaccines is very complex, and it is optimistically estimated that there will be a major breakthrough within 1-2 years. Until a vaccine is successfully developed, NPIs (Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions) and autoimmunity will remain the most important antiviral means.

​

80% of patients have mild symptoms, with symptoms similar to other viral colds. 20% of patients are severely ill, and 5% of them may become critically ill. 4 types of patients who may become severe or critically ill

• Close contact with critically ill patients and exposure to high concentrations of viruses before illness

• Overlapping contact with multiple patients, repeated exposure to viruses from different sources before becoming ill

• Elderly or patients with underlying diseases (organ transplant, liver function problems, kidney function problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.)

• Patients with increased inflammatory factors, coagulation dysfunction, and damage to vascular endothelial cells (currently the biggest unknown)

daily prevention

In addition to the various prevention methods that can be found, Professor Wang gave the following suggestions based on his own experience and the British national conditions:

• You can go to the supermarket, but be careful not to touch the shopping cart handle directly and wear a mask. If others have doubts about wearing a mask, they can inform them that it is for public protection even if they are not known to be carrying the virus.

• You can go out to exercise, but be sure to keep a distance (more than 2 meters) from others.

• If conditions permit, pollution zones, isolation zones and safety zones can be established at home (similar to the regional settings of surgical departments and infectious disease departments in hospitals). Clothes that go out and items brought in from the outside can be placed in the contaminated area and spray disinfectant on the surface. If there is no disinfectant spray, the clothing can be left to stand (no shaking is strictly prohibited). For the standing time, please refer to the following paper (note that the contaminated area is open to the outside world). ventilation to reduce virus concentration). After entering the isolation area, wash your hands, disinfect, put on indoor clothes, and enter the safe area after processing.

• If conditions do not allow partitioned treatment, you can purchase large clothes baskets, put the clothes outside in the clothes baskets and spray disinfectant or leave them in a ventilated place overnight (garage, balcony, etc.).

• When conditions permit, use disinfectant wipes to clean the outer packaging of items purchased from the supermarket before placing them in the refrigerator. Try to buy boxed fruit with the skin on for easier sterilization.

Coping methods during illness

​Professor Wang uses his own experience (H3N2 avian influenza, symptoms similar to COVID-19) to share with you how to rely on simple medicines and your own immunity to heal yourself at home, and how to prevent the spread of diseases within the family.

• When you find that you have suspected symptoms, you must immediately self-isolate: separate rooms (separate rooms), separate meals (use separate tableware to eat alone), separate bathrooms (separate bathrooms).

• The room must be ventilated regularly to reduce virus concentration. Quilts and sheets should be washed every three days if possible (water temperature above 60 degrees). Those who take care of patients at home should wear masks, gloves, and shower caps to protect themselves. Masks, gloves, and shower caps must be changed or disinfected frequently.

• Take Paracetamol for drug cooling (do not take ibuprofen for COVID-19); apply medical alcohol cotton balls to the armpits and groin (high-strength liquor can be used under certain conditions) for physical cooling; you can also use multiple cold towels to prevent the refrigerator , instead of wiping your forehead to cool down.

• Take phlegm-reducing Chinese patent medicines rather than antitussive Chinese patent medicines; you can also take phlegm-reducing Western medicines, and avoid taking too strong cough drops.

mental health