Covid HelpdesQ Goa

• Maintain at least a 1-metre distance between yourself and others to reduce your risk of infection when they cough, sneeze or speak. Maintain an even greater distance between yourself and others when indoors. The further away, the better.
• Make wearing a mask a normal part of being around other people. The appropriate use, storage and cleaning or disposal are essential to make masks as effective as possible.
• Here are the basics of how to wear a mask:
• Clean your hands before you put your mask on, as well as before and after you take it off, and after you touch it at any time.
• Make sure it covers both your nose, mouth and chin.
• When you take off a mask, store it in a clean plastic bag, and every day either wash it if it’s a fabric mask, or dispose of a medical mask in a trash bin.
• Don’t use masks with valves

• Avoid the 3Cs: spaces that are closed, crowded or involve close contact.
• Outbreaks have been reported in restaurants, choir practices, fitness classes, nightclubs, offices and places of worship where people have gathered, often in crowded indoor settings where they talk loudly, shout, breathe heavily or sing.
• The risks of getting COVID-19 are higher in crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces where infected people spend long periods of time together in close proximity. These environments are where the virus appears to spread by respiratory droplets or aerosols more efficiently, so taking precautions is even more important.
• Meet people outside.Outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor ones, particularly if indoor spaces are small and without outdoor air coming in.
• Avoid crowded or indoor settings but if you can’t, then take precautions:
• Open a window.Increase the amount of ‘natural ventilation’ when indoors.
• Wear a mask.

• Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.This eliminates germs including viruses that may be on your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and infect you.
• Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately into a closed bin and wash your hands. By following good ‘respiratory hygiene’, you protect the people around you from viruses, which cause colds, flu and COVID-19.

• Know the full range of symptoms of COVID-19. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Other symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include loss of taste or smell, aches and pains, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, red eyes, diarrhoea, or a skin rash.
• Stay home and self-isolate even if you have minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever, until you recover. Call your health care provider or hotline for advice. Have someone bring you supplies. If you need to leave your house or have someone near you, wear a medical mask to avoid infecting others.
• If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately. Call by telephone first, if you can and follow the directions of your local health authority.

• Fever.
• Dry cough.
• Tiredness.

• Aches and pains.
• Sore throat.
• Diarrhoea.
• Conjunctivitis.
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell.
• A rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes.

People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should manage their symptoms at home. On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days.

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Loss of speech or movement.

Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility.

Self-isolation is when you do not leave your home because you have or might have coronavirus (COVID-19). This helps stop the virus spreading to other people.

• social distancing – general advice for everyone to avoid close contact with other people
• shielding – advice for people at high risk from COVID-19

• Self-isolate immediately if:
• you have any symptoms of COVID-19 (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
• you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 – this means you have the virus
• someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive
• someone in your childcare or support bubble has symptoms and you’ve been in close contact with them since their symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started
• someone in your childcare or support bubble tested positive and you’ve been in close contact with them since they had the test or in the 48 hours before their test
• you’ve been told you’ve been in contact with someone who tested positive

You must not leave your home if you’re self-isolating.

Don’ts

• do not go to work, school or public places – work from home if you can
• do not go on public transport or use taxis
• do not go out to get food and medicine – order it online or by phone, or ask someone to bring it to your home
• do not have visitors in your home, including friends and family – except for people providing essential care
• do not go out to exercise – exercise at home or in your garden, if you have one

Get a PCR test (test that is sent to a lab) as soon as possible if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.

The symptoms are:

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

The test needs to be done in the first 8 days of having symptoms.

Tell people you’ve been in close contact with that you have symptoms

You may want to tell people you’ve been in close contact with in the past 48 hours that you might have COVID-19.

If you test positive, your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day you had the test, if you do not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days.

Anyone you live with will also need to self-isolate at the same time.

You may need to self-isolate for longer if you get symptoms while self-isolating or your symptoms do not go away.

Read more about how long to self-isolate

Anyone with symptoms should be tested wherever possible. People who do not have symptoms but have had close contact with someone who is, or maybe, infected may also consider testing – contact your local health guidelines and follow their guidance.

While a person is waiting for test results, they should remain isolated from others. Where testing capacity is limited, tests should first be done for those at higher risk of infection, such as health workers, and those at higher risk of severe illness such as older people, especially those living in seniors’ residences or long-term care facilities.

Telemedicine is the use of electronic information and telecommunication technology to get the health care you need while practicing social distancing. All you need is a phone or device with the internet to continue your medical care while protecting yourself and your healthcare provider from COVID-19. Speak with your doctor to determine whether telemedicine is appropriate for your health needs.

To decrease your contact with healthcare facilities, other patients, and healthcare staff in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and keep you and your family healthy.

• Allows you to talk to your doctor live over the phone or video chat
• Allows you to send and receive messages from your doctor using chat messaging or email
• Allows for remote monitoring of patients
• Save on travel time/ transportation costs
• Reduced wait time for services
• Reduced number of visits to clinic

To contact your healthcare provider about the management of your health generally or about management of an existing health condition during the COVID-19 outbreak.

• Screening for COVID-19, testing recommendations, and guidance on isolation or quarantine
• General health care (i.e. wellness visits, blood pressure control, advice about certain non-emergency illnesses, like common rashes)
• Prescriptions for medication
• Nutrition counseling
• Mental health counseling
• How do you connect with a healthcare provider to schedule a telemedicine visit?
• Call your healthcare provider to check if they are offering telemedicine visits and what technology you need to have a telemedicine visit.

Please share it with everyone, these doctors you can consult for free on phone

For telephonic guidance on COVID-19 from 8 am to 12 noon –

For telephonic guidance on Covid-19 from 12 to 4 pm –

For telephonic guidance on Covid-19 from 4 to 8 pm –

For telephonic guidance on Covid-19 from 8 to 11 pm –

*P.S. – Another helpline (24×7) has been initiated by Indian Medical Association. The numbers are 9999672238 and 9999672239.

1. On gov.in, sign in by entering mobile number
2. You will get an OTP
3. Input the OTP
4. The “Register for Vaccination” page opens
5. You will have to fill in your Photo ID number, name, gender and birth year
6. Click on Register
7. Click on the option to Schedule an Appointment
8. Input your pin code (If you don’t know your pin code, ask your postman/post office/site supervisor/employer)
9. The vaccination centre list will be displayed
10. Select the date and time and click on confirm

https://www.mohfw.gov.in/covid_vaccination/vaccination/faqs.html

• Hospitals
  • Dear Citizen, COVID Beds available in hospitals across Goa can be viewed by clicking the below link https://goaonline.gov.in/beds in the public interest by the Directorate of Health Services.
• Emergency
  • Health: 108
  • Police: 112
  • Ambulance: 104
  • Hospitals: Click Here
• Doctors
  • Indian Medical Association Helpline: 87672-49828
• Assist your domestic help, local service providers, drivers, launderers, and eligible family members register for the COVID vaccination shots.

Unfortunately, cyber criminals are using the Coronavirus pandemic as a new way to take advantage of people and gain access to their money, passwords and other sensitive information. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) wants you to take extra precautions to spot and stop scammers before it’s too late.

• Do not reveal personal or financial information online.
• Protect your computer by keeping your operating system software up to date and by using security software. Use multi-factor authentication on your accounts and back up your data.
• Make sure your cell phone is up to date by setting your phone settings so software updates automatically.
• Do not answer calls from unknown numbers. Hang up on robocalls and do not press any numbers.
• Do not answer text messages from unknown numbers and do not reply to emails from unknown senders.
• Do not click on links, download apps or download attachments from unknown senders.
• Before you make an online purchase, research the company to determine its legitimacy.
• Verify a charitable organization’s authenticity before you donate. Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website to learn how to verify a charity.
• Be aware that if offers or shopping deals sound too good to be true, they are probably false.
• Do not respond to communications about COVID-19 vaccinations. There are not any approved drugs or vaccines that are known to treat the virus yet. The FDA and FTC have sent warning letters to sellers of products claiming they treat or prevent the Coronavirus.
• Be sceptical of texts, emails and phone calls from sources that claim they are with the government or government agencies.
• Get information about government actions regarding COVID-19 from reputable sources. For the most current information, visit the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) websites.

(Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission)

If you have fully recovered from COVID-19, you may be able to help patients currently fighting the infection by donating your plasma. Because you fought the infection, your plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies. These antibodies provided one way for your immune system to fight the virus when you were sick, so your plasma may be able to be used to help others fight off the disease.

Convalescent refers to anyone recovering from a disease. Plasma is the yellow, liquid part of blood that contains antibodies. Antibodies are proteins made by the body in response to infections. Convalescent plasma from patients who have already recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may contain antibodies against COVID-19. Giving this convalescent plasma to hospitalized people currently fighting COVID-19 may help them recover. FDA has issued an emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma to be used in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and is being investigated for the treatment of COVID-19. Based on scientific evidence available, the FDA concluded this product may be effective in treating COVID-19 and that the known and potential benefits of the product outweigh the known and potential risks of the product in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Donate Blood and Plasma to Make a Difference

People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 for at least two weeks are encouraged to consider donating plasma, which may help save the lives of other patients. COVID-19 convalescent plasma must only be collected from recovered individuals if they are eligible to donate blood. Individuals must have had a prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a laboratory test and meet other donor qualifications. Individuals must have complete resolution of symptoms for at least 14 days prior to donation. A negative lab test for active COVID-19 disease is not necessary to qualify for donation.

You can consider donating blood! One blood donation can save up to three lives. Donor centres have experienced a dramatic reduction in donations due to the implementation of social distancing and the cancellation of blood drives. Blood is needed every day to provide lifesaving treatments to a variety of patients. You can help ensure that blood continues to be available for patients by finding a blood donor centre near you to schedule your donation. Several sites also have information about donating plasma.