What Covid-19 Work from Home Means to International Students

It is no longer news that COVID-19 has submerged our formerly serene and influenza-free environment to become one of the worst epidemics of all time. Nevertheless, as the cure for the virus is being farfetched, preventive measures are the only saving grace we have. Why not embrace it with open arms? To this effect, international students need all the information they can get to lead a good life.

International students both in green and red zone areas of the world can protect themselves.

Whilst most of us term them as basic, they are actually difficult to adhere to.

For instance, the moment I was told to minimize touching my face, it became a tug of war as I always had reasons to do otherwise.

This is to say that for the basic things which we know of, self-discipline is still key to actualizing them.

What is Coronavirus?

So many students do not really know what the coronavirus otherwise known as the COVID-19 really is.

COVID-19 is the short form of Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered member of the coronavirus family.

It can be likened to pneumonia. China thought it was one when the case was first experienced in December 2019. Until it got more severe research proved it wasn’t.

Like other coronaviruses, it has transferred to humans from animals. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared it a pandemic.

What is the Impact of the Virus on Education?

Need we say much on this when schools are been shut down?

Every part of the world where this epidemic has been found is seen to daily shut down activities.

According to UNESCO, over 100 countries have implemented nationwide closures, impacting over half of the world’s student population.

Wikipedia gives the statistics that over 1.3 billion learners were out of school due to school closures in response to COVID-19.

Classes are held on virtual platforms and students are mandated to leave the schools while the whole country is quarantined.

Graduation ceremonies and academic programs have been postponed indefinitely, scholarships are withdrawn in some cases and in others even those awarded cannot even make use of the scholarships.

With the advance on e-learning, won’t students use this experience relinquish on classroom education? Won’t the rate of dropping out increase? What will happen to those students who do not own a computer at home?

International students are stranded in a foreign country where international travel has been banned. Besides, would you rather risk infecting your family by going home?

So, students have been advised to study from home. Their textbooks and lecture materials have been made available and distance learning is being encouraged. This is in a bid to keep students busy, in addition to not losing out on the academic calendar.

Safe places to study Abroad free from Coronavirus

According to Worldometrics, 197 countries currently have a trace of Coronavirus present in them.

This is a serious epidemic!

With a total of 384,453 infected persons at the date of writing this post and a confirmed death rate of 16675, everyone needs to be very careful!

Top on the list is China, Italy, the USA, Spain, Germany, Iran, and France. This has automatically made them bad study locations for international and even local students.

Why even talk of local students when the schools have even been shut down.

Students who used to ramble to these countries no longer have the interest to visit talk more about studying.

Africa is now one of the best study places. Although the virus is in some of its countries, it is still within a manageable proportion.

As of March 23, 2024, the following African countries are virus-free.

  • 1. Libya
  • 2. Mali
  • 3. Sierra Leone
  • 4. Guinea-Bissau
  • 5. Burundi
  • 6. Botswana
  • 7. Sao Tome and Principe
  • 8. Malawi
  • 9. Lesotho
  • 10. South Sudan
  • 11. Comoros

As Africa has become one of the safest places in the World. Learn about 517 Study in Africa scholarship 2024 [UPDATED] World …

Other countries that have no virus include;

  • Cape Verde.
  • Central African Republic.
  • Comoros.
  • D. P. R. of Korea.
  • El Salvador.
  • Eritrea.
  • The Federated States of Micronesia.
  • Kiribati.
  • Mali.
  • Nauru.
  • Papua New Guinea
  • The Republic of Yemen.
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis.
  • Samoa.
  • Tajikistan.
  • Turkmenistan.
  • Tuvalu.
  • Vanuatu.
  • Western Sahara

What precautions should I take to prevent coronavirus attack?

Let me give a synopsis of how this works:

Mr. A gets exposed to the virus without his knowledge. He touches surfaces that his colleagues touch. On getting home, he hugs the kids and tries to pacify the crying one by cleaning his tears. The kids, unknown that they now have the virus go around playing with other kids in school and the virus keeps spreading.

Did you understand our illustration?

As a student already in a foreign land, please stay safe by adhering to the tips.

Since the virus is spread through close contact with an infected person and by respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs, these droplets land in the mouth and nose of nearby people and are inhaled into the lungs.

The following precautionary measures should be adopted to stay safe.

Clean your Hands Often

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid Close Contact

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Maintain at least a 1-meter distance between you and people coughing or sneezing.
  • Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19. It is called Social distancing. This is especially important.

Studying online is the Remedy to the epidemic outbreak. Read about Online studies: 45 Free Online Courses With Printable Certificates

Wear a Facemask if you are Sick

  • If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people.
  • If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick.

Clean and Disinfect

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily like tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. Disinfect with bleach and other disinfectants.

Cover coughs and sneezes

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or use the inside of your elbow.
  • Throw used tissues in the trash.
  • Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Stay home if you feel unwell.

Refrain from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs

What Symptoms of COVID-19 Should I look out for?

The symptoms have ranged from mild to severe, and even to death as we have been experiencing.

It has even been argued that elderly folks are at a greater risk because of their immune system. Especially those with medical conditions like heart, lung diseases or diabetes have the possibility of having severe complications.

The symptoms appear between 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Well, this may vary depending on the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses.

WHO advises any individual who notices any of the following emergency warning symptoms to get medical attention immediately.

They include;

  • Trouble breathing or Shortness of breath
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face
  • Dry Cough, sore throat
  • Fever

Cure for Coronavirus

Presently, there is no cure or vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease.

Still, the best way to it is by avoiding being exposed to the virus.

However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments.

International students, please take note. Be safe and avoid exposure.

We Advise

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes, and how it spreads.

As much as possible, avoid traveling. As well as staying away from a large group of people.

Take more fruits and vegetables that boost the immune system. Virus attacks are not felt easily when you have a strong immune system. WHO recommends gargling the mouth with hot water with a slice of either lime or lemon.

International students can change their study schedules to online courses. there are quite a few online courses you can study for free.

Students who still wish to study abroad are advised to study online. Enroll for an online degree in any course of your choice.

Online courses can be quite expensive. Learn about the cheap courses you can take online in 2024. Top 20 Cheap Online Bachelor’s Degrees You Can Take

Coronavirus FAQs

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that may cause illness in animals or humans.  In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough.

The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is, therefore, possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill. 

Yes. The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, traveled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.

No. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, they only work on bacterial infections. COVID-19 is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not work. Antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment of COVID-19.

Some patients have pneumonia in both lungs, multi-organ failure, and in some cases death.

Conclusion

Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. 

Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illnesses.

Some will not even know they had it.

Although it is a serious thing, there is actually no need to be afraid.

The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing.

In addition, the risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low.

It is therefore advised that international students should be careful and either study in a low-risk country or go for an online degree.

The potency of both certificates is the same.

Worldscholarshipforum wishes you well. Stay safe!

References

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