COVID-19 Advice for the General Public

Take home message Supplements work best if a person has a specific deficiency or need. If you are unsure whether you require a supplement, always speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

An exclusive supplementary bulletin on what goes behind the scene in the pharmacies that are at the forefront in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Kudos to our pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working tirelessly to ensure that everything is still business as usual for our patients and fellow healthcare workers.

There is currently no specific study published that addresses this specific question.  However, there is a wealth of data from various studies on washing with soap (with or without antibacterial agents) on other microbes to suggest that the act of washing with soap and water is an effective measure to reduce contamination and aid infection prevention strategies to stay well. Of notable mention, one study evaluated the efficacy of soap and water versus alcohol-based hand-rub preparations against live H1N1 influenza virus on the hands of human volunteers. It found that both methods were highly effective in reducing influenza A virus on human hands. In the study, the soap used was with a non-medicated liquid soap (pH-balanced, with emollient and moisturiser, but not containing sodium lauryl sulfate, instead contains other surfactants), which was found to be effective in reducing viral load from the hands after washing for 40 seconds. Using soap to wash hands is more effective than using water alone, and is postulated because the surfactants in soap lift soil and microbes from skin, and people tend to scrub hands more thoroughly when using soap, which further removes germs. Thus from the above information, it would be expected that use of such cleansers should still work, esp. for selective individuals with eczema or sensitive dry hands, where frequent hand-washing may increase existing irritation and compromise the skin barrier. The WHO 20-second hand washing technique should be used regardless of the type of soap for effective cleaning.

The Take-Home Points: Until more information is available, paracetamol would still be the preferred fever or pain medication, unless your doctor has told you paracetamol is not suitable for you (e.g. a bad reaction to paracetamol). If you are already taking ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) on the advice of a healthcare professional, do not stop without first checking with your healthcare professional. If you are intending to self-medicate for fever or pain and have questions, do speak to your pharmacist or doctor for advice and evaluation. Should you experience severe cough, breathing difficulties, fever, or other COVID-19-like symptoms, do seek immediate medication attention rather than self-medication at this time.  关键点: 除非你的医生告诉你扑热息痛（Paracetamol）不适合你(例如你对扑热息痛产生不良反应)，否则在获得更多信息之前，扑热息痛仍然是首选的发烧或止痛药。如果你现在因为某种医疗原因在服用布洛芬或其他非类固醇抗炎药(NSAID)，在没有得到医疗专业人士的建议之前， 请不要停止使用这些药物。如果你打算自行治疗发烧或疼痛病状，请先向你的药剂师或医生咨询意见和评估。如果你出现严重的咳嗽、呼吸困难、发烧或其他类似新冠肺炎的症状，应立即寻求专业治疗，而不是自行用药。