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Health & Sciences: A consolidated scientific guide in understanding COVID-19 (Part 2)
As mentioned in the first part (http://upismc.blogspot.com/2020/04/health-sciences-consolidated-scientific.html) of our coronavirus disease (COVID-19) guide, the disease, which spreads quickly, now greatly affects our lives. For the second part of the guide, scientific progress in the battle against COVID-19 will be discussed. Science-proven ways on how the further spread of the virus could be prevented will also be recommended.
Scientific developments done to fight COVID-19
Scientists have tried to invent quick, efficient diagnostic testing methods for COVID-19. These testing procedures use reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (Lanese, 2020; Magsambol, 2020). In this mechanism, a swab is applied to someone’s throat. It detects and collects viral ribonucleic acid (RNA), one’s basic genetic material.
Afterwards, the RNA primers having a particular nuclear acid sequence bind with primase; thus, facilitating the reverse transcription from RNA to complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA). Remember that the central dogma of molecular biology lets DNA become messenger RNA (mRNA) in transcription. In RT-PCR, the other way around happens – RNA becomes cDNA; hence, being “reverse”. Then replication of the transcribed DNA occurs with a processing machine. Once there are ample samples, the genetic material bits are exposed to UV light via fluorescence. If they glow, then SARS-Cov-2 is present in the patient’s blood (Lanese, 2020; Merck, 2020).
Figure 1. The RT-PCR visualized in a diagram.
While RT-PCR is known to be “highly specific”, there is a 30% probability that the results may be false (Lanese, 2020). This usually happens when samples taken from patients are incomplete. This kind of test kit is what the Philippine government has received from other countries ever since the proliferation of cases in the country (ANC, 2020). While there have been donations from the World Health Organization (WHO), other test kits have been imported with a rate of PHP 8,000 per unit.
The quality, expenses, and time elapsed from receiving help from other countries prompted our scientists in the local level to create their own test kits. In fact, microbiology and biotechnology expert Dr. Raul Destura and the scientists from the University of the Philippines (UP) have developed a low-cost COVID-19 testing kit: the GenAmplify™ Corona Virus 2019 (COVID-19) Kit.
This detection kit is different from the RT-PCR kits in a sense that it uses a single step multiple detection system. This system has a turnaround time of just one to two hours, contrary to other COVID-19 detection kits' 6-hour turnaround time. The COVID-19 test involves getting samples from inside the patient’s nose and from the back of their throat with a brush for the nasopharynx, the upper part of the pharynx, and swab similar to that being used in RT-PCR (ANC, 2020).
Aside from this, Dr. Destura adds that there are three vials, “The first is a reagent used to extract the genetic material from the sample. The other is an amber-colored chemical that makes the virus fluorescent for detection. And the third vial is molecular-grade water that serves as negative control to ensure that the results are accurate” (Sabillo, 2020).
Figure 2. The RT-PCR test kits developed by our local scientists. Notice the three vials beside the kit box. Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1253582/fda-approves-up-developed-covid-19-test-kits-for-commercial-use
The test kits had already passed the field validation phase and were awarded a Certificate of Product Registration by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last April 3 (Yumol, 2020). The test kits can be used for up to 120,000 tests. In addition, 1,300 of the test kits will be distributed to the following hospitals (Magsambol, 2020):
• Philippine General Hospital, Manila,
• Makati Medical Center,
• The Medical City, Pasig City,
• Baguio General Hospital,
• Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu City, and
• Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao City
The remaining test kits will then be sold by Manila HealthTek at around PHP 1,300 per kit, much cheaper than other test kits that are currently being sold at around PHP 8,000 per kit (ANC, 2020).
Meanwhile, there have been concerns about the formulation of a drug and a vaccine for COVID-19. As of now, there are no official antiviral drugs and vaccines for the disease (Rothan & Byrareddy, 2020; WHO, 2020). For the former, chloroquine (against malaria), arbidol (against influenza), remdesivir (against ebola), and favipiravir (against influenza, West Nile virus, etc.) are being tested in terms of their effectivity and safety (Dong, Hu, & Gao, 2020). Meanwhile, it will take a year and a half to manufacture the latter for public use (Grenfell & Drew, 2020).
Ways we could prevent contracting and spreading COVID-19
Now that we know what our scientists have invented, let’s focus on how we could help as concerned citizens in avoiding the contraction and transmission of the virus.
1. Stay at home.
Staying at home is an effective way to slow down the spread of the virus. Remember, people with the disease can be asymptomatic, so even if the people around us don’t have a cough or fever, they can still be carriers of the disease (WHO, 2020; Woodward, 2020). Once we go outside, we come across multiple people, not knowing if they’re infected or not. To avoid risking ourselves getting the virus, it is better to stay home.
Additionally, staying at home also means that we are eliminating the risk of infecting other people as well. Whether one has symptoms or not, it may be possible that they have the virus, so it is better to stay put in order to not infect other people (WHO, 2020).
2. Maintain social distancing.
Even though it is ultimately best to stay at home, the fact is that some people still have to go outside either to go to work (such as health workers, employees of essential services, etc.) or to buy food. So if ever we are outside, it is best that we maintain social distancing (DOH, 2020; WHO, 2020).
What is social distancing? Social distancing is a health practice done to lessen the chances of a sick person transmitting a contagious disease to a healthy person. It is done by maintaining at least 6-feet (or about 2 meters) distance between us and the people around (Letzer, 2020).
Why should we practice social distancing? When people sneeze or cough, they spray out droplets in the air, which can then be inhaled by the people near them (WHO, 2020; Woodward, 2020). If an infected person sneezes or coughs, the droplets they emit will have the virus, which can then be passed on to those who inhale the droplets (Rothan & Byrareddy, 2020). Six feet is the average distance that the droplets from coughing/sneezing travel in the air before they settle. By maintaining at least a 6-feet distance between us and the people around, both sides eliminate the chances of acquiring or transmitting the virus via the droplets (Letzer, 2020).
Even when we’re at home, it is still important to keep a safe distance. If it is possible to keep a 6-feet distance between us and the people in our home, then we should do so. But if it is not, we should try to limit our contact with them at least and to maintain as much distance as wecan, especially if there is a person who is vulnerable to COVID-19 in our home (WHO, 2020).
3. Wash hands and clean things
Our hands often can acquire germs and viruses – not to mention, the very coronavirus, from the many surfaces that we touch throughout the day. Thankfully, soap can destroy viruses (Marshall, 2020). Not just antibacterial soap, but even any soap in general.
Soap is made up of molecules that have two parts, a lipophilic end and a hydrophilic end. The lipophilic end, which is attracted to fat, breaks down the coating of fat that surrounds the virus, and literally breaks the virus apart (Thordarson, 2020). So to make sure our hands are clean, we need to wash our hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. If it is not possible, we can use a rubbing alcohol or a hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol content (Marshall, 2020).
When should we clean our hands? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2020a), we should wash our hands after the following:
• before touching our eyes, nose, or mouth,
• before, during, and after preparing and eating food,
• before and after caring for someone who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea,
• before and after treating a cut or wound,
• after using the toilet/restroom,
• after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet,
• after blowing out the nose, coughing, or sneezing,
• after touching an animal/pet, their feed, or their waste,
• after handling garbage,
• after we have been in a public place, and
• after we’ve touched an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens, etc.
Aside from washing our hands, it is also important to keep the surfaces and objects around us clean, especially the ones which we frequently touch (CDC, 2020b; WHO, 2020). Some examples of these are our gadgets, our door knobs, and even our tables. To clean these surfaces, we can use soap and water or wipes and alcohol.
4. Boost the immune system
Increasing our immune system is really important in times like this. To give our immune system a boost, it is advisable to have a healthy, balanced meal (DOH, 2020). However, considering the limited resources, if this is not possible, taking essential vitamin supplements such as Vitamin C and Zinc tablets can be done instead as zinc is said to be “proven to protect the throat” (GMA News, 2020).
Aside from this, it is important to stay hydrated and well-rested. We should make sure that we drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and to sleep at least 8 hours a day (DOH, 2020). The right amount of exercise also helps in maintaining our body’s health.
5. Stay updated and informed
As mentioned in the first part of the guide, there are a lot of uncertainties about COVID-19. Since we don’t know much about the virus yet scientists are constantly conducting research to know more about the nature of and how to combat the virus.
To be well-informed on the new advancements about the virus, we should make it a habit to tune in to the news and to research about it on the internet (Brenneman, 2020). Let us make sure that the news we read are from credible sources though, to avoid being misinformed. Before we believe and forward news we receive from our friends or family members (eg. via group chats), we should check the source and assess if it is reliable. Reporting bots and accounts that promote bogus information will also help (Ko, 2020).
We should also cross-check the facts stated in the news we read to verify if the pieces of information stated are valid or not. This is essential in “judging the plausibility of claims”; in other words, seeing if content is believable or not (Brenneman, 2020). If the source is not valid and the facts are not verified by other reliable sources, it is best not to forward the news to other people to prevent the spread of fake news.
As we fact-check, we can regularly check the websites of official scientific organizations such as the Department of Health (DOH), World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We can also follow the official accounts of our national and local government to be updated with the latest regulations and policies to be implemented in our area.
Figure 3. DOH infographic for COVID-19 nature, symptoms, and prevention.
Source: http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/19122
To conclude our guide, we would like to share the experiences of Francis Mey, a nurse from St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). As she recovers from COVID-19, she commends the bravery of nurses, doctors, scientists and other workers serving as frontliners. She also urges the public to stop discrimination against the frontliners just because they could be infected by COVID-19 and other diseases, “Sana ‘wag n’yo po kaming pandirian, w’ag n’yo po kaming layuan” [Please do not be disgusted, please do not stay away from us.] (ABS CBN News, 2020).
With that, let us not forget to contribute in the battle against COVID-19 through our small ways. Let us also not forget to appreciate our frontliners. Namely, our leaders implementing safety measures, our doctors treating those infected, and most of all, our scientists deciphering the mystery behind this novel disease.
Sources (in APA format)
• ABS CBN News. (2020, April 3). Nurse na nagka-COVID-19 ibinahagi ang karanasan habang naka-quarantine. Retrieved 4 April 2020 from https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/03/20/nurse-na-nagka-covid-19-ibinahagi-ang-karanasan-habang-naka-quarantine.
• ANC. (2020, April 3). The low-cost COVID-19 testing kit made by UP scientists is ready for rollout. ABS CBN News. Retrieved 5 April 2020 from
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• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]. (2020a, April 2). When and how to wash your hands. Retrieved 3 April 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html.
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• Thordarson, P. (2020, March 12). The science of soap – here’s how it kills the coronavirus. Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2020 from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/12/science-soap-kills-coronavirus-alcohol-based-disinfectants.
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//by Angie Albao and James Tolosa
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