Levels of prevention amid COVID-19 outbreak

Three levels of prevention are primary, secondary and tertiary.

Primary prevention is aimed at preventing diseases beforehand. The purpose is achieved by avoiding exposure to the causes of diseases, changing unsafe habits, and becoming overly cautious. For example, to avoid being a victim of COVID-19, precautionary measures like keeping distances, washing hands, refraining from a handshake, etc. illustrate the practice of primary prevention.

Secondary prevention addresses a disease already reported. Patients reported to have a particular disease are treated to get them recovered to their normal condition and that the recurrence or expansion of the disease can be controlled. For example, the confirmed COVID-19 cases are being regularly diagnosed and remedied at the hospitals for a full recovery.

Tertiary prevention is about abating a continuing disease having drastic effects. People inflicted with such ongoing diseases are advised to take preventive steps on a permanent basis. These diseases are chronic resulting in everlasting impairments (Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention).

COVID-19 is a new phenomenon and has not yet turned into a chronic disease; hence tertiary prevention is not of use for this infection. COVID-19 is still at the stages of primary and secondary levels of prevention as exemplified above.