James Robb, MD, a former professor of pathology at the University of California San Diego, and one of the first molecular virologists in the world to work on coronaviruses (the 1970s), sent a list of precautions that he personally uses, except for mask and gloves, not only during flu season but, particularly, during this time of COVID-19.
Robb was the first to demonstrate the number of genes the virus contained. Since then, he has kept up with the coronavirus field and its multiple clinical transfers into the human population (e.g., SARS, MERS), from different animal sources.
1) NO HANDSHAKING! Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump, etc.
2) Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator buttons, etc..
Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.
3) Open doors with your closed fist or hip – do not grasp the handle with
your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially
important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.
4) Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are available, including
wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.
5) Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60%
alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that
involves locations where other people have been.
6) Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home’s entrances.
AND in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated
objects when you can’t immediately wash your hands.
7) If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use
your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain the
infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!
What he has stocked in preparation for the pandemic:
1) Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves for use when going shopping,
using the gasoline pump, and all other outside activity when you come in
contact with contaminated areas.
Note: This virus is spread in large droplets by coughing and sneezing. This means that the air will not infect you! BUT all the surfaces where these droplets land are infectious for about a week on average – everything that is associated with infected people will be contaminated and potentially infectious. The virus is on surfaces and you will not be infected unless your unprotected face is directly coughed or sneezed upon. This virus only
has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs) The only way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth.
2) Stock up now, if possible, with disposable surgical masks and use them to prevent you
from touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you – it is lung-specific. The mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze from getting into your nose or mouth – it is only to keep you from touching your nose or mouth.
3) Stock up now with hand sanitizers and latex/nitrile gloves (get the appropriate sizes for your family). The hand sanitizers must be alcohol-based and greater than 60% alcohol to be effective.
4) Stock up now with zinc lozenges. These lozenges have been proven to be quite effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from multiplying in your throat and nasopharynx. Use as directed several times each day when you begin to feel ANY “cold-like” symptoms beginning. It is best to lie down and let the lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynx. Cold-Eeze lozenges is one brand available, but there are other brands
available.
“I, as many others do, hope that this pandemic will be reasonably contained,” says Robb, “BUT I personally do not think it will be. Humans have never seen this snake-associated virus before and have no internal defense against it.”
He adds that tremendous worldwide efforts are being made to understand the molecular and clinical virology of this virus. Unbelievable molecular knowledge about the genomics, structure, and virulence of this virus has already been achieved.
According to Robb, “There will be NO drugs or vaccines available this year to protect us or limit the infection within us. Only symptomatic support is available.”
