In an endeavor to assist managing committees of apartment societies during this lockdown, ApnaComplex has been organizing Expert Webinar Series on important topics related to coronavirus. The previous webinars were a huge success whose details you can find here, here and here.

The latest webinar in this series was conducted on 4th April 2020 in association with Elita Promenade Apartments (Bangalore), on the topic of ‘Preventions & Precautions Against Coronavirus for Societies’.

This 1-hour live webinar was presented by renowned Dr. Swati Rajagopal, Infectious Diseases Physician and Travel Medicine Expert at Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore. Dr. Rajagopal shared key facts and prevention advice on COVID-19, along with measures and guidelines that should be followed by apartment societies to avoid the spread of coronavirus. The second half of the session was dedicated to answering participant queries.

The session was attended by managing committee members from 100+ apartment societies across India, and was highly appreciated by everyone. We thank Dr. Rajagopal for taking the time to conduct this webinar, and to Mr. Tarak Desai of Elita Promenade for partnering with us in organizing this session.

To access the presentation shared during this session, please click here

Highlights of the key information shared in this webinar:

What precautions and preventative measures against COVID-19 should be taken within homes as well as in apartment societies?

A: At home:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water every couple of hours.
• Sanitize all common surfaces (tables, telephones, etc.) with any standard disinfectant used at home.
• Elderly people should not at all go outside as they are more susceptible to this infection.
• In case of symptoms like cough and cold, get yourself tested at the earliest for correct diagnosis.

Within societies:

• Every society resident must follow the lockdown protocols diligently and communicate with other society members only through virtual platforms like calls, messages, etc.
• All deliveries should be collected at the gate and outside visitors shouldn’t enter the apartment complexes.

Is it true that Diabetes medicines reduce immunity against coronavirus and should be discontinued?

A: Absolutely not. In fact, people with conditions like diabetes and cardiac issues must continue their medications to keep their conditions in check and reduce the chances of infection.

What are the best practices for handling fruits & vegetables?

A: Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed in warm water and dried properly before use. Also, ensure to wash your hands with soap both before and after cleaning the vegetables. If you cook/boil the vegetables adequately, there shouldn’t be any issues.

Is it safe to use milk bought from outside?

A: Milk is absolutely safe as long as it pasteurized/boiled before consumption. Also, our digestive juices will prevent any infection.

How should societies manage the collection of outside deliveries during this quarantine period?

A: Avoid cash-on-delivery and opt for cashless deliveries. The collection of deliveries should be done at the society gate in a structured way, where people come to pick their orders one after the other. Proper waste management practices should be followed in societies as well.

Can Hydroxychloroquine be used as preventive medicine against COVID-19?

A: There isn’t enough evidence yet whether Hydroxychloroquine can be used to treat COVID-19. It is used for certain diseases must be prescribed by a doctor before use since it has several side-effects and can also lead to cardiac deaths.