New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The World Health Organization has labelled the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic as the number of cases surged to some 118,000 in 114 countries, with 4,291 deaths.
The change of terminology from epidemic to "pandemic" followed detailed consultations about the spread of Covid-19 with health experts inside and outside the WHO, said Michael Ryan, executive director in charge of health emergencies, on Wednesday. "We balanced the benefit of galvanising the world to fight the virus against the danger that it would lead to countries giving up," he added.
A pandemic means a disease is spreading rapidly in several different parts of the world.
The single most important thing you and your child can do to prevent the spread of coronavirus is - wash your hands! So, it may seem simple, but you may not be properly washing your hands. Follow these simple steps to keep your hands clean.
With more cases of the new coronavirus appearing every day, it is important to wash your hands. Scrubbing for a few seconds with soap won't cut it.
CDC recommends you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, scrubbing the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails. They made a song you can sing if you need help keeping track of the time. You can also sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
If you you're getting tired of keeping count or just want to switch things up, try the chorus from one of these songs of the decades:
1960s - Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
Don't be afraid to belt out a classic while killing the germs on your hands. Sing Sweet Caroline's chorus and those 20 seconds will fly by: "Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I've been inclined
To believe they never would
Oh, no, no"
1970s - Escape (The Piña Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes
Escape from the craziness of your day for 20 seconds and imagine yourself drinking a piña colada instead. "If you like piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain
If you're not into yoga, if you have half a brain
If you like making love at midnight in the dunes of the cape
I'm the love that you've looked for, write to me and escape"
1980s - Africa by Toto
The rains down in Africa aren't enough to clean your hands, but washing them while singing Africa's chorus is. "It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had"
1990s - ...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
Here is your sign: wash your hands one more time. Jam out to Britney and keep up your hygiene. "My loneliness is killing me (and I)
I must confess I still believe (still believe)
When I'm not with you I lose my mind
Give me a sign
Hit me, baby, one more time"
2000s - Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson
Be dedicated and take your time while washing your hands. Getting Since U Been Gone stuck in your head is just a bonus to your cleanliness. "But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so moving on
Yeah, yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get what I want
Since you've been gone"
2010s - Shake It Off by Taylor Swift
Shake off that water or grab a new paper towel and dry your hands after scrubbing them to Taylor Swift. "Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heart-breakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off"
For the Kids - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Easy to learn and fun to sing, use Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to help your little ones practice proper hygiene. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are!"
