COVID‑19 Countermeasures: An Algorithm to Stay Unlocked

David Izadi, Egidio J. Da Silva, Miles E. Banwell, Christopher G. Wallace

Abstract


We describe a visual algorithm to help prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) contagion as well as manage COVID‑19 disease according to categories of clinical severity. The algorithm is timely, with multiple countries worldwide declaring repeat surges in SARS‑CoV‑2 infections following the easing of lockdown measures. Its flowchart assimilates key effective interventions in a visual manner that will assist healthcare workers to manage COVID-19 disease algorithmically, and policymakers to suppress further SARS‑CoV‑2 waves. Importantly, we include the innovative use of topical p‑menthane‑3,8‑diol spray by the British Army for COVID-19 Support Force personnel, which in light of its coronavirucidal properties, deserves wider dissemination. This algorithm has the potential to be updated as numerous studies are concluded globally

Keywords


COVID-19; dexamethasone; p-menthane-3,8-diol; vitamin C; vitamin D

Full Text:

PDF

References


Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource

Center. Available from: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html.

[Last accessed on 2020 Aug 09].

United States Environmental Protection Agency. Press release,

th March 2020. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/

newsreleases/epa‑expands‑covid‑19‑disinfectant‑list. [Last

accessed on 2020 Aug 09].

Clarke PD. Antiviral composition comprising

p‑menthane‑3,8‑diol. United States Patent Number: US 7,872,051

B2. Date of Patent: January 18, 2011.

Eggers M, Koburger‑Janssen T, Eickmann M, Zorn J. In vitro

bactericidal and virucidal efficacy of Povidone‑Iodine gargle/

mouthwash against respiratory and oral tract pathogens. Infect

Dis Ther 2018;7:249‑59.

Cheng RZ. Can early and high intravenous dose of vitamin C

prevent and treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19)? Med

Drug Discov 2020;5:100028.

Martineau AR, Jolliffe DA, Hooper RL, Greenberg L, Aloia JF,

Bergman P, et al. Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute

respiratory tract infections: Systematic review and meta‑analysis of individual participant data. Br Med J 2017;356:i6583.

Te Velthuis AJW, van den Worm SHE, Sims AC, Baric RS,

Snijder EJ, van Hemert MJ. Zn2+ inhibits coronavirus and

arterivirus RNA polymerase activity in vitro and zinc ionophores

block the replication of these viruses in cell culture. PLoS

Pathog 2010;6:e1001176.

RECOVERY Trial Chief Investigators’ press release, 16th June

Available from: https://www.recoverytrial.net/news/

low‑cost‑dexamethasone-reduces‑death‑by-up‑to‑one‑third‑in‑ho

spitalised‑patients‑with‑severe‑respiratory‑complications‑of‑cov

id‑19. [Last accessed on 2020 Jun 16].

Folegatti PM, Ewer KJ, Aley PK, Angus B, Becker S,

Belij‑Rammerstorfer S, et al., Oxford COVID Vaccine Trial

Group. Safety and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCoV‑19

vaccine against SARS‑CoV‑2: A preliminary report of a phase 1/2,

single‑blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2020;396:467‑78.