Until a vaccine is developed to protect us against Covid-19, there are only two ways to protect ourselves – slowing the spread of the virus with regular hand-washing and social distancing, and strengthening our immune systems to minimise symptoms and complications if it does hit.
Myths and misinformation about the new virus are spreading rapidly, but there are some simple evidence-based steps we can take to protect ourselves.
Our immune system works on two levels – innate immunity, which is like the walls of a fortress and the troops which defend against all threats; and adaptive immunity, which consists of the commandos and special forces we deploy to counter a specific attack.