The corona virus is spreading throughout the world like wildfire and there is currently no vaccine to prevent it and no medicine to cure it. The only weapon that we have is taking a few precautionary steps to stop the spread of this pandemic.
All you need to do is follow a few healthy habits that will help protect you and your family from this deadly virus.
The following are the few simple habits that will help you to protect yourself and others from the novel corona virus:
1. Avoid close contact:
Avoid close contact with anyone whether you are inside or outside of your home.
In your house, Avoid close contact with people who are sick or who have a cold, fever, and cough.
If possible, keep that person in a separate room and make sure no one enters that room without precautions or at least maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other members of the house.
When you are out of your house, keep a safe distance with everyone; avoid shaking hands, and hugging your friends.
Remember that some people are asymptomatic and might spread the virus unintentionally. Keep a distance of at least 2 arm’s length with other people.
If you get sick easily and have a poor immune system then avoid going out at all and keep a safe distance from others.
2. Wash your hands frequently:
Keeping your hands clean is one of the most important things that you need to do as your hands can carry the virus and make it spread.
Make sure that you wash your hands often with antibacterial soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you return back from a public place, or after coughing, or sneezing.
It’s especially important to wash your hands before eating or preparing food, before touching your face, after touching pets or animals, etc. Make it a habit of washing your hands at regular intervals to stop the spread of the pandemic.
If you don’t have soap and water readily available around you, then make sure that you use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Make sure you sanitize your hands and your arm till your elbow.
Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth without washing or sanitizing your hands.
3. Always wear a face mask when stepping out of the house:
You could be a carrier of the novel corona virus and spread it to others even if you do not feel sick.
The face mask or cloth face cover is not only meant to protect you, but it also helps to protect other people in case you are infected.
Always wear a face mask when you are going in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household. Also if possible try to wear hand gloves for maximum protection especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
Never put a face mask or face covering on kids under the age of two years. Avoid wearing a mask if you already have some issues which make it difficult to breathe.
You can use a normal cloth face mask or cover your face with any other cloth. Surgical masks and N95 respirators are critical supplies that are meant for healthcare workers and should be reserved for them as they are the first responders.
Social distance is a must and the most important weapon, the face mask is not a substitute for social distancing.
4. Cover cough and sneezes:
Whenever you sneeze or cough makes sure that you cover your nose and mouth with a tissue, napkin, handkerchief, or if nothing is audible the use the inside of your elbow to cover your nose.
Never leave your used tissue in the open air. Make sure you dispose of the used tissues in the trash. Wash your handkerchief and napkins with antibacterial detergents.
Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with a hand sanitizer each time you cough or sneeze.
5. Disinfect and clean regularly:
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like door handles, electric switches, electric appliances remotes tables, counter tops, keyboards, taps, and faucets, etc, daily.
Use antibacterial disinfectant to clean your floor, door handles, and other nonelectric items. If surfaces are dirty then wash them using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
When it comes to electric items clean them using a dry disinfectant or steam sanitize them. Do this every day to ensure the maximum security of your house and the people living in it.
6. Keep a check on your health:
Always be alert for the symptoms of COVID 19. A few of the common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty in breathing.
Especially if you are a part of the essential services and you can’t avoid going outdoor to your office or workplace and in settings where it may be difficult to keep a physical distance, then it is very important for you to take all the precautionary measures and keep a track of your health on regular basis.
Take your temperature on a daily basis. Avoid taking your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications as that could lead to temperature variations in your body.
Take supplements to strengthen your immune system like vitamin C capsules.
If you feel you have any of the symptoms or constant high temperature then immediately put yourself in quarantine at your home and report it to your doctor.