Coronavirus (Covid-19) Tips - How To Stay Safe
As Coronavirus (Covid-19) starts it’s inexorable spread around the world, here are some tips to keep yourself safe.
Wash Your Hands
I can't repeat this enough: WASH YOUR HANDS!
Wet your hands with clean running water and lather with soap.
Scrub all the nooks and crannies (between fingers, under nails, back of hands, etc) for at least 20 seconds.
Dry with a clean towel or air dry.
You can use alcohol based hand sanitizers but make sure they are at least 60 percent alcohol and rubbed in for at least 20 seconds.
Don't Touch Your Face
I know it's hard and I often find myself doing it too, but try really hard not to touch your face, particularly your mouth, nose, and eyes.
The evidence shows that so far, Coronavirus (Covid-19) mainly enters your body when an infected person coughs/sneezes and the droplets enters your nose, eyes, or mouth.
The other way is when these droplets fall onto a surface and then is transferred onto someone else's hands. That's why it's important to not touch your face (I know it's hard not to).
Disinfect
Scientists haven't figured out how long Coronavirus can live on surfaces, so it's best to have disinfectant sprays and wipes on hand to clean regularly used surfaces like phones, computer keyboards/mice, kitchen counters, doorknobs, light switches, TV remotes, etc (anything that we touch with our hands frequently).
Most popular household disinfectants kill 99.9% of all viruses/bacteria with the caveat that it's still unknown if these disinfectants kill Covid-19. It's still a good practice to wipe down heavily used items with disinfectant spray/wipes.
Disinfecting Tips:
Wipe in one direction to avoid recontaminating any surface you're cleaning.
Do not re-use the wipe - throw away after one use.
Clean your toilet with bleach based cleaner, as each time it's flushed things get sprayed into the air on a microscopic scale.
Stay Away From Sick People
Stay at least six feet away from sick people.
Ask anyone sick to wear a mask, so they prevent spreading germs when they cough/sneeze.
Avoid large public gatherings, where germs are easily spread.
Coronavirus (Covid-19) is contagious, even before symptoms appear, which makes this virus especially hard to contain.
Plane Travel
Traveling during the next few months?
Studies have shown that sitting at the window seat significantly decreases your exposure to germs being spread by other passengers.
Bring disinfectant wipes to clean these germ hotspots:
Tray Table
Air Valve
Nozzle
Seat Belt Buckle
In Flight Entertainment Screen/Remote
Armrests
Window Blind
Avoid handling anything in the seat back pocket, this is a germ haven that most flight crews skip when cleaning.
Wash your hands thoroughly after using the airplane lavatory, as this is also one of the germiest parts of the plane.
If you're sitting next to someone who is visibly sick, ask them to wear a mask (if you have one or the airplane has them).
If you wear a N95 mask, make sure it's properly fitted and you follow proper protocol when taking it off. (dispose of N95 after close contact with sick person, clean hands before and after handling of mask)
If you wear a surgical mask, you'll need to replace it every 30 minutes since it tends to get damp from your breathing, which attracts germs.
Above all, wearing a mask doesn't make you immune and you still need to wash your hands and not touch your face.
If You Have A Fever
The symptoms of Coronavirus (Covid-19) are very similar to influenza flu:
Fever
Cough
Sore Throat
Shortness of Breath
Due to the close similarities, it's hard to distinguish from influenza without clinical testing.
From the cases in China so far, most Coronavirus (Covid-19) infections were mild with a small percentage developing into severe pneumonia.
If you feel sick/have a fever and haven't been to any parts of the world that have sustained community transmission of Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the past 14 days - you should follow the same steps you'd follow in the past when you had the flu or cold:
Stay Home and Rest
Drink Lots of Clear Fluids (Water, Broth, Electrolyte Drinks)
Take Ibuprofen (Advil) and/or Acetaminophen (Tyelnol) as needed to reduce fevers and muscle aches.
Don't go out into public until your fever is gone for at least 24 hours to avoid infecting other people.
If you have traveled to one of the infected areas or had contact with someone who has within the past 14 days you should reach out to your doctor, urgent care clinic or ER to inform them and ask for help.
The evidence so far suggests that Coronavirus (Covid-19) is highly dangerous for people over 70 years old and those that are immunocompromised.
