How can we stay safe from the Coronavirus?

Schools and offices closed. Public transport under lockdown. Flights canceled, and airports are deserted. People are rushing to stock up on food and medical supplies. While all of this may sound like a scene from a zombie apocalypse movie, in reality, it is just a blunt description of our grim world today. The deadly coronavirus has spread to almost every country in the world, and the number of infected people keeps rising. Medical experts have warned the general public not to take this pandemic lightly. Here’s a look at how you can step up and do your part to stop the spread of the virus and save thousands of lives.

Tips to Stay Safe from Coronavirus

Wash Your Hands: The coronavirus is transmitted from one person to another through small liquid droplets that released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Once you touch the surface that has these liquid droplets, the virus gets on your hands, and then you are more likely to get infected. Frequently washing your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or just simple soap and water kills the viruses and germs that may be on your hands and keeps you safe. Ideally, you should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds to make sure they are thoroughly clean.

Practice Social Distancing:

 

Medical experts have found that the coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and liquid droplets are released. While it is still not clear how far these droplets travel, the general consensus is that if you maintain a distance of 1.5 meters between people around you, the risk of being infected decreases significantly. Whether you are waiting in line at the bank or jogging in the park, medical experts recommend that you keep at least 1-meter distance between you and anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19.

Stay Indoors: One key aspect that makes COVID-19 such a deadly disease is that it is highly infectious. Medical experts estimate that the novel coronavirus is three times as infectious as flu. The cycle of infection is so bad that estimates suggest that one person with coronavirus can infect 59,000 people if gone unchecked. The most efficient way to stay safe from the virus is to self-isolate and to stay indoors as far as possible. 

Disinfect Surfaces: Early research suggests that the COVID-19 virus does not stay in the air for long but always settles down on a surface. Cleaning commonly touched surfaces with disinfectants will kill the virus and protect you and your family from infection. Electrical switches, tabletops, doorknobs and cabinet handles are common surfaces where you are likely to find the virus. The Centre for Disease Control recommends using alcohol cleaning solutions with at least 70% alcohol when disinfecting a surface. It is absolutely essential that you use disposable gloves when cleaning a surface that has come in contact with the coronavirus.

Remember, as grim as the situation is; there is always hope. When the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic, it also stated that “all countries can still change the course of this pandemic.” The outcome of this pandemic rests in our hands, so let’s make sure those hands are clean. Stay calm, stay indoors, and stay safe.