How to Prevent Coronavirus Infection?

Coronavirus family has several viruses including a new virus named Noble Coronavirus (COVID-19). How can you prevent yourself and your family from its infection?

What is Noble Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

It is a respiratory infection caused by a new type of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and spread by droplets. It results in common cold and flu-like symptoms. If you suffer from this viral infection, you may have the following symptoms:

1. Cough.
2. Fever.
3. Sore throat.
4. Fatigue.
5. Difficulty in breathing.

It all depends on your immunity how your body responds to the infection. Some people may have mild symptoms and recover from this infection easily. Some may become very sick and it may lead to death. The mortality rate is generally higher in people who already have poor health and elderly people.

How it spreads

Current pieces of evidence suggest COVID-19 can spread from one person to another. It is a droplet infection similar to the common cold. It is most likely to spread by the following means:

1. Direct close contact with an infectious person.
2. Contact with an infectious person who sneezes or coughs.
3. Touching your face or mouth after touching contaminated surfaces or objects from droplets from an infectious person. It includes everything – door handles, chairs, tables, bed, blankets, curtains, walls, etc.

So, if you have good hygiene and wash your hands thoroughly, you can prevent yourself and your loved ones from this infection.

How to Prevent Coronavirus Infection

In the first step of prevention, three things can help you to prevent this infection and stop its spreading.

1. Avoid Contact

• Avoid direct close contact with people who have flu-like symptoms.
• Maintain at least 1.5 meters distance from unwell people, especially those who sneeze or cough.
• Avoid handshake. Use other means of greeting like Namaste.
• Avoid touching surfaces unnecessarily.
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands.
• Stay at home if you are unwell, even if you have a slightly running nose and headache.

2. Hand Hygiene

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water thoroughly.

How to wash hands:

1. Wet your hands with water.
2. Apply soap to cover the whole surface of the hands.
3. Rub your hands at least for 20 – 30 seconds after applying soap and before rinsing with water.
4. Rub all parts of hand – front, back, between fingers, thumb, and wrist with the opposite hand and vice versa.
5. Wash your hands under running water thoroughly.
6. Clean your hands with clean a towel.

Generally, good hand washing takes around 40 to 60 seconds. So, don’t be in a hurry to wash your hands. All parts of each hand must be rubbed with palm and fingers of the opposite hand.

When to wash hands:

• Before and after eating.
• After using the toilet.
• After coming home from outside before touching anything in your home.
• After arriving at your workplace using public transport or a taxi.
• After any time when you touch any dirty surface or contaminated things.
• After touching shoes.

3. Cough Etiquette

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue while sneezing or coughing.
• Discard tissues immediately into a closed bin after use.
• Sneeze or cough into your elbow if tissues are not available immediately.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to sanitize your hands after sneezing or coughing.

4. Avoid Touching your Face

Touching your face is a major route transmission. You touch various things (such as doorknobs) with your hands and pick up viruses from their surface. When you touch your face with your hands, it’s possible transmission of infection through mouth, nose and eyes. Therefore, you must avoid touching your face to prevent yourself from coronavirus infection.

How to cough or sneeze by avoiding touching face: covering your mouth with the inner elbow is the best way to cough or sneeze. If tissues are available, you can use tissues to cover your face while coughing or sneezing.

5. Limit Social Gathering

Limiting your time around other people help to prevent the spread of the infection. You must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when visiting or working for sick people to protect yourself from the infection.

6. Isolate Yourself if Infected

Isolate yourself for at least 14 days if you are unwell and recently traveled from oversea including high-risk countries like China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and some parts of Europe. Contact the nearest infection control center.

Also Read:

1. How to Make Hand Sanitiser at Home
2. Typical Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease (COVID 19)