PERSONAL HYGIENE
How to protect yourself and others.
With how easily the virus can spread from person to person, learn the proper steps you can take to avoid catching the virus, keeping yourself clean, and keeping it out of your home.
HOW DOES IT SPREAD?
COVID-19 is known to spread very easily from person to person, making it highly contagious. The specifics on how the virus spreads is still being learned, but as of now it is believed that it spreads mainly through close contact (within 6 ft.) with others. The respiratory droplets produced when people breathe, talk, cough, or sneeze may spread infection to others if close enough. These droplets vary from being very small (drying and spreading particles in the sir) to being large enough to see. When these droplets get into the eyes, nose, or mouths the affected person may become infected. Even those without visible symptoms could be spreading the virus. (UNICEF, 2020)
Solutions on how to prevent spread can be found below.
COVID-19 Stop the Spread of Germs
WASH YOUR HANDS
This is perhaps one of the most simple, yet effective steps you could take to practice personal hygiene in times like these. Washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is proven to be very effective, especially after coughing, sneezing, or being in a public space. When soap and water is not available, applying a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is a good alternative.
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It’s especially important to wash:
Before eating or preparing food
Before touching your face
After using the restroom
After leaving a public place
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After handling your mask
After changing a diaper
After caring for someone sick
After touching animals or pets
(CDC, 2020)
SOCIAL DISTANCING
When around other people who don't live in the same household as you, it is best to stay a minimum of 6 ft. away from them while. The reason for this is because of how easily the respiratory droplets that can carry the COVID-19 virus can travel in close contact, it's best to maintain your distance. Some tips for social distancing include:
Educating yourself on local public health guidelines before you go out
Considering transportation where you can socially distance
Visiting stores with items you absolutely need/Limiting contact while running errands
Choosing safe social activities
Keeping your distance at events and gatherings
Staying distanced while being active
(CDC, 2020)
WEAR A MASK
Masks are another way to offer you some protection, as well as protecting others. That being said, masks are NOT a substitute for washing your hands or social distancing, all protection methods should be used together in order to maximize safety for yourself and others. By wearing a mask that fully covers your nose and mouth, you reduce your chance of having infected respiratory droplets land in these areas. Wearing a face shield also protects the eyes, but these should be worn in addition to a mask. Masks should be worn by everyone, the only cases in which one should not wear a mask is if they are under 2 years in age, have difficulty breathing, are unconscious and unable to remove their masks without assistance, or if they have difficulty with cognitive, behavioral, or sensory issues. In most cases, people of this caliber should be staying home (CDC, 2020). The effectiveness of different types of masks can be found here.
CLEANING TIPS
Being home doesn't automatically mean you're safe. While the virus primarily spreads from respiratory drops from person to person, the virus itself can survive on contaminated surfaces from a few hours to a few days. Therefore, delivered packages, groceries, or foods also have an unlikely, but possible chance of spreading the virus into your home. There is good news though, killing it is as simple as using a disinfectant! Be sure to clean surfaces that are touched often, such as door handles, tables, chairs, handrails, etc. Appliances such as your phone, TV remote, or computer should also be cleaned, especially if you have gone out beforehand. When cleaning dirty surfaces, first use water and detergent. Afterwards, use bleach or a disinfectant of at least 70% alcohol to finish up the surface. Make sure to read the directions on these products to ensure you are using them correctly, as some products need to stay wet on the surface for a few minutes to be effective. (UNICEF, 2020)