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Infectious disease experts from the World Health Organization give 10 tips on how to protect yourself against coronavirus infection during a pandemic.
Wash your hands as often as possible
This is the most important recommendation. Washing your hands with soap and water for 20-40 seconds is the best prevention. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is transmitted by airborne droplets, through sneezing and coughing, and in the light of new research – also in the air.
- Check the latest data on the range of the coronavirus in Poland and in the world
When coughing and sneezing, we involuntarily cover our mouth with a hand that has droplets of saliva. Frequent and most importantly – thorough hand washing effectively protects against the spread of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, but also other pathogens, e.g. the influenza virus.
Disinfect objects and surfaces
Coronavirus can linger on surfaces for days. However, it is worth knowing that the survival ability of coronaviruses on the surface decreases at 30-40 degrees Celsius, and most of the coronaviruses studied do not survive in the face of detergents.
Check: Coronaviruses can live outside the body for up to nine days
Experts from WHO recommend systematic disinfection of desk tops and kitchen worktops, mobile phones, keyboards, TV remote controls and door handles with preparations based on alcohol. These are objects and places where pathogens accumulate. We recommend caution when decontaminating electronic devices.
Zobacz: These items love viruses
Avoid contact with sick people
Do not eat a meal after the sick person, do not use the cutlery and dishes used by that person. If you are helping a sick person, not only with COVID-19, thoroughly wash and disinfect your hands after each contact with objects that they have touched. In this way, you limit the transmission of pathogens.
Zobacz: Home quarantine – what is it and how to do it?
When a sick person is in the house, make sure they have their own towels, which are often replaced with fresh ones. A lot of pathogens accumulate on the surface of towels. Wash your towels at a high temperature.
Zobacz: How to decontaminate an apartment after an illness?
Give up loving greetings
WHO recommends that during the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, no greetings, such as shaking hands, a hug or a kiss on the cheek, be dispensed with. Our hands contain the most pathogens, and we do not always have the opportunity to wash our hands frequently. There are many alternative greeting methods that you can use in contact with other people.
Check: A handshake or a “turtle”? Epidemiologists have proven that the traditional greeting carries 10 times more microbes
Don’t touch your face
We don’t even realize how often our hands touch our mouth, eyes and face area. This is the easiest way to transfer contamination from your hand. It will certainly not be easy to control this unconscious habit of rubbing your face, but it is worth paying attention to.
Learn more: We touch our face too often. Why is it so hard to hold back?
Avoid the crowds at peak times
Restricting people’s movement significantly reduces the risk of the disease spreading. Therefore, if possible, avoid crowds, do not go to places with a lot of people, try to keep a distance from other people. When you cough, sneeze or feel unwell, avoid going outside to avoid spreading germs.
Wear gloves in public places
If you spend time outdoors, it’s a good idea to wear gloves. Just remember not to touch your face with your gloved hand. When you come home, carefully remove them and wash them in hot soapy water – if you are wearing cotton gloves. If you use latex gloves, you can disinfect them and wipe them with a clean paper towel.
Limit the circulation of documents
If possible, don’t print documents that you need to hand over to someone else. Instead, scan, email, use electronic versions. Only the necessary documents should be provided in paper form. Due to the threat of coronavirus, many companies have introduced remote work, which requires a revolution in the document flow model in the company.
Look after yourself
Do not forget about hand hygiene and washing (we will repeat it often, but statistics show that only 68% of Poles wash their hands after using the toilet). If you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth with an elbow or a handkerchief and throw it away immediately. Even if you are feeling well and not at risk, give up excessive activity. As a carrier, you can infect the elderly and people with weakened immunity, for whom any infection, not only caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, may turn out to be dangerous.
Zobacz: How should you sneeze and cough? Contrary to appearances, not everyone can
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