When the entire world is earnestly hoping that a potent vaccine would be launched soon, it is essential for all to remain focussed and engaged in the on-going battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s essential to continue practicing the prescribed set of safety guidelines issued by the central government and global health authorities.
The purpose of the following discussion is to enlighten the readers about how they can continue to protect themselves and their loved ones against SARS-CoV-2. It’s based on the most updated findings, along with a few significant recommendations on hand sanitizers.
General Preventive Measures
Ensure Hand Hygiene
Wash your hands at regular intervals for a minimum of twenty seconds with a bar of soap and water, or use a hand sanitizer with a minimum of sixty percent ethanol. The 2019 novel coronavirus can infect an individual in three ways by close contact with any surface that contains it, touching (handshaking, embracing, et cetera) other individuals, and respiratory droplets (coughs and sneezes) of a person carrying SARS-CoV-2.
If you unknowingly touch those infected droplets and then touch your face, you could get infected with the virus. However, cleaning your hands with any soap (need not necessarily be an antibacterial one) and water frequently will ensure that it is instantly neutralized. Soap is your primary line of defense, and hand sanitizer is your reinforcement.
Regularly Clean High-Traffic Surfaces
Make a point to clean household light switches, mobile phones, door handles, and water faucets with a disinfectant spray.
People frequently use household lights, water taps, and doorknobs. These are technically known as high-traffic surfaces, and so it should be cleaned with a home-made or commercially available disinfectant frequently for neutralizing the virus.
You can get infected with SARS-CoV-2 if you touch any surface carrying it and then touch your face. Note that the 2019 novel coronavirus can remain active up to a whopping seventy-two hours on inactive surfaces like stainless steel.
Follow Social Distancing
Practice proper social distancing by maintaining a distance of two meters or more from others when outdoors.
When an infected individual sneezes or coughs, the respiratory droplets carrying the 2019 novel coronavirus travel up to two meters and land on some healthy person standing or sitting within the mentioned range. If that unaffected individual unknowingly touches those infected droplets and then touches their face, one could get the virus.
You should remember to refrain from coming in close contact with any individual displaying symptoms identical to those of cough and cold or flu as they are the most usual symptoms of COVID-19.
Wear a Face Mask in Public
You should never forget to wear an appropriate face covering or a non-surgical cloth mask before going to any public place every time. Ensure that you are wearing it in the suggested manner.
The sole objective of wearing a mask or a face covering whilst outside is to protect other people from getting infected with the virus by reducing the likelihood of transmission. So, you should also get into the habit of covering your nose and mouth with tissues or your elbow when sneezing or coughing without a face covering or a mask.
Ask for Medical Care When Required
Consider seeking medical assistance without any delay if you have a cough, dyspnea (more commonly known as shortness of breath or difficulty breathing), and fever, which happen to be the most common symptoms of COVID-19.
Without any prior knowledge and training, it is not possible for an individual to self-diagnose and figure out whether she/he is infected with influenza, common cold, or some other disease.
Conclusion
If you have carefully followed today’s blog and shared it with your near ones, you and your family would be able to minimize the risk of getting infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus. What else might you think of that could safeguard your family?
Let us know by commenting below.