COVID-19 and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
COVID-19 is a new illness that is caused by a virus called coronavirus. It can affect your lungs and airways.
Symptoms of COVID-19 are a cough, a high temperature and shortness of breath. It is thought that the virus is spread through cough droplets. There are measures you can take to help stop viruses like COVID-19…
1. Wash your hands!
Soap is the very best preventative for communicating the virus, so use it. Wash your hands regularly, for at least 20 seconds, with soap and water.
2. Use Anti-Bacterial wipes and gel
If you can’t wash your hands, the next best thing is to use an anti-bacterial wipe or gel both before and after you come into contact with other people, objects, or surfaces. And use those wipes to wipe down any objects or surfaces you touch or plan on touching.
3. Social Distancing: Keep your distance
Try to keep a “social distance” from others when working, shopping, socializing. Give yourself distance from other people if possible. Most recommendations urge this to be at least 6 feet.
4. Social Distance Greetings: No handshakes, hugs, kisses
No kissing, hugging, handshakes. Even the elbow shake is probably not a good idea.
5. Avoid large groups
On March 15, 2020 Massachusetts Governor, Charles Baker issued an emergency order limiting gatherings to 25 individuals and prohibiting on-premise consumption of food or drink at bars and restaurants. More recently, President Trump suggested limiting group sizes to 10 or less.
6. Hands off your face
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
7. Keep tissues handy for coughs and sneezes
If you sneeze or cough, do it into a tissue, then throw away the tissue, then wash your hands or wipe them down. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hand — and then wash or wipe yourself down.
8. Stay home, if possible, whether or not you’re feeling well
At this point, If you can stay home, do it! Many companies are allowing workers to work remotely. If you are able to, it’s a good idea, as again, it limits your contact with others. If you do begin to feel sick, call your doctor.
9. Strengthen your immune system
You can strengthen your immune system by taking some simple measures like:
• Getting more sleep
• Eating healthier
• Staying hydrated
• Taking more vitamins, especially Vitamin D, Zinc, etc.
10. Stock up on supplies
Just in case you need to be quarantined at some point, you should stock up on supplies you’ll need: water, canned or frozen food, prescription medication. With that said, please be considerate of your neighbors and do not hoard food or other supplies.
