Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention: 12 Tips and Strategies<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The new coronavirus is officially called SARS-CoV-2, which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. An infection with this virus can lead to coronavirus disease 19, or COVID-19<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SARS-CoV-2 is related to the coronavirus SARS-CoV, which caused another kind of coronavirus disease in 2002 to 2003.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, from what we know so far, SARS-CoV-2 is different from other viruses, including other coronaviruses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 may be transmitted more easily and cause life-threatening illness in some people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like other coronaviruses, it can survive in the air and on surfaces<\/a> long enough for someone to contract it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s possible that you could acquire SARS-CoV-2 if you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes after touching a surface or object that has the virus on it. However, this is not thought<\/a> to be the main way that the virus spreads<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, SARS-CoV-2 multiplies faster in the body even when you don\u2019t have symptoms. Additionally, you can transmit the virus even if you never get symptoms at all. Some people have mild to moderate symptoms only, while others have severe COVID-19 symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Advices for prevention<\/u><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow the guidelines to help protect yourself from contracting and transmitting SARS-CoV-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Wash your hands frequently and carefully<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Use warm water and soap and rub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Work the lather to your wrists, between your fingers, and under your fingernails. You can also use an antibacterial and antiviral soap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use hand sanitizer when you cannot wash your hands<\/a> properly. Rewash your hands several times a day, especially after touching anything, including your phone or laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Avoid touching your face<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n SARS-CoV-2 can live on some surfaces for up to 72 hours. You can get the virus on your hands if you touch a surface like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid touching any part of your face or head, including your mouth, nose, and eyes. Also avoid biting your fingernails. This can give SARS-CoV-2 a chance to go from your hands into your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Stop shaking hands and hugging people \u2014 for now<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, avoid touching other people. Skin-to-skin contact can transmit SARS-CoV-2 from one person to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Don\u2019t share personal items<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Do not share personal items like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also important not to share eating utensils and straws. Teach children to recognize their reusable cup, straw, and other dishes for their own use only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n SARS-CoV-2 is found in high amounts in the nose and mouth. This means it can be carried by air droplets to other people when you cough, sneeze, or talk. It can also land on hard surfaces and stay there for up to 3 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use a tissue or sneeze into your elbow to keep your hands as clean as possible. Wash your hands carefully after you sneeze or cough, regardless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Clean and disinfect surfaces<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Use alcohol-based disinfectants to clean hard surfaces in your home like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, clean your phone<\/a>, laptop, and anything else you use regularly several times a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disinfect areas after you bring groceries or packages into your home<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide solutions for general cleaning in between disinfecting surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Take physical (social) distancing seriously<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re carrying the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it\u2019ll be found in high amounts in your spit (sputum). This can happen even if you don\u2019t have symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Physical (social) distancing<\/a>, also means staying home and working remotely when possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you must go out for necessities, keep a distance of 6 feet (2 m) from other people. You can transmit the virus by speaking to someone in close contact to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. Do not gather in groups<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Being in a group or gathering makes it more likely that you\u2019ll be in close contact with someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This includes avoiding all religious places of worship, as you may have to sit or stand too close to another congregant. It also includes not congregating at parks or beaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9. Avoid eating or drinking in public places<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now is not the time to go out to eat. This means avoiding restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and other eateries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The virus can be transmitted through food, utensils, dishes, and cups. It may also be temporarily airborne from other people in the venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can still get delivery or takeaway food. Choose foods that are thoroughly cooked and can be reheated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n High heat (at least 132\u00b0F\/56\u00b0C<\/a>, according to one recent, not-yet-peer-reviewed lab study) helps to kill coronaviruses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means it may be best to avoid cold foods from restaurants and all food from buffets and open salad bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10. Wash fresh groceries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wash all produce under running water before eating or preparing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CDCTrusted Source<\/a> and the FDATrusted Source<\/a> do not recommend using soap, detergent, or commercial produce wash on things like fruits and vegetables. Be sure to wash hands before and after handling these items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11. Wear a (homemade) mask<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends Trusted Source<\/a> that almost everyone wears a cloth face mask in public settings where physical distancing may be difficult, such as grocery stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When used correctly, these masks can help prevent people who are asymptomatic or undiagnosed from transmitting SARS-CoV-2 when they breathe, talk, sneeze, or cough. This, in turn, slows the transmission of the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CDC\u2019s website provides instructions Trusted Source<\/a> for making your own mask at home, using basic materials such as a T-shirt and scissors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some pointers to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12. Self-quarantine if sick<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Call your doctor if you have any symptoms<\/a>. Stay home until you recover. Avoid sitting, sleeping, or eating with your loved ones even if you live in the same home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wear a mask and wash your hands as much as possible. If you need urgent medical care, wear a mask and let them know you may have COVID-19.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention: 12 Tips and Strategies The new coronavirus is officially called SARS-CoV-2, which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. An infection with this virus can lead to coronavirus disease 19, or COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 is related to the Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dstc.edu.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/552"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dstc.edu.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dstc.edu.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dstc.edu.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dstc.edu.et\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=552"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dstc.edu.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":554,"href":"https:\/\/dstc.edu.et\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/552\/revisions\/554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dstc.edu.et\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dstc.edu.et\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dstc.edu.et\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}