Basic Preventive Measures Against Coronavirus (COVID-19)

🛡️ Basic Preventive Measures Against Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Be sure to follow the latest updates about the COVID-19 outbreak on the World Health Organization website and through local and national public health authorities. While COVID-19 infection is still mainly widespread in China, there are some outbreak hotspots in other countries. Most people who become infected experience mild symptoms and recover, but symptoms may be more severe in others. Be sure to take care of your health and protect others through the following measures:

🧼 Wash your hands regularly

Why? Cleaning your hands with soap and water or rubbing them with an alcohol-based sanitizer will kill any viruses that may be on your hands.

🫁 Maintain respiratory hygiene practices

Be sure to cover your mouth and nose with the bend of your elbow or with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then dispose of the tissue immediately by throwing it into a closed trash bin and clean your hands with an alcohol-based sanitizer or with soap and water.

Why? Covering your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze prevents the spread of germs and viruses. But if you cover your mouth and nose with your hand while sneezing and coughing, you may spread germs to everything you touch, including objects and people.

Avoid getting too close to people

Why? When a person coughs or sneezes, small liquid droplets containing the virus may scatter from the nose or mouth. If you are very close to them, you can breathe in these droplets, including the virus that causes COVID-19 if the person is infected.

🚫 Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. If hands become contaminated, they can transfer the virus to the eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus can enter the body through these openings and make you sick.

If you have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice immediately, as you may have a respiratory infection or another serious medical condition. Call before going to a care provider and tell them if you have recently traveled or been in contact with any travelers.

Why? Contacting your care provider in advance will allow them to quickly direct you to the appropriate health care facility. It will also help prevent any possible spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 and other viruses.

📢 Follow updates and advice from health care providers

Be sure to follow the latest updates about COVID-19. Follow the advice given to you by your health care provider and that issued by local and national public health authorities or by your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 infection.

Why? Because local and national authorities have the latest information on whether COVID-19 infection has already spread in your area, and they are best placed to advise people in your area on what they should do to protect themselves.

🧳 Protective measures for people who are in areas where COVID-19 infection is spreading or who have recently visited them (within the last 14 days)

• Follow the guidance outlined above

• If you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache, low-grade fever (37.3 degrees Celsius or more), and a mild runny nose, isolate yourself by staying at home until you recover completely. If you need someone to bring you the supplies you need or are forced to go out to buy food, for example, wear a mask to avoid passing the infection to other people.

Why? Avoiding contact with others and visiting medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively, and will help protect you and others from the virus that causes COVID-19 and other viruses.

• If you have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice immediately, as you may have a respiratory infection or another serious medical condition. Call before going to a care provider and tell them if you have recently traveled or been in contact with any travelers.

Why? Contacting your care provider in advance will allow them to quickly direct you to the appropriate health care facility. It will also help prevent any possible spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 and other viruses.

❓ Ask the World Health Organization