how to protect yourself against covid-19?

What are the main rules during pandemic?

COVID-19 is an infectious disease newly discovered coronavirus. Coronavirus is spreading very fast all over the world. Almost in all countries, there are several cases. More than 3.4 million cases with more than 230.000 deaths are found worldwide. Most affected countries are the USA, Spain, Italy, UK, and France.

Protection rules became the most popular topic of discussion. There are several ways in which you can protect yourself against COVID-19. Here I want to share the most important ones. Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Learn when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy.

Wash your hands frequently.

Handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. Learn when and how you should wash your hands to stay healthy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, you should also clean hands:

• After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens, etc.

• Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth because that’s how germs enter our bodies.

Five steps washing:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Maintain social distancing.

Limiting face-to-face contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Social distancing also called “physical distancing,” means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home. To practice social or physical distancing:

• Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people

• Do not gather in groups

• Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings

Why social distancing?

COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within about 6 feet) for a prolonged period. Spread happens when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and droplets from their mouth or nose are launched into the air and land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The droplets can also be inhaled into the lungs. Recent studies indicate that people who are infected but do not have symptoms likely also play a role in the spread of COVID-19.

Avoid touching your face.

To help prevent infections, keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. Why? Touching the mucous membranes on your face with your dirty hands allows germs that cause respiratory infections to enter the body.

Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands if soap and water are not available.

Doctors recommend washing hands with soap and water whenever possible because handwashing reduces the amounts of all types of germs and chemicals on hands. But if soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of microbes on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.

• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Stay home and stay informed.

The best way to stop the spread is staying home. If it's unnecessary don't go out of your home.

Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.