COVID-19 Precautions for you and others

Fighting the COVID-19 pandemic is not a one man's job. Everyone has to be on the same page for containing the spread of novel coronavirus. Since there is no vaccine to prevent the disease, you should be aware of the ways Coronavirus spreads, to avoid getting infected.

How it spreads?

The novel Coronavirus is a communicable disease that spreads mainly through person-to-person contact. The virus can travel an estimated distance of 6-feet through respiratory droplets produced from coughs, sneezes or talks. Inhaling these droplets can cause both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases of COVID-19.

Currently, older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 illness.

Precautions for you and others around you

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Do it without fail if you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Use hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol content if soap and water are not readily available to disinfect your hands.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes frequently. It's something we do all the time without realising.
• Maintain social distancing, even when at home. Quarantine family members who show signs of the sickness and inform your local administration to get medical assistance at once.
• Remember, people infected with the virus may be asymptomatic, meaning they don't show any signs of being sick, so avoid handshakes and hugs, maintain 6-feet distance from others as much as possible.
• Do not gather in groups or go to places where mass gatherings happen. Avoid going to the places of religious worship for the time being.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a protective cloth or mask. Stick to homemade coverings as much as you can, don't buy surgical equipment as its needed by the healthcare workers.
• However, Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
• Always cover your coughs and sneezes. You can use the inside of your elbow to do that.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like tables, doorknobs, light switches, phones, keyboards, faucets etc. using soapy water.
• Stay alert to any symptoms of the illness such as dry cough, fever, or shortness of breath.
• Follow the government's and local administration's guidelines for COVID-19 containment.

There is no set timeframe for development of a COVID-19 vaccine at the moment. Social distancing and precautions for yourself and others are the only way to avoid the pandemic and stay healthy. So, make sure you are following every precaution mentioned above while going about your life and work during the lockdown and afterwards.