Precautionary measures to prevent COVID-19
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic broke down, the first and the most sought after thing everyone is waiting for, is the most suitable vaccine, in order to curb the spread of coronavirus. However, until the much-required vaccine breaks covers, the only solution to reduce the possibility of spreading of the virus is nothing but precaution from the same.
Following are the precautionary measures you must follow to make sure you are not susceptible by the coronavirus and its effects
1. Avoid places with crowded gathering – Direct contact with one or more people is directly proportional to the chances of spreading of the coronavirus. Keeping the principle of social distancing in mind, you must avoid going to or be at crowded places such as restaurants, parties, social gatherings and offices. Many workplaces too are adapting to or have already adapted to the concept of work-from-home in order to minimize the possibility of the proximity of people.
2. Maintain social distancing with people whom you meet – There are circumstances when you might feel the dire need to meet someone for some important discussions or for daily needs. In such a circumstance, you should maintain a safe distance of at least 6 feet. Minimum proximity to people you have a conversation with reduces the risk of transfer of the virus. Also, avoid physical greetings like handshakes and hugs for the same.
3. Wear face masks – Whenever you are stepping out of the home in order to meet someone or for some work, it is advisable to wear face mask all the time. Studies have already proven that wearing face masks reduces the possibility of transfer of coronavirus by at least 40-50%. With a mask on your face and maintaining optimum distancing with the people you have conversation with, the spread of virus gets limited to a great extent.
4. Wash your hands and face regularly – This might be a basic hygiene principle for a very long time now, but in recent times, this has become more of a necessity. It is advisable to wash your hands regularly with soap and water. Doing this might eradicate the virus which might be left there on your hands or contact points. If possible, try to wash your face often too.
5. Proper sanitization of contact points – In circumstances where you are unable to have access to soap and water, it is advisable to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your pocket or carry bag. Do sanitize your hands regularly, especially after you have been in physical contact with someone else or some other touchpoints like door handles, gadgets, components of the vehicle like a steering wheel and gear lever, etc.
6. Avoid touching your face with your hands – There is a strong possibility of spreading of coronavirus from your hands to your other body parts like nose, ears and eyes, once you touch your face with your hands. So, it is recommended to avoid touching your face unwantedly with your hands, and even if you do so, it is better to wash both your hands as well as face to minimize the possibility of getting the virus.
7. Isolate yourself if you get diagnosed of mild symptoms – The very first mild symptoms of COVID-19 are as common as that of a common flu or fever, like headache, sore throat, formation of cough and tiredness. If you get hold of any of these symptoms, instead of building up any kind of pre-conceived notion, get yourself tested and immediately isolate yourself from the rest of your family members or the people near you.
8. Cover your nose and mouth while sneezing/coughing – The fastest way of spreading off virus is from your nose and mouth, and in such a case, sneezing or coughing by a person affected from COVID-19 can be a dangerous situation. Whether you are affected or not, as a practice of regular hygiene, it is advisable to cover your nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing with the help of your handkerchief or hands. And once you are done sneezing or coughing, immediately sanitize your hands with the help of a sanitizer.
9. Have individual utensils or other essential items of your own – The phrase of ‘sharing is caring’ is definitely not acceptable in these COVID-19 times, at least when it comes to sharing of non-living things like of daily usage basis such as utensils or food. Try to have your own set of utensils like plate, bowl and spoon even within your family members.
So, until the much-awaited vaccine or reliable medicines hit the market, it is the soulful duty of each and every responsible citizen to follow the basic thought of ‘prevention is better than cure’, by simply following the aforementioned precautionary steps. In case of any emergency, kindly contact the pulmonary department of your nearest hospital.