How to Prevent Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Frequent hand washing is the primary step to be followed by all during our fight against Covid-19. Wash your hands at regular intervals with soap or alcohol-based sanitiser to keep away from possible contact with the virus. Do take care to rub soap on every tip and corner of your hands for over 20 seconds. Our hands easily come in contact with infected surfaces, so it is crucial to keep them clean. If you are using a shared or public water tap, remember to turn the tap with a tissue paper to stop cross-contamination.
As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), people must wash hands:

• After coughing or sneezing
• If anyone caring for the sick
• Before or after preparing food
• Before eating and after eating
• After the use of toilet
• In the case of having dirty hands
• After handling animals or animal waste

People have the natural habit of touching their faces frequently. It is common that we unknowingly wipe our eyes, scratch our noses, or bite our nails several times in an hour. Coronavirus has created havoc all over the world. Hence, health officials have advised people to cut down on these habits as much as possible to prevent the spread of viruses. Viruses may remain for days on surfaces from desktops to doorknobs/handles. So, if our hands are not washed properly, and we continue to touch our face with the dirty hands, the risk of catching an infection rises as the virus may infect us through these entry points like eyes, nose, or ears. So, self-monitoring is essential and more effective to avoid such everyday habits to remain safe.

The situation of coronavirus is changing day by day. Social-distancing is one of the ways to avoid COVID-19. Practising social-distancing means to avoid crowded places and keep oneself aloof from socialising with friends or family during the coronavirus pandemic to help curve the spread. This simple act would be fruitful for the entire community to fight against COVID-19. Experts believe that at least six feet distance should be maintained with others to lessen the chance of transferring COVID-19.

• Work from home instead of an office
• Switching to online classes from attending classes in schools and colleges
• Keep in touch with family and friends through video conferencing
• Postpone conferences or meetings and take them online
• Don't be a part of a crowd in panic buying in front of grocery stores
• Don't leave your home unless an emergency comes up

Coughing into your elbow instead of your hands will stop the virus from spreading. This is because if the droplets infect the hands from the sneeze or cough, chances of people touching different surfaces and contaminating the places with the virus increases. Therefore, health experts are saying to cover your cough over your elbow to avoid the spread of Covid-19.

Stay at home doesn't mean holiday; instead, it is a precautionary measure to avoid the spread of coronavirus. Stay at home; stay alive. Under an emergency only, come out of your house but that too with a mask and disposable gloves. At home also, maintain the safe distance with the family members and never share your towels or other essential items like dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils or bedding with anyone. Frequently clean your tabletops, doorknobs, bathrooms fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, tables and so on with disinfectants. Wipe down the floor at regular intervals and remain healthy.

During the time of coronavirus, if you fall unwell, please do not self-medicate yourself. This is the time when one needs to take the utmost care of himself or herself and also be aware of health risks for others. Please consult your physician for health-related queries and click on this link for the helpline numbers set up by the government. Here is the link to the chatbot set up by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.