How To Prevent The Virus From Spreading
There are two ways to prevent the spread of infection:
Prevent yourself from getting sick and;
Prevent others from cathing the virus from you.
To prevent yourelf from getting sick:
Wash your hands often with soap and water (preferred) or use an alcohol/antiseptic-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and moyth if your hands aren’t clean.
Avoid close contact (within 6ft) with anyone who is sick.
Avoid crowded places such as sporting events, concerts, or large gatherings.
To keep your immune system strong, get plenty of rest, eat a balanced diet, and perform some type of exercise regularly.
To prevent others from catching the virus from you:
Stay home from work and away from public areas.
If you must leave the house for a medical visit, call your doctor in advance and wear a fask mask to protect others with whom you may come in contact.
Separate yourself from other people and animals in the home as much as possible. If in a separate bedrooom, close the door.
Cover your moth and nose with your elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you use a tissue, immediately dispose it and wash your hands afterwards.
Clean & disinfect surfaces you touch frequently.
Avoid sharing dishes, glasses, bedding, and other household items if you’re sick.
How Does It Spread?
There are two ways COVID-19 is spread:
- Person to person: the virus is thought ot spread mainly from person-to-person between people who are in close contact with one another. Droplets produce when an infected person coughs or sneezes can travel up 6 feet + away. These droplets can land in the mouths, noses, and could become inhaled into the lungs of people nearby.
- Contact with infected surfaces: droplets from an infected person can also land on surfaces or objects and could be transferred to the uninfected person.
It is estimated the virus can live on:
metal, glass and ceramics for up to 5 days
wood for 4 days
plastics for 2 to 3 days
cardboard for 24 hours
FAQS ABOUT CLEANING DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS.
Q: Can coronavirus droplets survive on clothing?
Scientists at Harvard found that the virus is more likely to survive on hard surfaces, like plastic and steel, than softer surfaces like fabric.
Experts suggest that you remove your shoes and change out of your work clothes to prevent outside germs from coming into your home.
Q: To combat the virus, what’s the best practice for doing laundry?
The CDC recommends washing your own clothes using the warmest appropriate water setting, making sure to dry them completely. They also suggest cleaning and disinfecting clothes hampers. Better yet, if possible, use a disposable bag to line the hamper.
When you are on the job, follow standard precautions for handling your client’s laundry. Wear disposable gloves. To reduce the chances of spreading the virus through the air, never shake dirty laundry. Be sure to remove your gloves properly and dispose after each use. Immediately wash your hands.
Q: Does it matter what type of soap I use to wash my hands?
Fortunately, no, the type of soap does not matter. Since COVID-19 is a virus the is no proven advantage to using anti-bacterial soap. The most important thing is to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds to disrupt the germs.
Q: I always have my cell phone with me when I care for clients. Do I need to clean it?
Yes, experts recommend that you clean your cell phone regularly. Since you can’t use soap and water on a phonte they recommend something like a disinfectant wipe or sparse amount of 70% alcohol. Clean all the whole phone and case but avoid the ports.
Do not use wipes that bleach. This will ruin your phone, especially if you do not have a screen protector installed.
Q: Is there a difference between cleaning and disinfecting?
Yes! Cleaning removes dirt and impurities and disrupts germs from surfaces. This lessens the risk of spreading the virus by reducing the germs. However, cleaning does not kill germs.
Disinfecting involves using chemicals to kill germs.
Clean first then disinfect.
Q: What products an i use to disinfect surfaces in my clients’ homes (or my own home)?
First, remember your standard precautions. Wear gloves while cleaning and disinfecting client areas. When you are finished, remove them properly, dispose of them, and wash your hands.
Use any store bought CDC-approved disinfectants. You can also use 70% alcohol or a diluted bleach solution.
STOP TOUCHING YOUR FACE!
Research shows that most of us touch our faces at least 16 times a day.
Why is that a problem?
Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal to touch your face 16 times a day. However, we are currently not living under normal cirmcustances. Think of your face as the onramp to your body. The mucous membranes on your face (eyes, nose, mouth) are super highways to your respiratroy system. If the virus is on your hands, it will surely take a ride to your lungs. It is that simple.
It is not a hard habit to break.
Most of us touch our faces throughout the day without even realizing it. We rub our tired eyets, scratch a tickle, or bite fingernails without much thought at all. How do you break a habit if you are unaware? Here are a few tips:
Pay close attention to your urge to touch your face. Becoming more aware of the habit is your first step to helping you break it.
Use pleasant scents as a reminder. If your hands are scented, it will help remind you when you are about to touch your face.
Keep tissue near you. If you can’t fight the urge, use a tissue when coughing or sneezing and avoid hand to face contact.