Couldn't find what you looking for?

TRY OUR SEARCH!

Are You Really Doing Everything You Can To Protect Yourself Against COVID-19?

by — Last updated: 2020-06-09 in Healthy Living

Scared of COVID-19? Don't panic — prevent and prepare, instead. Here's what everyone should know about common-sense steps to protect themselves.

COVID-19 has taken the world by storm — and we're all tired of the coronavirus dominating our lives. As many countries are slowly — or quickly — opening up again, we have all seen people who've declared the pandemic over and now proudly refuse to practice social distancing or wear a face covering. 

COVID-19 is still with us, however, and the time for taking common-sense preventative measures that will lower your risk of catching a coronavirus infection and help you prepare if you do catch the coronavirus has not passed in any way. 

Are you truly doing everything you can to protect yourself against COVID-19?

Wash your hands to reduce your risk of COVID-19 (No, really!)

Almost everyone knows that hand hygiene is important. Most people are aware that washing their hands often can significantly slash their risk of ending up with a respiratory infection, including COVID-19 — and most make a bit of an effort to wash their hands, too. It may still not be good enough, as research also shows that only five percent of people not only washed their hands after using a public restroom, but actually did so correctly, prior to the advent of the coronavirus at least. 

So, in light of the fact that you really don't want to be infected with the novel coronavirus and you may well be among the majority of people who washes their hands, but not properly, here's a refresher:

  • To correctly wash your hands with soap and water, wet them with running water, turn the tap off, soap up and scrub all over for 20 seconds, rinse your hands, and dry them with a clean towel or air dryer.
  • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60 or 70 percent alcohol. Using strong hand sanitizers has been shown to reduce the risk of transmission of other coronaviruses, but not much is known about how effective it is in the fight against COVID-19 yet. Still, to use hand sanitizer properly, apply the correct amount (according to manufacturer instructions) to your palm, rub it all over your hands, and keep rubbing until your hands are dry. 
  • The CDC advises hand hygiene before eating and preparing food, if you've been to the bathroom or helped someone else with toileting needs, after throwing away trash, after handling pets and their food, and of course after sneezing, coughing, handling a cut or wound, or caring for a sick person. If you want to stay extra safe, consider also washing your hands after spending time in public spaces, where it is possible you could pick COVID-19 and other pathogens up from contaminated surfaces. 
  • Frequent hand washing makes your skin dry really quickly — strongly consider using a good hand cream, as well.

Don't touch your face if you don't want COVID-19

You may not even realize you're doing it, but if you're anything like just about everyone else, you are. Research reveals that most people touch their face about 15 to 16 times per hour — and this is a great way to get any pathogens on your (maybe not recently washed) hands get into your face, nose, and eyes, and in turn earn yourself a full-blown infection. 

Folks touch their face for obvious practical reasons like scratching an itch, fixing their makeup, or removing a piece of dirt, but also, research shows, to help them regulate their emotions and cognitive processes. Touching your face is so natural that it's very hard to stop — but doing your very best to avoid touching your face with potentially-contaminated hands will help reduce your risk of catching COVID-19 as well as numerous other respiratory infections. 

So, how do you keep your hands off your face? Here are some tips:

  • Wearing a facemask — whether surgical or cloth — offers a constant reminder to refrain from touching your face, as well as a physical barrier. Remember, though, that it's not good to touch medical masks with your dirty hands, either. As the COVID-19 pandemic dragged on and we have gotten used to seeing people with facemasks, I'm sure we have all witnessed folks constantly touching their masks, readjusting them or even taking them off and putting them back on. Avoid this.
  • If touching your face serves as a kind of "fidget" for you, one that helps you think, try getting an actual fidget toy instead. This could be a fidget spinner, an infinity cube, or anything else. Just make sure to disinfect fidget toys regularly as well. 
  • Ask the people around you to let you know if they catch you touching your face. 
  • If you have long hair, keep it tied up so you don't have to touch your face to get bothersome stray hair out of it. 
  • People who wear makeup might pile it on a bit thicker — knowing it's there may keep you from touching your face because you don't want to mess it up or get it on your hands.
  • You could also try using a hand cream (good anyway, since all that frequent hand hygiene can make your skin dry) with a scent you don't particularly enjoy. When you bring your hands up to your face, the smell may deter you. 

Should you wear a mask to protect yourself against COVID-19?

We have all read the contradictory advice on wearing facemasks and grappled with it as the coronavirus pandemic invaded our lives. Professional organizations in many countries have changed their tune with time.

The World Health Organization recommended, for the longest time, that you use a mask if, and only if:

  • You are coughing or sneezing. 
  • You are healthy but taking care of someone who is suspected of having COVID-19 (though they don't say so, we assume this holds true for confirmed cases as well). 

The CDC, too, recommended against the use of surgical masks outside of healthcare settings. Instead, they advise people to take preventative measures like staying away from sick people, washing your hands frequently, and coughing and sneezing safely, into a tissue. If you are showing symptoms, you need to stay away from people as much as possible and seek medical advice. 

There were concerns that the wearing of surgical masks in the fight against COVID-19 had some serious potential drawbacks:

  • Given the fact that global shortages have been reported, you may contribute to further shortages by wearing masks. 
  • If you don't use them properly, they could do more harm than good. 
  • Wearing a mask may even instill a false sense of security.
  • Some masks actually make it harder to breathe for people who have chronic respiratory conditions.  

As time has gone on, the CDC is recommending that everyone wear a cloth face covering whenever they leave their homes. Even the World Health Organization, which stood alone in refraining from recommending masks for longer than many others, is currently strongly advising wearing cloth masks in settings where physical distancing is not possible. This would include shops and public transport.

What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms

A fever, cough, and difficulty breathing aren't specific to the novel coronavirus — so don't panic if you come down with these non-specific symptoms that could also point to COVID-19, but do take the situation seriously. 

By now, most of us know the drill. People with symptoms who suspect they have been exposed to COVID-19  are typically advised to:

  • Stay home and self-isolate, unless it is to get medical attention — if you're going to the doctor, call ahead and don't just show up. 
  • Separate yourself from other people and animals in your home — use a separate area, and if possible a different bathroom. Don't share towels, bedding, or anything else. 
  • Wear a mask and wash your hands before interacting with anyone. 
  • Clean frequently-touched surfaces every day.

Preparing for infection and quarantine

COVID-19 infected people who don't need to be hospitalized must stay home to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and prevent a second spike in cases. Think ahead about what you'd need if you were to get COVID-19. Strongly consider buying at least a few weeks' of supplies of non-perishable and frozen foods, as well as essential care items, so you aren't forced to go out and can minimize the risk of people who might otherwise have to bring you food getting infected.

(Still) consider staying away from crowded places as much as possible to fight COVID-19

You know that people who will leave their homes and walk around even when they have symptoms are among us, along with those who don't yet have COVID-19 symptoms because they're in the incubation period (two days to two weeks, roughly) and don't have a clue they were infected. 

Even as lockdowns are ending in many places and the world is filled with people who simply can't wait to go out and return to normal, right now is not the greatest time to go to concerts, busy shopping malls, or other places with big crowds that you could easily miss out on without a great loss to your quality of life. 

If you're in an area that still has multiple or many coronavirus cases, it may also be wise to keep on postponing routine medical and dental checkups to a later date — not only could visiting a hospital or clinic pose a transmission risk, you may also be further overwhelming already overworked medical staff. 

  • Photo courtesy of SteadyHealth