Top ways to protect your home from Corona Virus

Experts say, “It takes 21 days to cultivate a new habit. Once you start repeating a routine every day for 3 weeks, it becomes a habit.”  This quarantine period of 21 days in India, will help you adapt hygienic ways to keep yourself safe from the COVID-19 if you follow the WHO recommendations of safe practices.

What is Corona Virus?

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.

Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.  Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently and not touching your face. 

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).

At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. 

Keeping your surroundings clean can reduce your chances of coming in contact with the virus.

• Disinfect the surfaces:

 

Cleaning frequently touched surfaces with a disinfectant and disposable wipes is a basic sanitizing measure to prevent the virus from spreading. If there are infants and children or elderly people in the house, it is suggested you take extra care.

 

Take particular care of kitchen surfaces and bathrooms, if someone exhibits symptoms of COVID-19. Keep them in isolation and consult a medical professional immediately. However, there is a risk of the virus being spread by those who are asymptomatic.

 

Disinfecting regularly touched items like smartphones, grocery bags, is essential. When you go out, watch where you are putting your cell phone. Keeping the things you take out like keys, masks, gloves, bags, etc in a separate basket and disinfecting them as soon as you return is a way to prevent any residual virus from entering the house.

Clean your car or two-wheelers after you return from outside and disinfect the handles, steering, seat covers, etc. regularly.

 

Disinfect the frequently touched surfaces stairs, doorknobs, car doors, gate latches, etc. that are at risk of being touched by paper-boys, milk-man, housemaids, etc.

 

Common household items like soap, baking soda, turmeric, lemon, etc. can be used as disinfectants. Lab manufactured sanitizers, wet napkins, rubbing alcohol, etc. are other alternatives.

 

• Waste Disposal:

Dispose of waste in your usual garbage bin and wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after it.

Use separate bins for wet and dry waste.

 

It is also advisable to use bins with a lid on top to avoid the accumulation of insects like mosquitoes and houseflies.

 

• Personal Hygiene:

 

Wash your clothes in hot water after coming back home, if you’re running essential errands.

 

Wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds and take a hot shower to avoid infections.

 

Stay away from the kids or elderly people for a safe time after you come back from the office/market.

 

Maintain a safe distance of 1 m or 3 ft when you go out to the market or medical stores.

If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with the suspected 2019-nCoV infection. Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing. Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.

Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

There are some myths that are being rumored around; this may cause you some discomfort and stress. To avoid stress and fear, here are some remedies as recommended by the WHO:

• Seeking information from reliable sources and reducing the time spent consuming news (1-2 times per day, rather than every hour).
• Seeking support from family and friends via phone, email, text, etc.
• Trying to maintain daily routines and make time for physical activity and sleep.
• Using relaxation exercises (e.g. slow breathing, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and grounding exercises) to relieve stressful thoughts and feelings.
• Engaging in activities that in the past have helped with managing adversity.

 

Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others.

 

Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow the advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.