The coronavirus (COVID-19), which originated in Wuhan, China, is quickly becoming a pandemic as it spreads to many other countries. An American expert recommended 10 protective measures for you and your family to follow to guard against the virus.
Laurie Garrett, a science journalist, author, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism in 1996, has experienced 30 disease outbreaks. With her vast experience, she recommends.
10 protective measures to guard against the coronavirus
1. Wear hand gloves to protect against the coronavirus
Wear hand gloves when going out and do not remove them in public.
2. Wash your hands to avoid the coronavirus
If you need to take off your gloves, do not touch your face or eyes with dirty hands. Wash your hands with soap and warm water before putting your gloves back on again.
3. Change gloves daily to protect against the coronavirus
Change gloves daily and wash them thoroughly. Do not wear wet gloves.
4. Wear a face mask to avoid catching or spreading the coronavirus
Face masks, such as the N95 type, must cover the mouth and nose tightly and cannot be reused. Do not remove the mask with dirty hands and put it on again. Keep a distance of about half a meter (or 1.6 feet) when talking to others. If the other person coughs, sneezes, and refuses to wear a mask, keep a distance of one meter (or about 3 feet) or leave. Avoid shaking hands or hugging during the epidemic period.
5. Have your own towel
Each family member should have their own towels. Do not touch others’ towels. Change and clean towels twice a week.
6. Wash your hands after touching door handles to prevent getting the coronavirus
Pay special attention to door handles. You can use your elbow, shoulder, or gloves to open a door, or if you have to use your hands, wash them immediately after opening the door. Wash your hands immediately after touching others’ belongings. Do not touch your face with dirty hands.
7. Don’t share dishes or utensils to protect against catching the coronavirus
When sharing dishes with others, use sharing chopsticks for picking up food only. Do not eat and drink from other people’s tableware. Wash tableware and cookware before and after meals. Do not go to unsanitary restaurants.
8. Do not eat raw meat to protect against getting the coronavirus
While the source of the virus is still not fully understood, do not buy and slaughter live animals or eat raw meat including raw fish.
9. Close windows if the weather is cold and damp to prevent getting the coronavirus
If the weather is nice, open a window to let air circulate, but if the weather is cold and damp, it is advisable to close the window.
10. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and a mask to prevent catching the coronavirus
When taking care of relatives and friends who have a fever; wear long sleeves and long pants; make sure to wear a tight-fitting mask and the patient should wear a mask as well. Wear latex gloves when touching patients. The disposable items used by the patient should be sealed and thrown into a trash can, and all the other items need to be washed with hot soapy water.
Translated by Chua BC and edited by Angela
