The spread of viruses is a common topic we hear in many conversations, especially now with the ongoing pandemic. Viral outbreaks are some of the most frightening things that we don’t frequently experience.
While there have been worse cases of viral infections before, it’s still important to take ample precautions and aid in flattening the curve. Here are some things you can do to help prevent spreading viruses:
1. Always disinfect
Bring a disinfectant with you when going out, especially if you’re off to high-traffic areas. Many kinds of viruses can stick to different surfaces and live there for a long time. As soon as you find yourself touching these surfaces, disinfect your hands. Similarly, spray the surfaces you touch with the disinfectant. You also want to clean doorknobs, handles, countertops, and anything else you frequently touch in the office or at home.
2. Regularly wash your hands
Washing our hands might be too repetitive to hear, but that’s because it’s extremely important to do it regularly. It should also be done thoroughly. Disinfecting with alcohol is only a band-aid solution to keeping viruses away from our hands. Washing our hands ensures that the viruses and germs are washed down the sink. However, hand washing shouldn’t be rushed, or it would end up ineffective.
The proper steps to handwashing are as follows:
- Wet your hands with water
- Apply hand soap
- Scrub your palms, backs of your hands, fingers, and nails
- Do this for 20 seconds minimum
- Rinse all the areas thoroughly and dry them with a cloth or hand towel
Handwashing for 20 seconds applies an adequate amount of friction to your hands, ensuring that any microorganisms that have stuck on your hands are removed and get washed away.
3. Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing
A sneeze is a primary spreader of viruses and germs. Even tiny droplets of saliva are enough to spread the virus to other people. For this reason, you must keep your mouth covered, especially when coughing or sneezing. Use a piece of cloth or handkerchief to aid in filtering not only what you sneeze or cough but also what you breathe in.
If you don’t have a cloth with you, you can use wipes or tissues to serve as a cover. However, you need to throw the tissue away as soon as you use it. Lastly, if you still have nothing else to cover your mouth, you can use the sleeve on your shirt and cough or sneeze onto the crook of your elbow.
4. Keep a safe distance from other people
Social distancing means you stay away from other people in attempts to prevent catching the virus and spreading it. By keeping a safe distance from people, you minimize the chances of transmitting the virus one person to another.
Conclusion
This is a critical time to do what you can to stop the virus from further spreading until a legal, scientific solution is discovered. In the meantime, if you experience any symptoms or start feeling extremely sick, consult the health experts immediately.
Our top-of-the-line facilities and health experts enable us to provide the best immediate care services in New Jersey. Contact us today if you start feeling ill and let us help!
