Although the virus is new and unknown, various health authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Health Services Executive (HSE) offer a series of suggestions to prevent contracting COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus.
Here is 5 tips to help prevent the spread of this new virus.
1) Wash your hand frequently
Like with the common cold, it is necessary to wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with water and soap. If there is no water and soap at hand, use a hand sanitiser with a proportion of at least 60% alcohol. Always wash your hands after coughing or sneezing, after toilet use, before eating, before and after preparing food, if you are in contact with a sick person, especially those with respiratory symptoms, if your hands are dirty and if you have handled animals or animal.
2) Cover your mouth with your elbow or a tissue
If you sneeze or cough, it is best to do so into a tissue and then throw that tissue away immediately into a bin and wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue, it is better to sneeze or cough into your elbow instead of your hand to avoid carrying those germs to other surfaces that you might touch later.
3) Face masks
Masks are a tool for sick individuals to prevent spreading their sickness to others via their cough or sneeze. Use them if you are in close contact with someone who has or may have coronavirus. Do not use a face mask if you feel well and do not have symptoms – there’s no evidence that using masks is of any benefit if you are not sick.
4) If you are feeling unwell
If you have been to one of the places where there is a spread of coronavirus and you are not feeling well, check if you have symptoms of coronavirus: a cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, fever (high temperature).
If you do have symptoms of coronavirus, phone your GP or local emergency department without delay. Do not go to your GP or Emergency Department. Phone them first.
If you do not have a GP, phone 112 or 999. Tell them about your symptoms. Give them the details about your situation. Avoid contact with other people by self-isolating.
5) Prevent your child from catching or spreading viral infections
Children can pick up viral infections such as cold and flu more easily than adults. This is because their immune system is still developing.
To help prevent your child from catching or spreading a virus, teach them:
- How to wash their hands properly and regularly.
- To always carry tissues and cover their mouth and nose with a tissue if they are coughing or sneezing.
- To cough or sneeze into their bent elbow and then wash their hands, if they don’t have a tissue.
- To bin used tissues, then wash their hands.
- Not to share water bottles, cups, glasses or anything else they put into your mouth.
- Not to touch their eyes or nose when unwell.
- To avoid close contact with anyone who you know has cold or flu symptoms.
- Some parents teach older children to ‘dab’ when they sneeze. Dabbing is a dance move in which a child drops their head into their bent elbow. This can be a fun way for your child to learn good hygiene when sneezing.
In our virus prevention workshops children learn about viruses and bacteria. We teach them how they are spread and how important it is to have good hygiene in order to prevent catching them. Contact us today to book a virus prevention workshop for your school, workplace and or community group.