Chances are that you are also concerned about the coronavirus (COVID-19), especially if you know that there are cases of infection living or working in your area. The coronavirus is a family of potentially deadly viruses. The different types of coronavirus can cause respiratory diseases such as the flu and colds, but also more serious diseases such as SARS and the so-called Middle East respiratory syndrome, abbreviated MERS. In addition, it can produce new virus strains. An infection with the new coronavirus can make you seriously ill, but luckily there are several things you can do to protect yourself at home, on the road and in public areas. If you think you may be infected with the new coronavirus, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Protecting yourself from the coronavirus
Step 1. Get vaccinated
Get vaccinated if a vaccine is available to you. Several vaccines have been approved for use. Your eligibility for the vaccine depends on how old you are, whether you work in healthcare, and whether you have an underlying condition. Healthcare workers, residents of long-term care facilities, essential professions, and those with higher-risk medical conditions should receive the vaccine first.
- Four vaccines have been approved for use in the EU, namely Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen.
- It's unlikely you'll be able to choose which vaccine to get when you make an appointment, as supplies are limited. However, each vaccine has shown excellent protection against COVID-19 in studies and significantly reduces your chances of serious illness and hospitalization.
Step 2. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water to minimize the chance of getting infected with the virus
The best way to avoid getting infected with the coronavirus is to wash your hands as often as possible. Wet your hands with warm water and then apply some mild soap. Let the soap lather for 20-30 seconds, then rinse your hands under warm, running water.
In any case, always wash your hands before eating or drinking anything. It is also best to always wash your hands when you are in public somewhere or when you are around someone who may be infected and/or sick
Step 3. Do not put your hands near your eyes, nose and mouth
You may come into contact with the coronavirus through a doorknob, countertop, or other surface. If that happens, the germs can stick to your hands, making it very easy to infect yourself if you touch your face with your dirty hands. Try to touch your eyes, nose and mouth as little as possible, in case the virus is somewhere on your hands.
If you do have to touch your face, wash your hands first to reduce the risk of infecting yourself
Step 4. Stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing
The coronavirus causes an infection of the respiratory tract, so coughing and sneezing are common symptoms of infection. Coughing and sneezing also releases the virus into the air, which increases the risk of infecting others. Therefore, do not get too close to people who appear to have symptoms that indicate an upper respiratory infection.
If you think you can make it, ask if he or she can stay away from you. You might say, "I noticed you were coughing. I hope you feel better soon, but please keep your distance so I don't get sick too.'
Step 5. Every day, disinfect all surfaces that are often touched with a product that kills viruses
The coronavirus can attach itself to doorknobs, counters, faucets and other surfaces in the house. Clean all these surfaces daily with a spray disinfectant or disinfectant wipes. Make sure to keep the surface wet for about 10 minutes so that the cleaner effectively kills any viruses. This way you can limit the risk that the virus remains on the surfaces and infects you, your housemates or your visitors as much as possible.
- Disinfect your front door knob, all kitchen cupboards, the cupboards in the bathroom and the taps at home.
- At work, make sure that all surfaces that people often touch, such as doorknobs, banisters, tables and counters, are properly cleaned.
- You can also make your own disinfectant by mixing a quart of bleach with four liters of water.
Step 6. Always wear a disposable face mask in public
Because the coronavirus spreads through the air, it is possible that you inhale it. Therefore, cover your nose and mouth with a mouth cap, so that you run less risk of becoming infected with the virus. Always use a mouth cap only once. By using the same mask again, you increase the risk of infection.
- Always wash your hands after taking off your mask, in case you have contracted the coronavirus. If you take off the mask and then immediately touch your face, you can get sick if germs have landed on the mask and then on your hands.
- If you are at high risk of respiratory infections or other lung diseases such as asthma or COPD, a disease in which your lungs are damaged, and you are traveling abroad, always wear a disposable mask on the plane to prevent spreading the virus to counteract.
Step 7. Try not to worry too much if you're not at real risk
All kinds of myths about the coronavirus have spread through social media, sometimes causing unnecessary panic. It is advisable to check the sources you have used carefully before making a decision.
- For example, you do not have to assume that contact with someone from China will immediately make you ill. Recently, people from China and other parts of Asia are often discriminated against unnecessarily. While most of those people are just healthy and don't have the disease more often or spread more easily.
- There are also circulating lists of foods that you should avoid, which are not always accurate and often not based on facts. Check if it's really true by looking up some information yourself.
Method 2 of 3: Taking care of someone who is sick
Step 1. When caring for someone, wear personal protective equipment
Before caring for the sick person, put on disposable gloves, a face mask and paper overalls. After you leave the sick person's room, take off the protective clothing and put everything in a plastic garbage bag. Do not reuse used protective equipment, because the virus may now be present on the protective equipment.
The coronavirus spreads through the air and can attach to your clothes. Therefore, protect yourself as best you can
Step 2. Do not share household items and dishes with the infected person
The coronavirus can remain on objects such as cups, plates, kitchen utensils and towels. If someone in your home is sick, use separate items for each of your housemates to avoid passing the illness on to each other.
Don't take any chances! If in doubt, wash the item before use, or get another item
Step 3. Wash all laundry to disinfect it at the highest temperature
Clothing, bed linen and towels can contain the coronavirus, which is why it is important to wash them thoroughly. Set the washing machine to the hottest setting and measure the recommended amount of detergent for the size of the load. Then do the laundry on the normal or heavier setting, depending on the washing machine model.
If the fabric can handle it, add a full cap of bleach or color-safe bleach to sanitize the laundry
Step 4. Open a window to ventilate the room
Because the coronavirus is in the air, sharing a room with someone who is sick puts you at greater risk of infection. By properly ventilating the room, you can ensure that the air remains cleaner, which can significantly reduce the risk of contamination. Open a window or turn on the air conditioning.
Method 3 of 3: Know what to do if you think you're infected
Step 1. Contact your doctor if you think you may be infected
If you have symptoms that indicate a respiratory infection, you may be infected with the new coronavirus. Call the doctor and tell them what symptoms you have and ask if you should come and get tested for the virus. Your doctor may ask you to come to the practice for a lab test, but may advise you to stay at home to prevent the infection from spreading. Watch for the following symptoms:
- Cough
- A sore throat
- a runny nose
- Fever
- Headache
- Pain in your muscles and joints and fatigue
Tip:
When you go to the doctor's practice, always put on a mouth cap to prevent you from transferring the virus to people who have a reduced resistance. Tell your doctor if you experience new symptoms, such as a fever or difficulty breathing.
Step 2. Stay home if you have symptoms that indicate a respiratory infection
If you are ill, do not simply go to the doctor, but stay at home if necessary. You may be contagious, so you should avoid passing the virus on to others. Get as much rest as possible and give your body time to recover.
Put on a single-use mask when you go to the doctor. That way you prevent the germs from spreading. Keep your distance and wash your hands regularly
COVID-19 is characterized by fever, cough and shortness of breath. Other symptoms include congestion, runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Step 3. Cover your nose and mouth if you have to sneeze or cough
If you are infected with the new coronavirus, there is a good chance that you will have to sneeze and cough. Protect others from the virus by covering your mouth with a tissue or, if necessary, with your sleeve. That way you prevent further spreading the virus through the air.
Always keep a box of tissues handy. If you don't have a tissue or tissue paper handy, sneeze into the crook of your elbow
Tips
- Normally, the coronavirus has an incubation period of five days. So you probably won't notice the symptoms until a few days after you've been infected with the virus.
- If you have a high fever, cough or have difficulty breathing and have been in a place where several people have been in the past two weeks, or if you have been in contact with someone you think may be infected, tell the nurse. doctor so that he or she can determine whether you should also be tested.
Warnings
- A serious infection with the coronavirus can cause complications such as pneumonia. Therefore, always go to the doctor if the symptoms do not disappear or become less severe, if you suffer from shortness of breath.
- Despite rumors about this on social media, the Mexican Corona beer has nothing to do with the virus. The name is no more than a coincidence.
- Antibiotics only kill bacteria and not viruses. Antibiotics therefore do not protect you against the coronavirus. In addition, if you use them incorrectly, antibiotics can be harmful to your health. Therefore, only take antibiotics on the advice of the doctor, and follow his or her instructions as precisely as possible.