7 tips to stay safe as COVID-19 cases increase and cold climates increase risk

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As temperatures cool, people spend more time indoors. This increases the risk of spreading the coronavirus, but there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself and everyone around you.

It’s easy to get tired of wearing a mask and practicing social distance. The White House also talked about herd immunity. The idea is that if a sufficient number of people are infected, the virus will not spread.

However, the United States is not close to SARS-CoV-2 herd immunity and is estimated to reach when about 60% to 70% of the population, perhaps more than 200 million people, are infected. Without the vaccine, hospitals would be overwhelmed by illness and hundreds of thousands more would die. Also, I don’t know how long the immunity will last.

Protective measures are still essential, as approved vaccines are not yet widely used. As Dean of Nursing School, I recommend taking these 7 simple steps to protect yourself and your loved ones and reduce the COVID-19 epidemic.

1. Avoid congestion and keep some distance

Avoid 3 Cs – closed, crowded, close contact. This becomes more difficult as the seasons change and more activities move indoors.

When people sing, scream, and talk, they send small respiratory droplets into the air. Infected droplets can be transmitted if they enter the eyes, nose, or mouth. Six feet away is a good rule of thumb, but it doesn’t protect you from everything. The smallest of these droplets, known as aerosols, can remain in the air for hours.

The risk of getting COVID-19 increases in poorly ventilated areas where people spend a long time together in close proximity. Outbreaks are associated with restaurants, choir practice, fitness classes, nightclubs, and other places where people gather. However, there are still ways to exercise outdoors. Please go for a walk with your friends. Virtual events can also safely bring people together.

2. Please wear a face mask

Face masks can reduce the spread of the virus by stopping the droplets that people breathe and filtering some of what they breathe. These are especially important in crowded and poorly ventilated areas.

To wear the mask properly, start by cleaning your hands before putting on the mask and make sure the mask fits tightly on your nose, mouth and chin. When the mask does not cover your nose, you are giving the virus an easy route of infection.

If you wear a cloth mask, make sure you have at least two layers.

3. Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth

Your hands can touch many surfaces and pick up viruses. When contaminated, the hands can transfer the virus to the eyes, nose, or mouth. From there, the virus can infect you.

4. Wash your hands

You can control the spread of the virus just by washing your hands. Rub your hands regularly and thoroughly with alcohol-based hands for at least 20 seconds, or wash with soap and water. This eliminates bacteria such as viruses.

I also catch colds in autumn and winter. If you feel you need to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a bent elbow or tissue. Then immediately throw the used tissue into a closed jar and wash your hands. By following good “respiratory hygiene”, you can protect people around you from viruses such as colds, flu, and viruses that cause COVID-19.

5. Keep the surface clean

Clean and disinfect the surface of the house frequently. This is especially true for people who regularly touch door handles, faucets, telephone screens, etc.

6. Recognize symptoms

This pandemic continues to be a serious health threat until the United States obtains an approved vaccine with reliable immunity and uses it. Being able to recognize the symptoms of COVID-19 is important.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, dry cough, and malaise. Other symptoms that may affect some patients include loss of taste and smell, pain and pain, headache, sore throat, stuffy nose, red eyes, diarrhea, and skin rash.

Some of these symptoms overlap with the common cold, but it’s best to make a mistake in terms of safety. If you feel sick or have a fever and have difficulty breathing, contact your doctor or hospital for help. If the symptoms are not so severe, even if the symptoms appear mild, self-quarantine until they recover. For additional support, call your healthcare provider or visit the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus Self-Checker. If you need to leave the house, wear a face mask to prevent infection by others.

Keep COVID-19 information and risks from local and national health authorities up to date.

7. Be careful about your mental health

Remember to take care of your mental health and well-being during the stress and turmoil of the pandemic.

You can reduce social isolation by connecting with friends, loved ones, and communities via social media, phone, video, or text. Eating well, exercising daily, and getting enough sleep are important for good health and coping.

Be careful about making time to take care of yourself by engaging in activities that bring you joy. If you are stressed, don’t be afraid to ask for help or look for resources such as counseling and therapy. Practice positive self-talk by yelling phrases such as “this is temporary” or “this can be done”.

In reality, this virus is not needed. It remains to be seen what the long-term effects will be and whether post-infection immunity will persist. Even young people who get it and recover can experience continuous cognitive effects, malaise, and potentially heart and lung damage.

Look ahead and remember these important safety tips to find socially distant activities that will help you stay connected and secure.

This article has been republished from Conversation under a Creative Commons license.Read the original article here..

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