Helping to stop the rapid spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) means taking a few measures to protect yourself on a personal level in order to also protect everyone else in the community. You've probably seen most of these tips numerous times at this point if you've been online or watched the news, but the reasoning behind everyone wearing face masks is newer.
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| Stop the Spread of Coronavirus Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay |
Wear a Facemask to Help Stop the Spread of Coronavirus
The CDC is now recommending that Americans wear face masks when going out in public to reduce the spread of coronavirus. It is currently optional, though some states have already made it mandatory.
“One of the [pieces of] information that we have pretty much confirmed now is that a significant number of individuals that are infected actually remain asymptomatic,” CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield told NPR on Tuesday.
That may be as many as 25 percent. That’s important, because now you have individuals that may not have any symptoms that can contribute to transmission, and we have learned that in fact they do contribute to transmission,” he added."
- Since medical professionals are facing a shortage of PPE, the best way to get a facemask is by making one or having someone you know make one or two for you.
- Another way is to order them on an auction site, such as eBay, where facilities like the Galion hospital, Avita, wouldn't be shopping for PPE anyway - if they were, by the way, they would find numerous boxes in quantities ranging from 50 to 500 and numerous styles and thicknesses of handcrafted masks.
No one is suggesting you run out and buy the masks that hospital workers need, and part of the CDC's hesitation to make this announcement falls back to the tendency people have to hoard and panic-buy. So, don't go buy masks from a hospital supplier - but do make one or find someone to make one for you.
Homemade ones are more stylish and visually appealing anyway - no reason you can't look good while protecting yourself and everyone else from COVID-19.
If you use a homemade cotton mask. clean it properly after each use. Sanitize it by laundering and steaming or hot-ironing it. If you use disposable masks, remove them properly and dispose of them so nothing and no one else can touch them. Wash hands carefully after removing masks.
Never share masks that have been worn with someone else - to avoid the spread of contagions.You may have also heard that surgical masks and homemade face masks don't protect the person wearing them, only others around the wearer - however - common sense dictates that isn't 100 percent factual. If they did nothing to protect the wearer, hospital workers wouldn't wear them to protect themselves, and the FDA agrees, though note that the protection isn't complete.
While the main point of wearing surgical-style masks, including homemade face masks, is to protect others from anything contagious you may be carrying, such as coronavirus, they do also offer the wearer some protection, according to the FDA,
"If worn properly, a surgical mask is meant to help block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter that may contain germs (viruses and bacteria), keeping it from reaching your mouth and nose. Surgical masks may also help reduce exposure of your saliva and respiratory secretions to others."So, if you're wearing a mask and someone sneezes or coughs nearby, you're safer than you would be without a face mask.
Protect Yourself and Others From COVID-19 by Keeping Your Distance
I'm so sick of the phrase social distancing - I hate to even use it; however, what they call it is irrelevant. COVID-19 spreads through the air around an infected person for several feet.
Honestly, I doubt the six-foot rule that's currently in play is enough, based on an interview I read where the doctor being interviewed said spittle from sneezing and coughing goes out about 10 feet before falling downward - and from an episode of Myth Busters I watched long ago - but no one asked me.
So, keep your distance from others when you go out for food and necessities to protect others and yourself.
Wash Your Hands a Lot
We've all been hearing how important it is to wash your hands since we were kids. Well, it's more important than ever now that we're facing down a highly contagious pandemic virus.
Any time you touch anything that another person has touched or breathed on, make time to wash up - oh - and don't touch your face. That's surprisingly hard, but the good news is, wearing a mask can help remind you by making you aware when you reach up to touch your face.
Use Hand Sanitizer and Wipe Off Shopping Carts
Hand washing is best, but when you can't get to soap and water, hand sanitizer can help protect you.
Wiping off shopping cart handles can also offer some protection from a frequently touched germ-spreader. It's a really good idea to tuck an alcohol-based wet-wipe in a plastic sandwich bag to take with you when you have to go to the store - in case the store you visit doesn't provide wipes or have someone wiping carts off for you,
Basically, you need to do a few common sense things to protect yourself and others from the risk of coronavirus. when you're out and about in Galion and the surrounding communities.
Thanks for reading, and be safe when you're out and about in the community. Also, be kind. This is an unusual time and everyone, not just you, is under more stress than normal, so a little extra kindness can go a long way.
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