Okay, I know EVERYONE has heard of the horrid coronavirus. But, did you know this is not the first coronavirus to ever be in existence? Don’t believe me? Go grab the oldest bottle of Lysol you can find and look at the back of the container. Ahh ha! There is the proof! Lysol has been preventing the spread of Human coronavirus for years now. Wikipedia states coronaviruses as being a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. Coronaviruses were first discovered in the 60s actually. The first case being in chickens and two viruses were found in nasal cavities of human patients with the common cold that were subsequently human coronavirus 229E and human coronavirus OC43.
Now, let’s get into the logistics of how to keep this nasty strand away and preventing adding to the epidemic.
- Keep your distance! Seriously do I need to say more?
- NEVER cover your mouth or nose with your hands. Dracula maneuver works best unless your super cool and practice the old age mindset and happen to have a hanki in your pocket.
- Hand sanitizer….if you can get your hands on it. Cue the drum roll. In all seriousness if you can’t get ahold of hand sanitizer some true masterminds have figured out creative ways to make it at home…google it.
- Wash your hands. I feel this probably goes without saying but there are actually people out there who don’t know how to properly wash their hands…so without further ado I have kindly provided the step by step below to help y’all out, just in case.
Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands your hands like you just got done slicing jalapeños for a batch of nachos and you need to take your contacts out. That’s like 20 seconds of scrubbing y’all.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
- Disinfecting wipes. Don’t have some? Get some, or better yet ask your employer to get you some. Wipe it down like you just don’t care. But actually, you need to care. Do your part clean anything and everything you see.
- Avoid touching your face. I know, easier said than done. It is said people touch their faces about 23 times per hour! Touching your face with dirty hands can cause germs to take residence in mucous membranes therefore causing infection.
- Listen to your body and educate yourself. Symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. CDC advises individuals to seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening (e.g. difficulty breathing). BEFORE seeking care, call your healthcare provider and tell them you have or are being evaluated for COVID-19. Put on a facemask BEFORE entering the medical facility to prevent potential spread within the facility.
So, that about wraps it up. For more information go to www.cdc.gov/COVID19 or turn on any local news station. Avoid an aggravation, stop contamination!