If you turn on the television, take a look at Social Media, or engage in conversation with a friend or co-worker, these days, it doesn’t take long for the topic of the Coronavirus to come up. Back in January, the virus remained confined to China with a mere 7,000 or so cases. But in the weeks and months that followed, the numbers multiplied as the virus spread worldwide, and a sort of hysteria ensued. But, to protect ourselves from getting the virus, we need to understand who the virus effects, how it spreads, and what to do to avoid it.

How the Corona Virus Spreads:

The COVID 19, which we referred to as the Coronavirus derived originally from bats. Though bats represent the natural host of the virus, it now spreads from human to human through the respiratory transmission. The spreads most commonly through the air from respiratory droplets. These droplets come from coughing, sneezing, and even breathing or talking to someone in proximity. It may take from two to fourteen days for symptoms to appear. The symptoms of the virus include cough, fever, shortness of breath, and muscle pain. Most of the people who get the virus will experience a mild case with manageable symptoms. They recover as they would with a common cold. Children especially recover quickly. The people at risk who may need hospitalization and may not recover from the virus include the elderly and people with underlying health conditions such as lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

How to Prevent the Virus:

Everyone needs to stay vigilant when it comes to fighting this highly contagious virus. If you don’t fall into the high-risk category, you do want to prevent spreading the virus onto the vulnerable. This highly infectious illness poses a problem with, for example, children and their grandparents. Consider the following procedures to keep you and your family safe.

• Wash your hands often. Make sure to wash them after taking public transportation, before and after eating, and after you blow your nose. You will want to wash your hands with hot water and soap. Soap and water prove more effective than hand sanitizer, wash your hands for twenty seconds minimally including all parts of the hand and under the nails.
• Use a clean tissue for every sneeze. If necessary, sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow.
• Use a clean tissue to open doors and turn off the tap.
• Wash your clothes, bedding, and towels in the warmest temperatures possible.
• Clean all touchable household surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom frequently. Use a household cleaner first and then go over the surface with a disinfectant that contains at least 70% alcohol. When disinfecting surfaces, the product must remain on the surface for at least 30 seconds before throwing them away. Use disposable gloves and throw them away after each use.

What to do if someone becomes ill:

• If someone in your office displays symptoms of the virus, they should go home to recover immediately. The office area should undergo a cleaning after anyone shows symptoms. Make sure workers do not share phones, headsets, or computers, if at all possible.
• If someone in your home becomes sick, keep them in a confined area, making sure they follow the personal hygiene suggestions.
• If you or someone in your household shows symptoms, get tested for the virus if the test shows positive quarantine yourself or the ill individual for as long as necessary.
• While caring for an infected individual, limit your exposure to others. Minimally, avoid shaking hands or other physical contact if the virus exists in your home.

Common sense and perseverance will help get the virus under control. For more information on how we will help you with your cleaning needs, please contact us here.