Symptoms and Advice for Avoiding COVID-19 (the Novel Coronavirus)

4/1/2020 (Permalink)

It's Important to be informed, but not alarmed.

With so much information being shared on the internet (both correct and incorrect) we wanted to make sure that our community in Wood, Ritchie & Pleasants Counties were reading the correct information about COVID-19.

Our information is gathered through only validated sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO).

Information helps our community and it is important that you (and us) keep informed by the proper authorities.

So here are the best practices we can do to minimise the chance of catching Coronavirus, according to WHO. (Please note that this doesn’t not 100% guarantee not getting COVID-19, but these practices will help reduce the likelihood).

Best Practices:

1. Sterilize your hands before and after touching surfaces when outside of your home. COVID-19 is spread through droplets from an infected person. Droplets come from coughing, sneezing or even exhaling onto someone. These droplets can fall onto surfaces such as doorhandles, counter tops, pens or any other surface. It is believed by the CDC that the virus can live on this surface from anywhere between 3 to 9 days (more information is being collected daily as the CDC do more testing). Therefore it is important to use an alcohol-based sanitiser (70% or more is ideal) and thoroughly clean your hands.
2. Wash your hands with hot, soapy water when entering and exiting your home. It is important to do this method when at home to keep it different to just sanitising your hands. This will keep the sanitisation different so that the virus is not able to adapt.
3. Avoid touching your face (particularly your mouth, nose and eyes) COVID-19 is a respiratory virus. This means that it sits in your throat until it moves down to your lungs. Therefore it is important to avoid transporting the virus from your hands to your face. If you have an itch that needs to go, try itching your face with the inside of your shirt if possible.
4. Avoid close contact with people (social distancing) Social distancing is important because that extra space makes it harder for the COVID-19 virus to travel to you.
5. When coughing or sneezing use the inside of your elbow. We use our hands for everything, from catching a cough or sneeze to grabbing everything. By sneezing or coughing into your arm it will significantly minimise the chance of it spreading. (Please remember that you may have it and not know as some people who get COVID do not display any symptoms and are at no risk to themselves, but may be to others who are at high risk).

Please remember our goal with this article is to provide honest information. Through information and knowledge we, as a community, can work together through this time. Do not be fearful, be informed.

Symptom of COVID-19

According to WHO the symptoms of COVID-19 are:

1. Fever
2. A dry cough
3. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
4. Abnormal feeling of being lethargic (tired physically).

As suggested by the World Health Organisation if you are experiencing mild symptoms please do not leave your home. Please stay at home until these symptoms disappear. If they get worse, please notify someone immediately or call 911.

OUR FINAL THOUGHT: PLEASE DO THIS

We at SERVPRO, please urge you and everyone in the community to keep to the social distancing guidelines given by WHO and the American government. It is our responsibility as citizens to work together, keeping our friends and family safe. This is a small price to pay to keep one another healthy.

Please share this article link with friends and family on your socials. There is power in education and information and we can work through this together.

Please do not be fearful, just be informed.