The CDC needs you to help stop COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people should wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after having been in a public place, or after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing.
March 26, 2020
The coronavirus (COVID-19) currently has no vaccination or a known cure. Therefore, taking the proper measures to prevent spreading it from person to person is greatly encouraged by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
The CDC is attempting to “flatten the curve” of the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea of flattening the curve is to increase social distancing to ensure that the number of infected people stays manageable.
By flattening the curve, the hope is that the virus will become more manageable for researchers and doctors and eventually society will be able to go back to normal.
One recommendation, to prevent getting COVID-19, made by the CDC is for people to constantly wash their hands and not just wash them, but wash them the right way. According to the news source, The Hill, people should scrub every surface of their hands, including underneath their nails and in between their fingers, which should all take about 20 seconds.
If soap and water is not available, it is recommended to use hand sanitizer with an alcohol percentage of at least 60% instead.
According to a New York Times article, “When you wash your hands with soap and water, you surround any microorganisms on your skin with soap molecules. The hydrophobic tails of the free-floating soap molecules attempt to evade water; in the process, they wedge themselves into the lipid envelopes of certain microbes and viruses, prying them apart.”
The CDC also recommends minimizing close contact with other people who are sick and keeping a distance from those who have compromised immune systems or health conditions that put them at a higher risk of getting sick. This includes people staying at home if they feel sick.
Although many people have been wearing facemasks to protect themselves from COVID-19, the CDC said that the supply of masks is shortened, so they should primarily be saved for the sick and those caring for the sick. Instead of wearing a mask, people should just cover their coughs and sneezes.
The last recommendation put out by the CDC to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 is to “clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.” These surfaces include, but are not limited to: “tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.”
The CDC said to use diluted household bleach, alcohol solutions, or other household cleaners that are EPA-registered.
More information about COVID-19 and recommend ways to protect yourself from the virus can be found on the CDC website.