On January 30th, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEOIC)

What is the coronavirus / COVID-19 and why should we care?

• It is a CONTAGIOUS respiratory illness, 20X deadlier than the flu
• Early symptoms can include: Fever, Cough, Shortness of Breath
• Symptoms can appear 2 - 24 days after exposure (link)

How contagious is COVID-19?

• HIGHLY contagious! It could be transmitted when no symptoms are present
• Remember: Coughs and sneezes can travel 20 ft with speeds as quick as category 2 hurricanes (100mph)
• Droplets can stay suspended in the air for 10 minutes
• Virus can stay active on surface areas for up to two weeks
• Infections can occur through contact with the mouth, nose, eyes, and other mucous membranes

How can we stay safe and avoid the spread?

• Minimize time in public and in high-traffic areas
• CALL your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath, headaches, body aches, sore throat, runny nose, tiredness)
• Personal Test-Kits are available (96% accuracy)
• Wash hands, clothes, and sanitize surfaces often
• Cover coughs and sneezes with folded tissue or elbow if no tissue nearby
• Wear the right facemasks
• Cover the toilet seat when flushing as viral fecal matter can be released into the air from sewage

When do we wash our hands?

• Before / during / after food prep AND before eating
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

Best way to wash our hands?

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your
nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

No soap & water?

Use Hand Sanitizers

Note:

• Hand sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs.
• They may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
• Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicals from hands like pesticides and heavy metals.
• There are also sprayable hand sanitizers and hand wipes which may be easier to dispense.

Best way to use hand sanitizers?

1. Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
2. Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This should take around 20 seconds.

Caution! Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning if more than a couple of mouthfuls are swallowed. Keep it out of reach of young children and supervise their use. Learn more here. There are non-alcoholic hand-sanitizers too.

Let's convince the managers of our favorite places to install hand-sanitizer dispensers.

Good. We've just covered hand washing and hand sanitizing. Let's learn about breathing more safely.

Use a mask

When?

• If you are caring person(s) with suspected COVID-19 infection
• If you are coughing or sneezing
• If you will be in public and confined spaces

Types of masks

• N95 masks protect the wearer from viral aerosol
• Surgical masks prevent coughs and sneezes from infecting others
• Masks with exhalation valves are ineffective at preventing the wearer from infecting others, if they are infected

Proper face mask usage

1. Before putting on the mask, wash or sanitize hands (as suggested above)
2. Cover mouth and nose with mask, making sure there is a FULL SEAL between your face and the mask. There are masks for children. Also, please see suggestions for facial hair.
3. AVOID touching the mask while using it, wash/sanitize hands if you do
4. Replace mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not reuse single-use masks that you think may be contaminated

Removing masks

1. Remove from behind, without touching the front of the mask
2. Discard immediately in a closed bin
3. Clean hands as suggested above

Great Job!

You've learned and reviewed strategies to protect ourself in this virus crisis.

Let's help keep our community safe and

Ready to make a difference?

We are accepting submissions for community awareness strategies, email your plan to:

info@viruscrisis.com

Let's do our part in keeping us and our communities safe.

How to help?

Tell your friends about VirusCrisis.com

Cheers!