The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the lives of people, affecting their usual activities like going on a trip, eating in a restaurant, or grocery shopping. But this pandemic is far from over. As states, beginning to open up, doing activities outside your home can be more dangerous. Thus, it is important to take extra precautions to avoid the risk of getting infected. Take these simple steps to stay safe against COVID-19 when going out in public.
Observe Good Hygiene Practices
When going out, you have the possibility of touching different potentially contaminated surfaces, making good hygiene an important and beneficial step to avoid acquiring the virus.
Studies show that coronavirus can linger on different surfaces for hours or even days. You can get infected if you touch the virus and touch your nose, eyes, or mouth. Then you will be infected. But with proper hygiene, you can keep yourself protected.
For hand-washing, do it often. Wash your hands before you leave your home, during your trip outside, and after you go out. Soap and water do well to prevent harming human cells. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, scrub the back of your hands, your fingertips, and even your thumbs and wrists. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content. On the other hand, be more aware of touching your face until you break the habit.
Maintain Social Distancing
One of the best methods to prevent exposure to the virus and to slow down the spread of the virus is to maintain social distancing. The CDC urges the public to practice social distancing or keeping a six-foot distance when outside. It could also mean refraining from visiting places like hair salons or a dentist, where social distancing measure is impossible and professionals would have close contact with other people.
Furthermore, social distancing is very critical when a person sneezes or coughs. The droplets contaminated with the virus can be inhaled by those people near them.
Keep Wearing a Face Mask
A face mask should be worn when in public. The Centers for Disease Prevention (CDC) recommends masks in places where social distancing measure is difficult to maintain like grocery stores and pharmacies and in an area where there is a significant transmission of COVID-19. Some counties and cities made it mandatory to wear a mask in any public setting.
Wearing a face mask is very important to prevent the virus from spreading. Since symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2-14 days upon contraction, an infected person may not be aware that he has already a disease. Some patients may have the disease, but are asymptomatic, meaning they don’t show any signs of the disease.
Use Elbows And Knuckles Instead
When going out in public, you may find yourself needing to press buttons or pull open doors. Instead of exposing your hand to potentially contaminated surfaces, use your knuckles to press buttons or if you are wearing a long-sleeved shirt, extend it to wrap around the handle of a door. Use your elbows to flip on a light switch or a faucet.
Shop Efficiently and Swiftly
When grocery shopping, you are exposing yourself to the possibility of acquiring the virus. You don’t want this to happen, thus, you have to shop efficiently and swiftly. Instead of delicately browsing the aisle or doing it to pass the hours, grab the things you need and immediately exit the store.
If possible, utilize online shopping services to limit your exposure to other people and use a touch less money when paying for your groceries, meaning you are paying without the use of money, a card, or a keypad.
When shopping for food and other essentials, make sure to avoid touching the products with bare hands. Use gloves or plastic bags to cover your hands when handling fruits, vegetables, and other products. This can help others feel comfortable and at the same time encourage them to do the same.
Avoid Crowded Places
Having close and long contact with someone you don’t live with can be dangerous. The person near you might have the virus and can infect you. During this pandemic, it is important to avoid crowded settings like restaurants, parks, and beaches. Social distancing in these places is difficult to maintain and the virus from another person can easily get transmitted to the other.
As food businesses are slowly opening, it is best to avoid packed restaurants or it is safe to order takeout food. Doing this helps local businesses to continue their operation as social distancing is properly performed.
There are also some places, like parks and beaches that are slowly opening for the public. If going to those places, find an area that has a few people. Avoid touching shared surfaces like swings, slides, or benches. If necessary, wipe these surfaces before touching them.
When meeting friends or family you don’t live with, you should keep a 6-foot distance and avoid hugs, kisses, or handshakes.
Contact Professionals For COVID-19 Cleaning Services
As cities reopen and people can have closer contact with one another, world and local leaders warn the public that a second wave of infection is possible to happen. Thus, taking proper precautions is necessary to protect yourself from infection. Along with those precautionary steps, staying protected against the virus also requires a clean and disinfected home. A disinfected and clean home or business is important to limit the spread of the virus.
If you need professional deep cleaning services, contact a certified cleanup and restoration company, like Superior Restoration. These companies offer coronavirus cleaning and disinfection services that work well with this pandemic. They use EPA-approved disinfectants and advanced methods to ensure that all occupants in your home or business are safe and protected.
