Coronavirus/COVID-19 Informatics

How to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus/COVID-19

In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within communities and across the country, all we are advised to:

stay at home unless you have to go to work

talk to your employer about working at home if possible

avoid all non-essential trips in your community

do not gather in groups

limit contact with people at higher risk, such as older adults and those in poor health

go outside to exercise but stay close to home

if you leave your home, always keep a distance of at least 2 arms lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others

household contacts (people you live with) do not need to distance from each other unless they are sick or have travelled in the last 14 days

Physical (social) distancing

Together, we can slow the spread of COVID-19 by making a conscious effort to keep a physical distance between each other. Physical (social) distancing is proven to be one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness during an outbreak.

This means making changes in your everyday routines to minimize close contact with others, including:

avoiding crowded places and non-essential gatherings

avoiding common greetings, such as handshakes

limiting contact with people at higher risk like older adults and those in poor health

keeping a distance of at least 2 arms-length (approximately 2 metres) from others

Hygiene

Proper hygiene can help reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others:

wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food

use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available

when coughing or sneezing:

cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand

dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards

avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

Wearing masks or face coverings

Medical masks, including surgical, medical procedure face masks and respirators (like N95 masks), must be kept for health care workers and others providing direct care to COVID-19 patients.

Wearing a non-medical mask or face covering (for example a homemade cloth mask, a dust mask or a bandana) in the community has not been proven to protect the person wearing it. Strict hygiene and public health measures, including frequent hand washing and physical (social) distancing, will reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus.

Wearing a non-medical mask or face covering is an additional measure you can take to protect others around you, even if you have no symptoms. It can be useful for short periods of time, when physical distancing is not possible in public settings such as when grocery shopping or using public transit.

Wearing a non-medical mask or face covering covers your mouth and nose to help prevent your respiratory droplets from contaminating others or landing on surfaces. Just like our recommendation not to cough into your hands (instead, cover your cough with tissues or your sleeve), a mask can reduce the chance that others are coming into contact with your respiratory droplets.

If wearing a non-medical mask or face covering makes you feel safer and stops you from touching your nose and mouth, that is also good. But remember not to touch or rub your eyes.

Non-medical masks or face coverings have limitations and need to be used safely.

Non-medical masks or face coverings should not be placed on:

children under age 2

anyone who has trouble breathing

anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance

If you choose to use a non-medical mask or face covering:

you must wash your hands immediately before putting it on and immediately after taking it off (in addition to practising good hand hygiene while wearing it)

it should fit well (non-gaping)

you should not share it with others

Face masks can become contaminated on the outside, or when touched by your hands. When wearing a mask or face covering, take the following precautions to protect yourself:

avoid touching it while using it

change a cloth mask as soon as it gets damp or soiled

put it directly into the washing machine or a bag that can be emptied into the washing machine and then disposed of

cloth masks and face coverings can be laundered with other items using a hot cycle, and then dried thoroughly

non-medical masks or face coverings that cannot be washed should be discarded and replaced as soon as they get damp, soiled or crumpled

dispose of them properly in a lined garbage bin

do not discard them in shopping carts, on the ground, etc.

Masks alone will not prevent the spread of COVID-19. You must consistently and strictly adhere to good hygiene and public health measures, including frequent hand washing and physical (social) distancing.

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Credited: Government of Canada website

COMMENTARY

Continue to practise social distancing and obey the laws of the land. Praying for the health and safety of the world, and the God that I serve will deliver us. Stay safe and eat healthy.

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