The coronavirus has many people scared, and for a good reason. It's an extremely dangerous virus that has the potential to kill even the young and healthy. For this reason, it's best to avoid it wherever possible to limit your chances of getting the disease. If you're worried about the coronavirus and don't know what to do, here's a list of things you should follow along with.
Isolate
All over the world, governments are stepping in to encourage — or mandate — that people start isolating themselves at home. Of course, this may not be practical for everyone, but wherever possible, you should make an effort to stay at home. Keeping away from other people is the very best way to ensure that you don't catch this virus.
If you have to go outside, keep your distance from others. The CDC notes that it's most common to catch the disease from others when you're within a distance of six feet from them, so do your best to maintain a distance from others.
Wash
The coronavirus can be transmitted by droplets in the air from people coughing, but the most likely place you're going to get it is from touching something that's contaminated. The coronavirus has been shown to live for a long period of time on surfaces of all kinds, which means that even if no one has come into contact with something you just touched for several hours, it could still be contaminated.
As a result, you should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Be thorough about it. You want to ensure that you're washing each of your fingers, your thumbs, the backs of your hands, and the sides. Doing this has been shown to effectively kill the coronavirus and can make a huge difference in keeping yourself healthy.
Get Help
Lastly, know when to get help. Most people won't need to seek medical attention during this time, but if you start to experience any of the following symptoms, you should get medical attention right away.
Fever and cough are the most common symptoms of the coronavirus. In extreme cases, the coronavirus can make it hard to breathe. If you experience any of these signs, call or visit a primary care physician right away to be tested for the virus. Getting tested will make a big difference in your treatment and recovery, so don't try to ride out this illness at home.
The coronavirus is definitely scary, but it is still possible to protect yourself. Contact a primary care physician if you have questions or concerns.
