PreventioN and

Safety

How to keep yourself and others safe during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

What is Social Distancing?

And why does it work?

Social distancing is a term for keeping a space from yourself and other people outside of your home. Specifically, it entails putting 6 feet (about two-arms lengths) between yourself and others, not gathering in large groups, and avoiding crowded areas. Because the virus can be transmitted when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and droplets from their mouth or nose are launched into the air, there needs to be space to avoid being in contact with these droplets. Utilizing social distancing is important because it minimizes the chance of contracting COVID-19 and thus slows the spread locally.

To learn more, view this video made by the Houston Methodist where infectious disease expert Dr. Wesley Long goes over the necessity of social distancing. You can also visit the video here

Also, view the CDC guidelines for social distancing at their website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html

Personal Preventative Measures

What are the most important tools you should use to protect yourself?

The most important personal protection tool is hand sanitizer and soap. Note that hand sanitizer must have an alcohol concentration of around 80% in order to kill viruses (so check the label!). Soap is also a useful tool because it dissolves the outer shell of the virus which destroys it immediately.

Another way to protect yourself is to use face masks. The CDC recommends that people above the age of 2 should wear cloth face coverings in public settings or where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. One of the primary reasons for wearing cloth face coverings is to slow the spread of the virus from people who are not showing symptoms and therefore do not know they are carrying it. While N95 masks are one of the best masks to use because they filter out 95% of small particles during inhalation, these masks should really be reserved for healthcare professionals.

To learn more about PPE, check out the video below where Dr. Roger Seheult, Pulmonary and Critical Care specialist, describes recent research demonstrating how masks minimize respiratory droplets. You can also find the video here.

Tips to Protect Yourself and Others

What are the best ways to keep yourself and others safe?

To protect yourself and others from the spread and infection of SARS-CoV-2, it is important to follow safety measures such as washing hands often, using hand sanitizer, wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart, and not gathering in groups. Avoid close contact with sick individuals, even if they are your own family members. If you come into contact with someone that could possibly have SARS-CoV-2, isolate for 14 days. Monitor your health, and if you have any symptoms, seek medical attention if needed and isolate until you are no longer infected.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website contains an in-depth list of tips to stay safe. To learn more about the top tips to protect yourself and others visit the CDC web page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

Current Lockdown Status

What is the current lockdown status in my area?

Due to the global pandemic caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus, there have been restrictions and isolation measures put into place to prevent the further spread of the virus and ensure the safety of communities all over the United States and the Globe. Some of these measures include limiting social gatherings, temporary closure of restaurants, movie theaters, gyms, beaches, and other locations that involve large groups of people. As of today (30 May 2020), several states have begun lifting restrictions and opening up some of the sites that had been closed. This, however, is on a state to state bases and will depend on where you live;

Below you can find links with up to date information on the regulations for each state:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-state-by-state-guide-to-coronavirus-lockdowns-11584749351

https://www.usatoday.com/storytelling/coronavirus-reopening-america-map/

Works Cited

MedCram on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG-iSMVtWbbwDDXgXXypARQ

https://www.cdc.gov/