Basic hygiene measures are the most important way to cease the spread of infections, including the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Fundamental hygiene measures embrace:
hand hygiene – that is, washing hands regularly with cleaning soap and water, or cleansing with hand sanitiser
staying at residence if you’re sick
coughing or sneezing into a tissue or your elbow and then performing hand hygiene
cleaning surfaces regularly.
The usage of personal protective equipment (PPE), comparable to face masks can reduce the spread of infection when used accurately and within the appropriate context. This may be recommended in workplaces the place individuals are more likely to are available in contact with the disease.
Use of face masks
For most individuals in the community, PPE resembling face masks are usually not recommended. However, for people with signs of an acute respiratory an infection, the WHO recommends that there could also be benefit in wearing a face masks to reduce the spread of an infection to different people.
How one can correctly wear and remove a face mask
If you are unwell or have a job which requires you to be in close contact with individuals who might have coronavirus, it is strongly recommended you employ a face mask. It is crucial that face masks are worn and removed correctly. Masks ought to fit snugly and fully cover your nose and mouth.
The way to wear a masks:
wash fingers with soap and water or use hand sanitiser
place over nose, mouth and chin
fit flexible nose piece over nostril bridge
safe on head with ties or elastic
adjust to fit – safe on your head, fitting snugly around your face with no gaps
avoid touching or adjusting your mask during use.
Learn how to remove a mask:
wash palms with soap and water or use hand sanitiser
keep away from touching the front of the masks
if the masks has ties, untie the bottom, then prime tie
remove from face
discard, don’t use once more
wash fingers with soap and water or use hand sanitiser immediately.
Use of PPE in the workplace
Workplaces where folks can maintain more than 2 metres contact distance from folks with potential COVID19 symptoms – Facemasks and gloves should not recommended.
Examples of those workplaces embody – education services, pharmacies, shops
People who, because of the nature of their job, may be unable to take care of more than 2 metres contact distance from individuals with potential COVID19 signs – facemasks and gloves are advisable when this contact is likely to occur.
Examples of these workplaces embrace – Police, prison staff, customs workers
These recommendations are a guide only and workplace settings not listed within the table ought to consider their ability to maintain the two metres rule and use the table to tell their use of PPE. In general, surgical/medical masks prevent the dispersal of droplets by an infected affected person and the inhalation of droplets if within 2 metres of a coughing individual.
Hand hygiene and cough / sneeze etiquette (keep distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues and wash palms) can have a bigger impact.