How to protect effectively
Learn about decontaminating surfaces and stopping the spread of bacteria and viruses. Support prevention yourself and spare treatment for others.
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We have enlisted the most effective preventive measures against COVID-19, protection equipment, disinfection products, and disinfection guidelines for staying safe from the coronavirus.
International COVID-19 transmission prevention measures
Since the outbreak in Wuhan, a wide variety of
measures have been put in place to prevent and
reduce transmission of the disease. This includes large scale
quarantine, travel and mobility restrictions, airport
entry screening and social distancing measures
such as school closures and work from home
arrangements. Travel restrictions have been
found to moderately slow down the dispersal of
COVID-19.
Social distancing and wearing a face mask
Maintain at least a 1-meter distance between yourself and others to reduce your risk of infection when they cough, sneeze or speak. Maintain an even greater distance between yourself and others when indoors. The further away, the better.
Make wearing a mask a normal part of being around other people. The appropriate use, storage and cleaning or disposal are essential to make masks as effective as possible.
The basics of how to wear a face mask
Clean your hands before you put your mask on, as well as before and after you take it off, and - after you touch it at any time.
Make sure it covers both your nose, mouth and chin.
When you take off a mask, store it in a clean plastic bag, and every day either wash it if it’s a fabric mask, or dispose of a medical mask in a trash bin.
Don’t use masks with valves.
Number of days coronavirus survives based on room temperature
Glass phone screen
Cotton face mask
Polymer bank notes
Stainless steel surfaces
Vinyl toys
Mask Management
For any type of mask, appropriate use, storage and cleaning, or disposal are essential to ensure that they are as effective as possible and to avoid any increased risk of transmission.
WHO provides the following guidance on the correct use of masks:
• Perform hand hygiene before putting on the mask.
• Inspect the mask for tears or holes, and do not use a
damaged mask.
• Place the mask carefully, ensuring it covers the mouth
and nose, adjust to the nose bridge and tie it securely to minimize any gaps between the face and the mask. If using ear loops, ensure these do not cross over as this widens the gap between the face and the mask.
Avoid touching the mask while wearing it. If the mask is accidentally touched, perform hand hygiene.
• Remove the mask using the appropriate technique. Do not touch the front of the mask, but rather untie it from behind.
• Replace the mask as soon as it becomes damp with a new clean, dry mask.
• Either discard the mask or place it in a clean plastic resealable bag where it is kept until it can be washed and cleaned. Do not store the mask around the arm or wrist or pull it down to rest around the chin or neck.
• Perform hand hygiene immediately afterward discarding a mask.
• Do not re-use single-use mask.
• Discard single-use masks after each use and properly
dispose of them immediately upon removal.
• Do not remove the mask to speak.
• Do not share your mask with others.
• Wash fabric masks in soap or detergent and preferably
hot water (at least 60° Centigrade/140° Fahrenheit) at least once a day. If it is not possible to wash the masks in hot water, then wash the mask in soap/detergent and room temperature water, followed by boiling the mask for 1 minute.
Kwel: Riddel et al. Virology Journal. 2020.
How to make your environment safer
Avoid the following: spaces that are closed, crowded or involve close contact.
Outbreaks have been reported in restaurants, choir practices, fitness classes, nightclubs, offices and places of worship where people have gathered, often in crowded indoor settings where they talk loudly, shout, breathe heavily or sing.
The risks of getting COVID-19 are higher in crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces where infected people spend long periods of time together in close proximity. These environments are where the virus appears to spread by respiratory droplets or aerosols more efficiently, so taking precautions is even more important.
Meet people outside. Outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor ones, particularly if indoor spaces are small and without outdoor air coming in.
Avoid crowded or indoor settings but if you can’t, then take precautions:
Open a window. Increase the amount of ‘natural ventilation’ when indoors.
Wear a mask (see above for more details).
Coronavirus on surfaces
This is how contaminated surfaces can indirectly spread coronaviruses. Because of this, everybody including healthcare workers and private individuals should pay special attention to effectively clean and disinfect surfaces, medical equipment, tools and frequently used objects such ass door handles and phone screens.
To prevent the spread of coronavirus on surfaces effectively, we recommend using products from the Clinell Universal range which clean and disinfect in a single step, killing coronavirus in just 30 seconds of contact time.
If you are dealing with visibly filthy surfaces, we recommend combining the Clinell Detergent wipes with the Universal wipes.
First clean the surface with a cleaning cloth and wear gloves
After the area has been cleaned, go over it with a universal wipe to disinfect it, wipe in an "S" shape from top to bottom.
Allow the surface to air dry and allow a contact time of at least 30 seconds
Information
As the world responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, we face the challenge of an overabundance of information related to the virus. Some of this information may be false and potentially harmful.
Inaccurate information spreads widely and at speed, making it more difficult for the public to identify verified facts and advice from trusted sources, such as their local health authority or WHO.
However, everyone can help to stop the spread. If you see content online that you believe to be false or misleading, you can report it to the hosting social media platform.
How to report misinformation online
YouTube
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2802027
https://help.twitter.com/en/safety-and-security/report-a-tweet
https://help.instagram.com/1735798276553028
https://faq.whatsapp.com/general/security-and-privacy/staying-safe-on-whatsapp/
TikTok
https://support.tiktok.com/en
sources: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/patient-management
https://www.un.org/en/pdfs/UNCOVID19ResearchRoadmap.pdf