Don’t let the fear of exposure prevent you from seeking the care you need.
Connect with a Baptist Health provider from the comfort of your own home with Baptist Health Virtual Care video or eVisits.
Schedule a VisitBest Ways to Protect Against Coronavirus (COVID-19)
As of Friday, July 10 at 5:00 p.m., Governor Andy Beshear announced a mandate that will require everyone to wear masks in Kentucky’s public spaces. Masks are mandatory in places like retail stores, restaurants, gyms, government buildings and any outdoor spaces where people are unable to stay six feet apart.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory virus that spreads through close interpersonal contact. Typically this infection causes mild to moderate respiratory symptoms but can lead to death, often in those that are already immunocompromised. As experts are continuing to learn more about this infection, it’s important to learn what you can do to keep your family safe from transmission and spread.
How Can I Protect Myself and My Family From Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
There are simple steps you can take to help protect yourself and your family. Like any illness, prevention is crucial. Knowing the facts and understanding how the virus is spread plays an important role in protecting yourself and your family against the virus. Then learning how to properly clean and disinfect along with taking other coronavirus precautions can reduce the risk of transmission.
5 Tips to Avoid Coronavirus
1. Clean your hands well and often.
To protect yourself from coronavirus, you should wash your hands often with soap and water. Scrub vigorously for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom, before eating, after touching high-traffic areas and objects, and after sneezing, blowing your nose, or coughing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Avoid close contact with other people.
Avoid unnecessary trips to crowded areas, and refrain from close contact such as handshakes.
There is an increased risk of exposure by making contact with individuals outside of those who you have been quarantining with during the period of social distancing requirements. As we’ve come to understand that some people can spread COVID-19 without showing symptoms of the virus, it is especially important to limit contact.
Stay home if you think you have coronavirus and are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, except to seek medical care.
3. Cover your coughs and sneezes.
Make sure you are covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue in the trash. Based on what is currently known about COVID-19, spread from person-to-person of this virus happens most frequently among close contacts (within about 6 feet). This type of transmission occurs via respiratory droplets As mentioned, you can get this virus from standing near someone who is speaking, coughing or sneezing even if they’re not showing obvious signs of being ill – those people who are in the pre-symptomatic phase can transmit the virus to those around them before showing symptoms.
Immediately after, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
4. Wear a face mask when you are in public.
Along with social distancing, the CDC advises all people to “wear cloth face coverings in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.” This is recommended in combination with continually washing your hands, keeping your surrounding surfaces clean, and avoiding people who you know are sick.
5. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Frequently touched surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, phones, keyboards, toilets, and faucets should be disinfected daily. For specific recommendations on cleaning porous (soft), non-porous (hard) surfaces, along with electronics and linens and clothing items, please reference the CDC guidelines.
Learn More About Coronavirus (COVID-19) From Baptist Health
Baptist Health will continue to provide resources to keep you and your family safe during these unprecedented times. To learn more about coronavirus symptoms, prevention, and social distancing, please visit Baptist Health’s COVID-19 Facts and Resources page.
