2.1 Hand wash
If someone asks me how to avoid the Coronavirus, I am so sure to say that: Wash your hand frequently! - The most important and essential thing you need to do at first.
When?
Wash your hands with soap at least 20 seconds
• After coughing or sneezing
• Before eating
• Before, during and after preparing food
• When caring for sick people
• After toilet use
• After touching animals, animal waste/products
• Between touching raw foods and cook foods
• When hands are dirty
• After being out in the public
• Before /after using hands to wear/remove mask
• After touching any things in the public such as sick people’s hands, pens, door knobs, mouse, tissue, chopsticks, cups, strain straps, button, devices, stair...
*If you do not have soap in hand, use alcohol-based hand rub instead. Wash again with soap as soon as possible.
How?
DIY
If you cannot buy alcohol-based hand rub, no worries, you can do it yourself! • Prepare
-Alcohol (70% or 90%)
- Tea tree oil
- Clean spray bottle
• Do
1. Pour 100ml alcohol in a clean spray bottle
2. Pour in 10 drops tea tree oil
3. Shake well.
*You can use it as a hand sanitizer when you go out. Remember to wash again with soap at least 20 seconds when you get home.
2.2 Mask
Surgical mask or N95 respirator?
In the fact that, there is no evidence being available on the usefulness of any masks to fight Coronavirus completely without combining with other measures like hand washing.
The main effect of masks here to partly keep out the liquid of another infected person’s cough or sneeze from entering your mouth or nose.
Therefore, in this case, the surgical mask would be a more suitable choice. If using masks, you should follow the correct steps to wear, remove and dispose of them.
How to use?
*NOTES:
• Do NOT touch the mask while using. If you do, no worries, wash hands with soap after that.
• Do NOT re-use single-use mask after each using.
• Do NOT wear mask for more than 1 day.
• If you meet sick people, give them a mask. They can sneeze/cough into it. It will protect yourself and everyone else nearby.
Is it enough?
It is NOT enough if you ONLY use masks to protect yourself. Remember Hand Wash is the key in this situation. Therefore, remember to
• Wash your hands with soap or alcohol-based hand rub frequently.
• Cover nose and mouth with paper tissue or flexed elbow when coughing/sneezing. Dispose of tissue immediately into closed bin after use and wash hands with soap or alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your face or other’s faces.
• If you have some symptoms, please put on surgical mask correctly, separate yourself from other people, and call the healthcare provider as soon as possible.
DIY
In the case that you cannot buy masks but still want to wear when going out, I will show you an easy way to do it yourself.
• Prepare
- 3 paper towels
- 2 rubber bands
- Stapler
* Do
1. Tear off some paper towels and fold in half making a square.
2. Put your hands on either side of the paper towel and push the edges together making it create several folds 1 inch wide. It should look like a paper fan.
3. Use your hand to hold the paper towel in the folded position.
4. Take one rubber band and place it about 1 inch from one end of the folded paper towel.
5. Fold the end of the towel over the rubber band and staple to secure.
6. Follow steps 4-5 to put remaining rubber band on other end of paper towel.
7. Put rubber bands around your ears and unfold paper towel enough to cover mouth and nose.
* If you find it difficult to follow the steps above, see the video here: https://haladi.com/diy-mask
* I still recommend that you should be at home in the current situation. If you have to go out, remember that hand washing is the key to protect you from the coronavirus.