How to Prepare for COVID-19 Coronavirus in Your Community

NOTE: This article was originally published in March 2020 and contains information that is now out of date (e.g. when the article was published there were no vaccines available – they have now been developed and approved for effective use against severe illness). Check with the CDC online for the most current information.

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With the number of cases on the rise each day, news of the Coronavirus pandemic is everywhere. Drastic measures are being taken to #FlattenTheCurve in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus and to save lives. Although it may be too early to know the exact rates of contagion, it is clear that this is a serious threat to a significant number of people.

Coronavirus COVID-19 illustration by CDC

Coronavirus COVID-19 illustration by CDC

What is the Coronavirus

The “coronavirus” in the news is a new virus that has been named “SARS-CoV-2”. The disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” and is abbreviated “COVID-19” (it is also formerly known as “2019-nCoV“). This new strain of virus originated in China and quickly spread across the globe.

Digitally colorized scanning electron microscopic image of a coronavirus (MERS-CoV) by NIAID

Digitally colorized scanning electron microscopic image of a coronavirus (MERS-CoV) by NIAID

Symptoms of the lower respitory illness include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

There is no vaccine and there is no cure. Early studies suggest that the COVID-19 virus is more contagious than the common flu and more serious for people over 60 years old and with other immune disorders or medical issues like hypertension.

 

How to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus

There are a number of smart precautions that can help to lower the chances of spreading the coronavirus. These hygiene tips are good habits to help prevent the spread of many contagious diseases.

Ultimately, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. These tips are designed to help prevent contact with and exposure to the virus.

 

Prevention Strategies for Everyone

These strategies can help everyone lower their chances of both getting the illness and from spreading it.

  • Practice Social Distancing
    • Stay at home and limit your trips to only go out for necessities like food and medication
    • Keep at least 6 feet away from other people whenever possible
    • Limit physical contact with others (no handshakes, high fives, hugs, etc.)
  • Clean Your Hands Thoroughly

    • Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds after being in a public place, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
    • Alternately (if washing isn’t available), use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol
  • Don’t Touch Your Face
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Sneeze / Cough Into a Tissue or Elbows
    • Throw away tissues after sneezing or coughing into them
    • Immediately wash your hands after coughing or sneezing
  • Wear a facemask when needed
      • If you are sick, you should wear a face mask when you are around other people
      • If you are not sick, a face mask is required when caring for a sick person, but may also reduce risk of asymptomatic transmission so consider wearing one when in public

Extra Prevention Strategies for People at High Risk

Per the CDC, people at higher risk should take additional strategies to protect themselves from the coronavirus. Those at high risk include older adults and people with serious chronic medical conditions (like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease).

  • Stock up on essential supplies now
    • Medications (consider mail order if you cannot go out)
    • Groceries
    • Pet supplies
  • Keep space between yourself and others
    • Avoid crowds
    • Avoid contact with sick people
    • Avoid touching surfaces in public spaces
  • Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel
  • Wash your hands often
    • Use soap and water for at least 20 seconds when possible
    • Use hand sanitizer when it is not possible to wash your hands
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched areas at home on a daily basis
    • Light switches
    • Remote controls
    • Toilets
    • Cell phones
  • During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed

If you find that you need to self-quarantine at home, know that you can get just about anything you need delivered to you at home in most cities. Check out food delivery services like InstaCart and the restaurant delivery services GrubHub and DoorDash as examples .

 

How to Prepare for the Coronavirus

Even if you never have a single symptom of the Coronavirus, the disease is likely to already be impacting your everyday life.

Digitally colorized transmission electron microscopic image of a coronavirus by NIAID

Digitally colorized transmission electron microscopic image of a coronavirus by NIAID

With restrictions on travel, closures of schools and workplaces, and cancellations of large festivals like SXSW, the things we are able to enjoy are being directly impacted. When these things are combined with shortages of necessities like medicines and toilet paper, there is no denying that the Coronavirus pandemic is a major event.

There have been reports of stores selling out of staples like water and toilet paper. Some medications have been in limited supply due to factory shutdowns in affected areas. You may want to make sure you have essentials like these on hand to last for a few weeks in case of closures or quarantines. In addition to your normal staples, the items below can help you to fight off germs at home and out in public.

Supplies to Navigate the Coronavirus Pandemic

Ensure that your family is ready for anything with the following supplies. Note that it may be helpful to purchase these items before you need them as any additional travel restrictions could limit product availability.

Soap

Whether you prefer a bar or liquid soap, cleansing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the best way to remove germs from your hands. Note that soap does not need to be “antibacterial” in order to work.

Surface Cleaners

These products can help you disinfect and clean surfaces at home and on-the-go.

Disinfectants

A quick spray of these disinfectants can help to kill germs on surfaces around the house.

Hand Sanitizers

When there is no soap and water available to wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to kill germs. Alternatively (as packaged hand sanitizer is currently in short supply), you can make your own hand sanitizer at home with an online tutorial).

UV Sanitizers

These UV-based sanitizers can help clean unusual surfaces like cell phones, keyboards, and other items that should not get wet with traditional cleaning products.

Masks

The current recommendations are that these are only needed when you are either sick or caring for someone who is sick. If that is you, then choose a high-quality N-95 mask to keep the virus from spreading. Otherwise, the health care workers hope that you won’t purchase these if you don’t need them (this will help ensure they are available in hospitals where they are needed most).

If you can sew, consider sewing your own protective face mask at home for your family, and if you have the time, consider making enough to donate to a health care facility in need. For those who do not sew, here is a quick tutorial to make a quick no-sew mask with fabric and rubber bands.

Gloves

Use disposable gloves that can be thrown out when cleaning. These can also be used to limit contact when caring for a sick person.

Tissues

Make sure to cough or sneeze into a tissue whenever possible. Throw out the tissue after you sneeze / cough into it.

Hydrate

Staying properly hydrated with balanced electrolyte levels is important for health at all times.

 

Supplies for Emergency Outages

In the event that services are suspended for brief or extended periods, it can help to be prepared with emergency supplies. These items can be helpful during emergencies of many natures including weather, seasonal, and other emergencies like COVID-19.

Power Sources

Portable Battery Chargers

These portable battery chargers can be charged during times when the power is on, and used as a backup power source when needed. The small sizes are great for travel, but the charge may only power a smart phone for a few hours.

Solar Chargers

With an ample amount of sun, you can opt for a solar-powered way to charge your devices. There are solar powered options from large to small — choose a portable folding solar panel charger for a backup smart phone charger, or go completely off the grid with a solar powered roof at home and a solar powered car in the garage.

Fire-Powered Generators

For a versatile tool that provides heat for cooking and generates electricity for devices, consider a small biomass stove.

Gas-Powered Generators

When you need to make sure that you have uniterrupted power in your home, you’ll want to have an adequately sized gas-powered generator. Purchase one of these well in advance of events like major storms (hurricanes, blizzards, etc.) because they can be impossible to purchase when you need them the most.

Potable Water

Bottled Water

If you have storage space and plan in advance, you can store emergency bottled water for you family. However, most bottles are not meant to be stored in high temperatures (like garages in Summer) or over long periods of time (over a year).

Water Filters

If you aren’t able to distill or boil water that is not known to be clean, then at least use a filter to remove most impurities that could make you sick.

Water Treatment Tablets

These small tablets are easy to carry in an emergency “go-bag” to ensure that you can have drinkable water from any water source.

Water Distiller

Purifying water using distillation is a way to remove impurities. Tabletop electric distillers make it easy to set a batch for easy dispensing while non-electric versions allow for more versatile distilling options.

*** PLEASE NOTE ***

Many of these items are selling out extremely fast. Make your purchases as soon as possible.

Online COVID-19 Coronavirus Resources

For ongoing updates, follow these internationally recognized health resources:

Digitally colorized transmission electron microscopic image of a coronavirus (MERS-CoV) by NIAID

Digitally colorized transmission electron microscopic image of a coronavirus (MERS-CoV) by NIAID

CDC

Based in Atlanta, GA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is at the forefront of the US response to the outbreak. Stay current with updates on their website at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov or on CDC Social Media at:

WHO

The World Health Organization is committed to slowing the spread of the virus worldwide. Follow online for the latest international updates at either their website at who.int/health-topics/coronavirus or on WHO Social Media at:

New England Journal of Medicine

A collection of articles and other resources on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, including clinical reports, management guidelines, and commentary. Stay informed on their website at nejm.org/coronavirusor on NEJM Social Media at:

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Please understand that small, individual actions do add up to make a real difference. We are all in this together. Stay safe, healthy, and let’s all get through this together.

***

Originally published March 11, 2020 and updated on March 23, 2020.

77 Responses

  1. Alexy says:

    Great article, this is exactly what people needs to see at this point in time, the corona virus pandemic has caused alots of harm and death globally, many are dieing and the economy of many countries are also crumbling, even the fear of corona virus is the worst, and many wrong information is being passed, it is really nice for you to post this because honestly most people do not really know how to prevent this virus and most people do not really understand social distancing, it’s true they do not go out but in my country some people see this period as visiting period they visit neighbours, relatives and colleague, Thanks a lot for sharing how to prevent it and what to use for the prevention.

  2. Stephanie says:

    My community hasn’t taken any necessary precautions when it comes to the prevention of this virus. I haven’t left my house in over a month and people are still going out and ignoring the necessary precautions that we all should take and the things and activities we should avoid. If a person is coughing for the last 3 weeks with no signs of fever nor respiratory problems, do you think they still should get tested?

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Stephanie, Since people can transmit the virus without having any symptoms, it seems that we need to test most people (especially those with any symptoms).

  3. Karin Nauber says:

    With so much misinformation floating about on the Internet related to COVID-19, I am appreciative of your coverage of this “moving target.” As a reporter I have read hundreds of articles, medical reports and the like and I must say that yours is the most complete with some great suggestions for supplies, what the disease is, how it spreads and how to prevent the further spread of the disease. I live in Minnesota and in spite of the efforts to shelter at home, we still are having new daily cases and deaths associated with COVID-19. It breaks my heart.

    Again, thank you for the very beneficial article which ties together the many aspects of this disease and lays them out in an easy to understand way.

    Karin

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Karin, Thanks so much. It’s feels very important to take the shelter at home instructions seriously in order to slow the spread of the disease. 

  4. Marthagirl says:

    Hi, Thank you so very much for your article on How to Prepare for COVID-19 Coronavirus in Your Community. There are so many things I didn’t know before now, that your Article has opened my eyes to. Because of this invisible Pandemic called Coronavirus, we now have to wash our hands so many time a day, sneeze in a certain way and I even found out that many have trained themselves not to even cough or sneeze; but I have learned here how to make a DIY Mask and this I am also going to teach others. Thanks

    • Alyce says:

      You are correct and even though many of us had heard this advice to help reduce the spread of cold and flu viruses in the past, it’s good that so many people are now following this helpful advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

  5. Jaye says:

    A brilliantly written article on the COVid-19 virus. These are indeed challenging times and I love how you broke down what the virus is and the preventative measures one can take to ensure we survive this pandemic. Thank you for the recommendations provided relative to products we can use to restrict the contact with the virus.

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Jaye, I do hope that the information and recommendations are helpful. Thanks for keeping yourself informed as we all work together to help #FlattenTheCurve. 

  6. GabrielGrey says:

    Thank you for not only the great advice but also the great recommendations and product links. Trying to find some of these items while shopping has been stressful, so seeing it all here it one place is a good spot to maybe just order all my supplies at once from now on. It looks like most of the online stores still have these items in stock, so that takes away a lot of the stress and the need to ‘panic-buy’

    It is nice to see people actively reaching out and assisting the online community throughout all of this corona induced chaos, we need more good hearts out there 🙂 Thanks again!

    • Alyce says:

      Hi GabrielGrey, it has definitely been challenging to find some items in my area (like paper products), but fortunately we’ve been lucky to find everything we need. 

      It’s definitely great to see people helping each other where they can in these very unusual times. 

  7. Twack Romero says:

    This is the first fully comprehensive article I have read, to date. Information seems to have been changing on a day to day basis. It’s not always possible to keep up with the government bulletins that are being put out daily. I think you’ve covered everything we need to know, to keep us all as safe as we can.

    We’re in a kind of ‘lockdown’ in the UK. Necessity shopping only and we’re meant to stay at home, unless we have work commitments. Within the house, we are following much of your advice. My wife has gone to town on all the areas, including surfaces, that need wiping regularly. Due to the shortage of cleaning products, we have our own version of surface cleaner, made up with diluted bleach and washing up liquid. Does the job more than adequately.

    • Alyce says:

      Wishing you all the best in the UK. The information is changing day by day, so I do encourage you to stay on top of official sources of information and recommendations that come from the CDC and WHO. Stay safe!

  8. Jeff says:

    Hello Alyce 

    I 100% agree with you this devastating disease isn’t good for our communities as it is causing so much pain to our love ones. Yes we shouldn’t take it lightly but the panicking is killing more than the disease itself. We are too afraid of the said virus instead of us fighting it back.

    People are on a rampage, stocking their house with disinfectants, foodstuffs, wearing all types of airtight dresses. You can’t imagine i went to the office today and no body want to give his/her friend a hand shake. That’s madness and over reacting but then again, we are just human and we are to react differently.

    We believe a solution will come out before the end of a year and we wish things come back to normal and lets stay together and fight this. United we can defeat this virus not by running and imposing lock downs here and there.

    Thanks for sharing, we all just need to take precaution for it will all come to an end pretty soon. The last time i checked, there has been no pandemic disease that came and stayed, it comes, spread like fire and then disappears in tin air. Where is Ebola virus today? That’s just it. Take and keep safe.

    Reply

    • Alyce says:

      These pandemics do seem to run their course over time, but they can certainly change the scope of life in their aftermath. It’s hard to be distant from the people we love and enjoy so much, but we do it because we love them. Stay safe!

  9. Lalita says:

    Many thanks to you for presenting an article that is contemporary. I wash my hands more frequently now and I also have hand sanitizer at work and at home. I sometimes forget not to touch my face, especially when I apply lip balm … I still need to work on that, but I remind myself to wash or desinfect my hands before I do that. I hope that is ok. I am also taking a vitamin C supplement and eating leaves and flowers from my moringa trees

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Lalita, you bring up a good point that many of us are wondering if the things that we are used to doing are still okay. The presence of COVID-19 coronavirus in our communities is making us all a little bit obsessive about germs and staying healthy. Staying vigilant about washing your hands and keeping them away from your face is a great idea — the CDC definitely encourages this as a way to help prevent exposure to the virus. 

      However, I have not seen any advice regarding vitamins or moringa tree leaves / flowers from the CDC or WHO, so I cannot comment on whether or not that is advised. 

  10. Perryline says:

    this is a great and amazing article. i sincerely your effort creating time  to write on such an informative article which has taught me a lot more on how to prepare for Covid-19 in our community. we facing a long term quarantine in my country and this is so uncomfortable and i’m really tired. but it is to our safety because right now this disease is so contagious and kills so fast. thanks for sharing this article

  11. Michael says:

    Thanks for this helpful information during this chaotic time in our lives. This virus is defiantly quite contagious and has killed many people, but I think following your guideline here to prepare for it can help tremendously.

    I think one thing that you could add to your list of things to buy are items you’ll need in case you get it like cough medicine, and medcinr for sore throat. I’ve also heard drinking lots of water and gargling it with salt water helps.

    Do you know anyone personally that has gotten this, and if so what have they done to help fight it?

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Michael, Unfortunately, I do have a good friend who is currently fighting the virus. He is following his doctor’s orders, but without a cure, it’s mostly a matter of fighting some of the symptoms with rest, pain medication (for a terrible headache), and an inhaler for bad coughing fits. 

      The best medicine is certainly prevention. 

  12. Nuttanee says:

    Thank you so much for sharing such an informative post during this difficult time. We still have another 6 days to go until the government decided what to do. I live in NYC and I am scared most of them time on what is going to happen next since we are the highest infected State now. I try to drink hot water for now as will kill the covid-19 and I practice social distancing everywhere I go. I also wash my hands religiously and do not touch my face as well. Water distiller is a good device to have. Thanks again. 

    • Alyce says:

      Stay safe Nuttanee and please double-check any claims for fighting the virus that you see online. There is currently no evidence from reputable sources (e.g. the CDC) that says that drinking hot water will kill COVID-19. 

      Keeping isolated, physical distancing from others, and hand washing are definitely recommended and should help to keep you healthy. Thanks for adopting these smart habits to keep yourself (and others) safe.

  13. Lawrence says:

    Thank our informative article at this difficult time.

    It’s good to know that the advice is similar across the world and that everybody is working together to get rid of this horrible disease and at least flatten the curve.

    Here in the UK, we have just gone into lockdown.

    I like the fact you have also added informative links to internationally recognised health resources. I will certainly be using to keep informed.

    Take care and stay safe 

  14. Anastazja says:

    This is a very thorough article.  I particularly like the list of supplies to keep on hand.  I had not thought about anything that could help with cooking.  My wife and I are older.  She has an immune system disorder so we are staying isolated and at home.  Fortunately, to this point, we have been about to have delivered everything we need.  I think we will stock up on things other than cleaning supplies and food as you have suggested in your article.  My wife has to use distilled water quite a few times daily.  Its hard to get in the stores so we are looking at the distiller that you have on your website.  Thanks for the article.

    • Alyce says:

      Thank you for staying at home to protect both yourselves and others who are at high risk for contracting COVID. Wishing you and your family good health. 

  15. Todd Matthews says:

    I’ve been reading a ton of COV-19 articles lately, but this is the first one I’ve seen one showing its readers actual supplies along with action to take to combat this microscopic enemy. Usually, they’re rehashing what the news says and are just writing an article about what they heard, but you’ve gone in-depth not just for COV-19, but for any case where survival is needed. With the virus in full force, coupled with a tanking economy, there is no better time to stock up on necessary supplies, so if a crisis like this happens again – and it definitely can, you will be ready. 

    • Alyce says:

      Thanks Todd. These are challenging times for all of us, and with limited accessibility to our usual shopping options, it seems extra important to be ready in advance for things like storm-related temporary power outages (pretty common in my area in the next couple of months).

  16. Rose says:

    Hi,

    It is a great post very informative, include most of the necessary tips and guides about how to prepare for COVID-19, I do like the idea of UV sanitizers to clean keyboard and phones which probable the most dirtiest item we own and can easily make us infected, hence do you know if it is safe to use it for phones and any electronic item? And for how frequent to use it?

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Rose, Many of the UV sanitizers recommend that you should use them for a minimum of 10 seconds, but as each model is different, you should research the particular model for it’s recommended usage. You should clean / sanitize your items regularly, plus whenever they may have been exposed to harmful bacteria and / or viruses. 

  17. Anthony Hu says:

    Thank you for your post. It is a timely article for everyone. The coronavirus pandemic is in full swing. Everyone has duty to prevent the spread of the virus and flatten the curve, so that we could reserve the health care resources for those needing most.

    I particularly like your description on Prevention Strategies for Everyone. It sound simple, but we need to enforce this in a strict way. You are absolutely right that we need to practice social distancing. If possible, stay at home and limit trips to outside.

    I wish everyone follow your guidance and with this, the virus will has no place to survive and we will win this war very quickly. 

    • Alyce says:

      I also hope that people will follow the guidance of the CDC and WHO and stay home for a while. It seems like the best strategy we currently have to win this fight. 

  18. Rodarrick says:

    This post is very welcomed and I just hope that there is more available than just the ordinary here. To be honest, covid19 is the world’s enemy right now and knowing how to get treatment delivered from it is a goal already for me. Thank you for your constant help and I will share this out too.

  19. robertmccarty says:

    Excellent source of information for the latest techniques and ways to remain safe during these uncertain times.  This hidden threat is unsettling everyone but your practical suggestions should be must read for anyone looking to get some of the great products that clean and help in times of scarcity.  The water distillers are very cool, great for areas the experience hurricanes and earthquakes where the water supply could be disrupted.

  20. Deb says:

     It’s good to know that we can buy goods online if we need to because at my local supermarkets people are stockpiling and some things are completely out of supply. I’m not too worried about the virus because I am a permanent employee who doesn’t work with large groups of people. My sister does however and they have to wear masks all day. From next week they will be having people wait in their cars before coming in for their appointments. I guess this virus will hit some people a lot harder than others, both in terms of health and disruption to their lives. 

    • Alyce says:

      I agree, one of the great ways to practice social distancing is to order things online or by phone and have them delivered instead of going into a crowded store or restaurant. This protects staff, customers, and if no money is physically exchanged, the delivery person can minimize exposure as well. 

  21. Christine says:

    Very good tips, thank you! I wash my hands more frequently now and I also have hand sanitizer at work and at home. I sometimes forget not to touch my face, especially when I apply lip balm … I still need to work on that, but I remind myself to wash or desinfect my hands before I do that. I hope that is ok. I am also taking a vitamin C supplement and eating leaves and flowers from my moringa trees (they are medicinal trees).

    Regarding the face masks, I read reports where it was advised that face masks may not always prevent you from getting sick. They prevent someone from spreading the virus though if the wearer is a carrier. Do you know anything about that? I try to avoid crowds, and the good thing is that I live very isolated. I hope that our community remains risk free!

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Christine, with regards to touching your face and washing your hands: 

      Keep in mind that people can be contagious carriers without showing any symptoms. You should wash your hands after touching your face to protect other people from anything that you may touch that was contaminated with the virus from you. 

      Regarding the current CDC recommendations for face masks — believe it or not, it is not recommended for everyone to wear face masks at all times. For example, sick people are currently recommended to wear them only when not in isolation. The latest information and a list of FAQ are on the CDC website at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronaviru… 

      Thank you for avoiding crowds and limiting exposure – the experts seem to agree that social distancing can dramatically help. Wishing you all the best. 

  22. Smoochi says:

    This is a good one. I must first commend the time and energy that you have put into making this website with nice templates and finding time to write an article on how to prepare for covid 19. this epidermic has really distablize the entire world. and i would like to share this

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Smoochi, You are most welcome to share the information – the more people who follow these practices, the more effective they can be!

  23. Md. Asraful Islam says:

    Many thanks to you for presenting an article that is contemporary.The main point of this article is how to protect your family from coronavirus. Currently, this virus becomes a deadly one and the various ways in which you can get the coronavirus you mentioned here are remarkable. I am still sharing some of my personal advice. Basically Preparing for coronavirus (COVID-19) means being ready to stay home for a week or two if needed.

    Self-monitor health for 14 days after they left that location to watch your health, and if you have a thermometer, take your temperature 2 times a day. Remain at home and practice social distancingAvoid large gatherings. Maintain a distance of approximately 6 feet from others as much as possible.

    I want to share this contemporary article about the Coronavirus in my Facebook group if you give me permission and so everyone can be aware.

  24. Joy Talukdar says:

    The cause of this disease is known as coronavirus disease. This is a new virus firstly happens in china for their food system and many more but now they stopped food for harmful and many more are changing their religion. but now not only china. it suffers from Italy UK Bangladesh too.its too dangerous. its synonyms such as sudden fever with headache, vomiting and so on.so we also need to neat and clean and should wash hands clearly.so we also have to be more careful when dealing with money or any products or meeting new people. we should also wear musk and when working we should use gloves. may God protect us.

  25. Brittany says:

    This Coronavirus is getting out of hand and scaring a lot of people. The stock market going down, housing market going down. There are also low test kits for people that may have symptoms, however the celebrities are able to get them quick. So, we have to keep ourselves clean and do what this post says. We have to wash our hands, keep our hands off our face and stay away from people that are sick.

    • Alyce says:

      Hopefully the news about the virus starts getting better soon. Following measures to stay away from the virus can only help until then!

  26. Gaurav Gaur says:

    Hi, Alyce.
    Thanks for sharing your views on understanding and taking preventions of Corona Virus in the community we live in.Your timely help to explain everything on this current pandemic is really appreciable. What I could understand is that we must not panic and be extra conscious to take precautions in the correct way.
    Warm Regards,
    Gaurav Gaur

  27. beachcat1 says:

    This all great advice.  I can’t believe that now we have to teach people how to “properly” wash their hands.  But, this will be for the greater good.

    Did you find any information on how warm the water should be when you are washing your hands?  Maybe antibacterial soap is not really necessary, I have always been of the mind that you should wash your hands under very warm water, as hot as you can stand it. 

    I hope that this pandemic will pass very soon and I think if we all do our part and look out for not only ourselves but for others, it will pass sooner.

    Thank you again for the information.

    • Alyce says:

      Hi, The temperature of the water should not make it any more or less effective. Just make sure to scrub effectively with soap for at least 20 seconds.

  28. Steve W. says:

    Thank you for sharing all of these handy resources all on a single page. This disease does seem to be getting out of control but with resources like this page ensuring that we are getting the right information from the official sources, I am sure we will all come out of this better. I think avoiding public places and staying at home as much as possible is key to containing this and buying supplies online is probably better now than visiting the local supermarkets. Here’s wishing we get out of this as soon as possible as everyone is already feeling the impact from the closure of events to the huge drop on the share markets worldwide. Thanks again for sharing!

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Steve, Social distancing is definitely being recommended as a way to slow the spread of the coronavirus. It’s a shame that so many wonderful events and gatherings are having to be cancelled, but that will ultimately help to save lives, so it is a wise decision to do so.

  29. Abir says:

    Thank you so much for sharing this useful article with us. The world is now scared of the Corona virus that’s why this article very useful for all. By this article i have learned a lot about How to Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus. Yes if we follow this method hope we can prevent spreading corona virus. 

    Thanks again for this informative article…       

    • Alyce says:

      Hopefully the worldwide response from governments will help to quickly stop the spread of the coronavirus, but we also need to help out by making smart individual choices as well. 

  30. Stephen Peter Jones says:

    Hi There,

    This is a well-times website and well written, it’s important more people read this even though we have no idea at this stage where all this is going. Your website I could say definitely slows the virus down if people take action and that is what is needed for us to bide time to understand more about it and search for a cure.  I enjoyed reading your website well done.

    Stephen

  31. Donald says:

    This is very timely information that we all need right now to help us to avoid and also fight this pandemic (yes i’m using that word as it has now been declared as such)

    I am currently using some of these recommendations in my own surroundings and circumstances, but i see you have mentioned some things that i am not currently doing but your suggestions are really good ideas that i am going to implement in my own situation.

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Donald, I’m glad to hear that you found some additional suggestions to help you keep safe from the COVID-19 virus!

  32. Sonny says:

    These are great tips, thank you very much!

    These days we really have to strengthen our own defenses by taking lots vitamin C, thoroughly washing our hands and avoiding close contact. The virus has spread globally and recently there have been an ourbreak here in Canada, a few minutes from where I live. 

    Sonny

    • Alyce says:

      It’s amazing at how many corners of the world that this has affected. I hope that you and your family have everything you need to keep yourselves safe from the coronavirus pandemic!

  33. primoz pticak says:

    Hi! This virus is really beating us right now. like you said – wash your hands, and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% of alcohol is a must – it won’t kill viruses, but it will ease a growth of it. I have couple of sanitizers at my home, but well they contain 95% alcohol. Stay away from crowds, don’t shake hands or hug, prevention is the best option. Loved your article,

    Cheers,

    primoz P.

  34. Shanta Rahman says:

    First of all thank you so much for giving us such a wonderful article .At present, the coronavirus has become very deadly worldwide. And I am currently in Bangladesh and have taken necessary measures to stay safe. Your article is really informative and I gained a lot of knowledge and I think these are very helpful for me .Thank you for sharing such a wonderful article with us .I must watch the video given to your article and make a lot of sense. At the same time I will convey this video to my friends and they will gain a lot of knowledge by reading your article and will definitely share with you their new experience. Can I share your article on my social media?

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Shanta, You stay safe and definitely share any information that may be useful to your friends and family.1

  35. Benny says:

    hello, it is a great and nice feeling to know that someone will create a great website like this and also create a write up on an article like this. it is a nice video and i would like to help to share this to the public. we need to be more aware of the danger that covid 19 posses to us

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Benny, You are most welcome to share the post (thank you!). The hand washing video is important as it educates people so that they can wash their hands as effectively as possible!

  36. Hamish58 says:

    Thank you for this post;  this is great advice When everyone is attempting to come to terms and understand what is now a Pandemic.  It is not only the measure that you have offered  that are both germane  and helpful but you have also provided valuable context in the opening of the post.  There is so much conflicting information out there at the moment that it is hugely helpful to find some simple and eminently sensible answers to the issues and challenges that we are all facing.

    Thanks

    Hamish

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Hamish, You are most welcome for the information. I do hope that it can help people to make wise choices when they are preparing for the coronavirus pandemic.

  37. Enrique says:

    Hi,

    While it’s not something to take lightly, we do need to calm down. People are panicked and hoarding water, disinfectant, toilet paper, among other things. Everywhere you go, there are empty shelves. We have to stop the madness.

    Experts said they expect a vaccine in no less than a year from now. Hopefully, the situation will improve with the warmer temperatures of the following months. We don’t know for sure since this virus is so recent.

    It’s not the end of the world. We just need to take precaution and we’ll be fine. We’ll have to wait to see what happens. Thanks for sharing.

    • Alyce says:

      Our systems are definitely not prepared for too many people stocking up on essentials at once – even for minor events. Every time it snows in my hometown, the grocery stores all sell out of bread, milk, and eggs. Every. Single. Time. A lot of those empty shelves could be avoided if people would not panic during times like these. Sure, go ahead and buy an extra package of toilet paper, but perhaps don’t buy all of the available toilet paper at your local store.

  38. Gary says:

    Hi the virus is no like to me I’m older and my system isn’t what it used to be. I agree washing hands is one of the most if not the most important things we need to do. just to let you know you have a great looking website, and it should be doing very well thanks for the input, I will just stay home If I can.

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Gary, Thanks for your kind words about the website. I’m glad to hear that you are taking precautions to keep yourself safe from coronavirus and healthy!

  39. Alex Chivers says:

    Hi,  Very informative article.  We are in very worrying times I think and really hope this can all be over with.  What happens though is anyone’s guess.  For the post, you have covered most things I think so well done.  One tip you should see if you can improve your site speed seemed to be a bit slow loading up this post.

    • Alyce says:

      Hi Alex, Hopefully the COVID-19 coronavirus scare will pass soon, but it’s good to be prepared just in case. 

      Thanks for sharing your experience with the site loading time – I will look into it. 

  40. Eric says:

    This is a very comprehensive guide on how to stay safe during the coronavirus. My family and I went and bought lots of hand sanitizer. Although we were afraid we were going to run out, it’s a good thing we use very little at a time.

    Most of us have limited ourselves to how much we go out. But what I don’t get is why there is such a craze for toilet paper. My daughter works at Costco and she said most of the toilet paper section is all empty and so are food shelves.

    Thanks for listing all the resources as well as where I can get products if I do run out. My wife is just recovering from a liver resection, so we need to state extra vigilant in making sure that this illness stays out of our home.

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