These are the precautionary measures we accompanied the parent letter with: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ADVICE SUMMARY Basic protective measure against ANY virus, including the new coronavirus (COVID-19) EVEN AFTER THE DANGER OF INFECTION HAS PASSED Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following:
- Wash hands frequently
- Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol based hand rub OR
- Wash them with soap and water for 20 seconds
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that maybe on your hands.
- Distancing yourself from people who cough, sneeze, spit etc
- Stay 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing or spitting etc.
- Avoid places where there are many people eg public transport, clubs, parties
- Try to be in places that are well ventilated WHY? When someone coughs or sneezes the spray from their nose or mouth may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the spray, including the virus if the person coughing has the disease.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
- When you touch a table, a door handle, a chair, a book, the person touching before you may have left the virus there WHY? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Practice respiratory hygiene (that is BREATING, COUGHING, SNEEZING carefully)
- Make sure you, and people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. WHY Droplets and spray from sneezing and coughing will spread the virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flue and COVID-19.
- This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Then dispose of the use tissue immediately.
- If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early.
- Stay home if you feel unwell
- If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.
- Follow the directions of your local authority
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into your bent elbow, covering your mouth and nose
Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider Protect measures for persons who are in or have recently visited (past 14 days) areas where the virus exists. Reduce spreading of any virus, including corona virus
- Follow the guidance outline above
- Stay home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover. WHY? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible CORONA and other viruses.
- If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call I advance to tell if you have travelled or have contact with travelers.
Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.