Tips to Protect Yourself from COVID-19

In 2019, a new coronavirus, which causes the disease now known as COVID-19, was detected in Wuhan City, China. Today, the virus is spreading throughout the globe, including the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is taking aggressive public health measures to help protect the health of Americans and assist international partners. Data may change from the time this article is published, so it's best to regularly visit the CDC website for updates.

How does COVID-19 spread?

Data has shown that the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads from person to person among those in close contact (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters). The virus spreads by respiratory droplets released when someone infected with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks.

What to do: 

It’s not enough just to have the right stuff. Good disease prevention works best if you follow some important practices on a regular basis:

• Stay away from crowds/social distancing - This is the chief reason why you want to stock up on everything above now so that if Coronavirus does hit your community, you don’t have to go out and get supplies at the same time as everyone else.
• Wash hands frequently - We mentioned this above, but it’s worth saying again. Wash your hands all the time. Health experts say you should scrub for 20 seconds (about as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday, twice).
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands. It helps keep viruses from getting airborne.
• Throw away used tissues - Don’t stick them in your pocket or leave them on a surface. They have germs on them.
• Keep hands out of your mouth, nose, and eyes - This helps prevent transmission of not just coronavirus, but other respiratory diseases, according to the CDC.

Additional reminders:

- STAY home as much as you can.

- If you have a fever, a cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Call in advance.

- Follow the directions of your local health authority.

With so much news circulating about the coronavirus outbreak, it can be hard to know what to trust, and how to protect yourself and your employees. At ServiceMaster of the Upstate, we understand how important it is to maintain a clean, healthy environment at work and home. Providing nobody in your household is showing symptoms, your main concern should be in minimizing the risk of introducing the virus into the house. You can do this by encouraging everybody to wash their hands as soon as they enter, and regularly wiping down high-touch areas such as door handles, light switches, TV remotes, and faucets, using EPA-approved disinfectants.

 

Maintaining a clean home is always a good idea to protect against all kinds of infections and viruses. A clean home can help you stay healthier and live longer. COVID-19 isn’t the only organism that can make you and your family sick, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of infection at home.

Keep your surroundings clean? If you find yourself needing professional carpet cleaning in Greenville or upholstery cleaning in Newberry SC, call ServiceMaster of the Upstate at (864) 310-7891. We serve Greenville, Newberry, Spartanburg, Laurens, and Saluda, South Carolina and surrounding areas.