Staying Safe

How can you stay safe?

COVID-19 is highly infectious, but you can take steps to minimize your risk of infection.

Social Distancing

The best thing you can do to avoid COVID-19 is to avoid close contact with other people by staying at home. If you do have to leave your home, be sure to stay at least 6 feet (or two arms’ lengths) away from other people. Remember that people may infect you even if they do not exhibit any symptoms.

Masks

The CDC also recommends wearing a mask in public settings. By wearing a mask, you can protect other people in case you are infected. Wearing a mask is not a substitute for social distancing.

Your mask should cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against your face. Do not wear a mask around your neck, under your nose, on your chin, or dangling from one ear. When removing a mask, carefully stretch the ear loops then fold the outside corners together. Be sure to handle your mask only by the ear loops as the mask itself may be contaminated. Wash your hands immediately after removing your mask.

Cloths masks may be washed with your laundry using laundry detergent and the warmest possible water. It should be dried using the highest heat setting available on your dryer.

Hand Washing

After you have been in a public place, you should be sure to wash your hands using the proper technique.

1. Wet your hands with warm or cold water
2. Apply soap
3. Lather the soap thoroughly. Be sure to lather between your fingers, under your fingernails, and around your wrists.
4. Rinse your hands with clean water
5. Don’t forget to dry your hands using a clean paper or cloth towel, if possible. Research has shown that drying using a paper/cloth towel reduces germ count.