Coronavirus (COVID-19): What you need to know and learn

There are simple everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of the virus:

• Avoid close contact with people who are visibly sick with flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sneezing).
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Stay home when you experience these symptoms to avoid spreading illness to others.
• The sick are encouraged to use a facemask to cover their nose and mouth.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the dustbin and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water.
• Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as door handles and phones.

There is currently no vaccine to protect against Coronavirus. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus or to those infected with the virus.

There is no specific antiviral treatment. However, people who have been infected should immediately, seek medical care to help relieve symptoms and manage complications.

The best place to manage a sick person with Coronavirus is in the hospital. However, if the patient is still managed at home you should:

• Place the patient in a well-ventilated single room and provide the patient with a facemask.
• Limit the number of caretakers of the patient to only one person who is in good health.
• Wash your hands with running water and soap following all contact with sick persons or their immediate environment.
• Avoid direct contact with body fluids, particularly oral or respiratory secretions or stool of the patient.
• Avoid sharing toothbrushes, eating utensils, dishes, drinks, towels, washcloths or bed linen with the sick person.
• Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs/handles, bedside tables, bedframes, and other bedroom furniture daily with regular household disinfectant or soap.
• Clean and disinfect bathroom and toilet surfaces at least once a day with regular household disinfectant or soap.
• Persons with symptoms should remain at home until their symptoms are resolved based on either clinical and/or laboratory findings.
• All household members should be considered contacts and their health should be monitored.
• If a household member develops symptoms of acute respiratory infection, including fever, cough, sore throat and difficulty breathing, follow the steps above.