The Belarusian Red Cross has developed recommendations in connection with the spread of coronavirus
- Stay home! If you need groceries or essential supplies, ask someone who is helping you to purchase and deliver them to your home. If you need to leave home (to walk a pet, take out the trash, etc.), avoid contact, and observe hygiene rules upon return. While staying at home, engage in enjoyable activities: read books, draw, knit, solve crosswords and puzzles, etc. Ask someone who is helping you to buy everything you need for leisure.
- Limit PERSONAL contact, but do not stop communicating. Communicate with relatives, friends, acquaintances, and neighbors remotely: by phone or internet.
- Do not use public transport, do not go to markets, limit visits to shops and other public places. Otherwise, you may get infected: firstly, through contact with an infected person, and secondly, through surfaces such as doorknobs and handrails where the virus has remained.
- Wash your hands! Use soap or hand sanitizer (ideally both) every time you come from outside, before eating, after using the toilet, and when necessary. Do not skimp on cleanliness. Ask someone who is helping you to buy and bring you enough soap. Post the rules for washing and sanitizing hands in a visible place in the bathroom and strictly follow them.
- If you cough or sneeze, wear a mask.
- If you need to see a doctor, DO NOT GO TO THE CLINIC, but invite a healthcare professional to your home. In emergencies, call an ambulance.
It is important to do everything possible to prevent the unimpeded spread of coronavirus.
Stay calm and be healthy!
Coronavirus: How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause diseases characterized by damage to the respiratory system, and less often, the digestive system.
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.
The spread of coronavirus infection has affected the whole world. In Belarus, large-scale work is being carried out to contain the spread of the disease. Patients diagnosed with the infection are successfully treated in hospitals. The sanitary and epidemiological service identifies "first and second level" contacts. Medical workers are ready to provide assistance to those in need.
Ways of coronavirus transmission
- airborne (when sneezing and coughing)
- contact (when someone touches any contaminated surface, for example, a doorknob, people get infected when they touch their mouth, nose, or eyes with contaminated hands)
The incubation period from the moment the virus enters the body until the appearance of symptoms ranges from 2 to 14 days.
Who is at risk
People of all ages are at risk of contracting the virus (according to data from Wuhan, from 15 to 88 years old). The high-risk group includes the elderly (over 60), as well as people with weakened immune systems or chronic diseases. They are particularly susceptible to developing the most severe forms of COVID-19.
What are the symptoms
- fever;
- cough and/or sore throat;
- fatigue;
- difficulty breathing.
The symptoms are largely similar to many respiratory diseases, often mimic a common cold, and can resemble the flu.
If you have similar symptoms, consider the following:
- Have you visited high-risk areas (countries with a large number of coronavirus infection cases) in the last two weeks?
- Have you been in contact with someone who visited high-risk areas (countries with a large number of coronavirus infection cases) in the last two weeks?
If your answer is "yes", you should pay close attention to the symptoms and call a doctor at home or contact emergency medical services.
How to protect yourself
- Keep your hands and surfaces clean
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before preparing food, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing and sneezing, after using the toilet, after visiting public places, before, during, and after caring for a sick person.
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer.
Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and devices that you and others touch (light switches, door handles and railings, computer keyboards, smartphone screens).
- Keep your distance
Try to avoid crowded places, postpone visits to concerts, theaters, and cinemas, do not visit swimming pools or gyms.
Be especially careful when in crowded places, airports, and public transport. Minimize touching surfaces and objects in such places. Do not touch your face.
Avoid greeting with handshakes, hugs, and cheek kisses. Do not share food, utensils, or towels.
Keep at least 1 meter away from people whenever possible, especially if they are coughing, have a runny nose, or a fever.
- Do not touch your face, mouth, or eyes with your hands
Try not to touch your mouth, nose, or eyes with unwashed hands (we usually do this unconsciously 15 times an hour). This is because you may have touched a surface contaminated with the virus and introduced it into your body.
- Follow hygiene rules
When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue (always carry them with you) or the crook of your elbow. Immediately discard the tissue in a trash can with a lid and sanitize your hands with an alcohol-based antiseptic or wash them with soap and water. These measures will help limit the spread of the virus and its transmission to others.
- Wear a mask
Wear a mask, changing it every 2-3 hours (more often if it becomes soiled) in the following cases:
- if you have symptoms of ARVI;
- when caring for and assisting a person with a respiratory infection;
- when assisting an elderly person.
What to remember when experiencing symptoms of the disease
- Stay at home. If your health worsens, call a doctor, inform them about your whereabouts for the past two weeks and possible contacts. Strictly follow the doctor's recommendations.
- Minimize contact with healthy people, especially the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases. It is better for one person to care for the sick.
- When coughing or sneezing, use a disposable tissue or handkerchief, covering your mouth. If you don't have one, sneeze into your elbow.
- Use individual personal hygiene items and disposable tableware.
- Ensure wet cleaning of the premises with disinfectants and frequent ventilation.
HANDWASHING RULES
- Stay at home! If you need groceries or essential items, ask someone who is helping you to purchase and deliver them to your home. If you need to leave home (walk a pet, take out the trash, etc.), avoid contact, and observe hygiene rules upon return. While staying at home, engage in enjoyable activities: read books, draw, knit, solve crosswords and puzzles, etc. Ask someone who is helping you to buy everything you need for leisure.
- Limit PERSONAL contact, but do not stop communicating. Communicate with relatives, friends, acquaintances, and neighbors remotely: by phone or internet.
- Do not use public transport, do not go to markets, limit visits to shops and other public places. Otherwise, you may get infected: firstly, through contact with an infected person, and secondly, through surfaces like doorknobs and handrails where the virus has remained.
It is important to do everything possible to prevent the unimpeded spread of coronavirus.
Stay calm and be healthy!
Coronavirus: How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones?
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause diseases affecting the respiratory system, and less commonly, the digestive system.
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.
The spread of coronavirus infection has affected the entire world. In Belarus, extensive work is being carried out to contain the spread of the disease. Patients diagnosed with the virus are successfully treated in hospitals. The sanitary and epidemiological service identifies "first and second level" contacts. Medical professionals are ready to provide assistance to those in need.
Ways of Coronavirus Transmission
- Airborne (through sneezing and coughing)
- Contact (when someone touches any contaminated surface, such as a doorknob, people get infected when they touch their mouth, nose, or eyes with contaminated hands)
The time from the virus entering the body to the appearance of symptoms ranges from 2 to 14 days.
Who is at Risk?
People of all ages are at risk of contracting the virus (according to data from Wuhan, from 15 to 88 years old). People over 60, as well as people with weakened immune systems or chronic diseases, are at high risk. They are particularly susceptible to developing the most severe forms of COVID-19.
What are the symptoms
- elevated body temperature;
- cough and/or sore throat;
- feeling of fatigue;
- difficulty breathing.
The symptoms are largely similar to many respiratory diseases, often mimic a common cold, and can resemble the flu.
If you have similar symptoms, consider the following:
- Have you visited high-risk areas (countries with many cases of coronavirus infection) in the last two weeks?
- Have you been in contact with someone who has visited high-risk areas (countries with many cases of coronavirus infection) in the last two weeks?
If your answer is "yes", you should pay close attention to the symptoms and call a doctor at home or contact emergency medical services.
How to protect yourself
- Keep your hands and surfaces clean
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before preparing food, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, and sneezing, after using the toilet, after visiting public places, before, during, and after caring for a sick person.
If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer.
Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and devices that you and others touch (light switches, doorknobs and handrails, computer keyboards, smartphone screens).
- Maintain distance
Try to avoid crowded places, postpone visits to concerts, theaters, and cinemas, do not visit swimming pools or gyms.
Be especially careful when in crowded places, airports, public transport. Minimize touching surfaces and objects in such places. Do not touch your face.
Avoid greeting with handshakes, hugs, and kisses on the cheek. Do not share food, dishes, towels.
Keep at least 1 meter away from people, as much as possible, especially if they are coughing, have a runny nose, and a fever.
- Do not touch your face, mouth, and eyes with your hands
Try not to touch your mouth, nose, or eyes with unwashed hands (we usually do this unconsciously 15 times an hour). After all, before that, you could have touched a surface where the virus was present and introduced it into your body.
- Observe hygiene rules
When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue (always carry them with you) or the bend of your elbow. Immediately discard the tissue in a lidded trash can and treat your hands with an alcohol-based antiseptic or wash them with soap and water. These measures will help limit the spread of the virus and its transmission to other people.
- Use a mask
Wear a mask, changing it every 2-3 hours (more often if it gets dirty) in the following cases:
- if you have symptoms of ARVI;
- when caring for and assisting a person with a respiratory infection;
- when assisting an elderly person.
What is important to remember with symptoms of illness
- Stay home. If your health worsens, call a doctor, inform them about your whereabouts in the last 2 weeks, and possible contacts. Strictly follow the doctor's recommendations.
- Minimize contact with healthy people, especially the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases. It is better for one person to care for the sick person.
- When coughing or sneezing, use a disposable tissue or handkerchief, covering your mouth. If you don't have them, sneeze into your elbow bend.
HANDWASHING RULES