Living in a pandemic has made all of us hyper-aware of our hygiene habits. From singing Happy Birthday while washing our hands to frantically searching for a face mask every time we leave the house, hygiene has become an obsession for many this past year.
Now that we’re getting back to normal and leaving the house again, preventing the spread of Covid-19 is of great importance. Though there are a number of preventative measures taking place already, including the vaccine rollout and rapid Covid-19 testing with the a rapid antigen test, good hygiene habits will also be important in stopping the spread. Boosting your hygiene habits can be pretty simple and we’ve rounded up a few easy ways to get started.
Hand washing
This one probably seems obvious after the year we’ve just had but washing your hands thoroughly and frequently is the best way you can stop the spread of Covid-19. Washing with soap and water and making sure to wash all parts of your hands can stop the virus in its tracks. Tutorials for handwashing recommend washing for more than twenty seconds and covering all of your hands including, between your fingers, under your nails, and the palms of your hands. Drying your hands thoroughly is also required after washing. If you are unable to wash your hands, carrying an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good stand-in for when washing with soap and water is not available.
Not touching your face
This is probably the most difficult because touching your face is considered an unconscious habit, however, touching your face can increase your chances of contracting the virus. Contact with the eyes, nose, and mouth can allow the virus into your body without you realizing it. With good hand hygiene and a concerted effort to not touch your face, you will be helping to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Cough into your elbow
If you are coughing and sneezing, make sure to fully cover your mouth to prevent droplets from spreading. Coughing and sneezing into your elbow, or catching it in a tissue, means you’re less likely to transfer any infection to surfaces you touch afterward. Washing your hands thoroughly after coughing or sneezing will also prevent further virus transmission.
Cleaning touchpoints
Cleaning frequent touchpoints in your home can help to prevent the transmission of any viruses left on surfaces. Common touchpoints include surfaces, door handles, and taps and should be cleaned at least once a day, if not more often. If a person has been sick, disinfectant should also be used when cleaning to ensure the virus is completely removed.
Washing clothes are worn in public
When returning home from public spaces, it is important that you wash your clothes. It is unknown how long the virus can survive on clothing and so washing your clothes immediately can prevent any transmission. Though we’re all excited to get back out into the real world, taking preventative measures such as clothes washing and home testing with the Healgen Antigen test once you have returned home can ensure that you’re keeping yourself safe.
Wearing a face covering
Wearing a mask or face covering prevents small droplets of the virus expelled from the nose or mouth from infecting others. Face masks are worn to protect others from potential infection and so wearing one is a way to ensure you don’t spread the virus yourself.
Boosting your hygiene habits is easily done in a few simple steps. We’re all looking forward to getting back to a sense of normality and in following these few steps, we can all do it safely.
