China Discovery Working with You to Fight Against COVID-19

1. Keep distance with people when talking.

The novel coronavirus can be transmitted via droplets and fly 1 to 2 meters in the air before falling to the ground. Droplets can be transmitted far longer when sneezing and coughing than speaking, so apart from keeping 1 to 2meters of distance. Also remember to wear a mask when you are close to someone else.

2. Washing hands can reduce risk of get infected

Please wash your hands promptly and properly after touching elevator buttons or using cash. Do not touch your nose or mouth or rub your eyes before washing your hands. Do not use smart phones while eating.

Why? Washing your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water kills the virus if it is on your hands.

3. Wearing a mask

A surgical or N95 mask shall be worn when visiting public areas, hospitals or taking public transportation.

The importance to wearing a mask

Novel coronavirus is transmitted via droplets and fomites during close, unprotected contact between an infector and infectee. 2019-nCoV during its incubation period, which may last up to 14 days before symptoms emerge. Rarely know that some spread might be possible before people show symptoms, there have been reported of this occurring with new coronavirus. So many persons even don’t realize themselves are carrying virus before show symptoms. When people realize they need to wear a mask, the virus is already spreading. So it's difficult to recognize who is carrying the virus by wearing a mask or not. In this case, wearing a mask is most efficient method of self-protection.

4. Practice respiratory hygiene

When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue-discard tissue immediately into a closed bin and clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

Why? Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing prevent the spread of germs and viruses. If you sneeze or cough into your hands, you may contaminate objects or people that you touch.

5. Avoid consumption of raw or undercooked animal products

Handle raw meat, milk or animal organs with care, to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.

6. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Why? Hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with your contaminated hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself.

7. Reduce outdoor activities as much as possible.

Avoid visiting areas where the disease is prevalent.

It is recommended to make less visits to relatives and friends and dining together during the epidemic prevention and control, and stay at home as much as possible.

Try to avoid visits to crowded public areas, especially places of poor ventilation, such as public bathrooms, hot springs, cinemas, internet bars, Karaokes, shopping malls, bus/train stations, airports, ferry terminals and exhibition centers, etc.

8. Keep indoors properly ventilated.

Open the window and ventilate 2-3 times a day for half an hour each time. Remember to keep warm since the temperature can change dramatically in the period where winter changes to spring.

9. Relax and do appropriate exercise.

It is advised that you do calisthenics and Tai Chi. The exercise time is preferably 30-40 minutes, four to five times a week. Remember to warm up before exercising.

10. Measure the daily body temperatures

Measure the daily body temperatures of you and your family members, and monitor respiratory tract infection symptoms.