Keep COVID-19 out of your home
As you likely have heard, Governor Kate Brown ordered all Oregonians to stay home unless absolutely necessary (work, medical care or groceries) to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The best way to avoid getting ill is to avoid being exposed to the virus, but even the most careful of us need to go outside sometimes.
Whether you work in an essential job, you need to go to the store for groceries and supplies, or you just need to take your dog out and get your mail, there is a risk of carrying the coronavirus into your home if you’re not careful.
So, how can you be sure you are taking proper precautions to avoid getting sick? Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself, your family, and your home from being infected:
Avoid Close Contact
It is mandatory in Oregon that everyone maintain a distance of at least six feet away from other people to help stop the spread of coronavirus. So, if for whatever reason you have to leave the house, make sure you are aware of your proximity to other people, and put a distance between yourself and anyone who isn’t in your immediate family.
Keep Your Hands Clean
Wash your hands often, especially when you leave the house. Wear disposable gloves, if possible, and wash your hands before you put the gloves on and after you take the gloves off. Also be aware of everything that you’re bringing into your home, and make sure those are clean as well. If using wipes or hand sanitizer, make sure they contain at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your face, especially when out in public.
Clean AND Disinfect
Think about all of the surfaces you touch regularly, like tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. It is not enough for those surfaces to be cleaned regularly – they also need to be disinfected regularly. Use detergent or soap and water before disinfecting with a common EPA-registered household disinfectant.
To make your own disinfectant, you can dilute your household bleach by taking five tablespoons (1/3rd cup) of bleach per gallon of water, or using four teaspoons of bleach per quart of water. You can also disinfect with alcohol solutions that have as least 70% alcohol.
Disinfect all commonly-touched surfaces in your home regularly, especially when you need to leave your house. By keeping our bodies and homes clean, we can help prevent our own illness and the spread of COVID-19 to others.
SOURCE: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
