The coronavirus pandemic isn’t ending anytime soon. But some simple, easy-to-remember steps can help you do your part to reduce the spread of infection.
The coronavirus pandemic has occupied our minds for months. Overtime has disrupted the lives of those working in insurance distribution, their families, and their clients.
Most people who contract COVID-19 are in high-risk populations, including people age 65 or older, people living in nursing homes, and people with underlying medical conditions.
While you may not fall into one of these high-risk categories, you are still at risk because people in all age groups have contracted the highly contagious disease.
Coronavirus is an infection that is mainly spread from person to person. When people with the coronavirus cough or sneeze, they produce respiratory droplets that can land on surfaces or in the mouths or noses of nearby people.
The dangerous aspect of this disease is that people can be infected with the coronavirus and not display any symptoms while still spreading the infection.
Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent a coronavirus infection nor any approved medications to treat COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers these simple guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Wash Your Hands Often 🧼
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- If soap and water are unavailable, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid Close Contact 📏
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home. If possible, maintain six feet between yourself and the person who is sick.
- Put distance between yourself and other people outside your home. Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm’s lengths) from other people.
- Do not gather in groups.
- Stay out of crowded places and avoid mass gatherings.
- Keeping your distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Cover Your Mouth and Nose with a Face Covering When Around Others (Like Clients) 😷
REMEMBER: A FACE COVERING IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING.
- Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they go out in public; for example, to the grocery store or when somewhere you cannot stay at least 6 feet apart, such as in an office building.
- The cloth face covering is meant to protect others in case you are infected.
- Continue to keep six feet between yourself and others.
Cover Coughs and Sneezes 🤧
- If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or the inside of your elbow
- Throw used tissues in the trash.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Clean and Disinfect 🧽
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces on a daily basis. This includes tables, doors, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
- If surfaces are dirty, clean them with detergent or soap and water before disinfecting.
- Use a household disinfectant. The most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work.
COVID-19 Symptoms 🌡️
The CDC recently updated its list of symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe and may appear 2-14 days after someone is exposed to the virus.
People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
or at least two of these symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
Please consult your physician if any of these symptoms are severe or concerning to you.
The rate of coronavirus infections can only go down if we all take a common-sense approach to prevention. By following the CDC guidelines, you will be taking the steps to protect yourself, your family, and your clients from the disease.
Go to www.cdc.gov for the latest information about the coronavirus.
