Preventive Actions

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.

  • If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 70% alcohol.

  • To the extent possible, avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places– elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, handshaking with people, etc. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something.

  • Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.

  • Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.

  • Clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks & cell phones)

  • Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick.

  • Avoid all non-essential travel including plane trips, and especially avoid embarking on cruise ships.

  • Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

If COVID-19 is spreading in your community

Take extra measures to put distance between yourself and other people to further reduce your risk of being exposed to this new virus.

  • Stay home as much as possible.

  • Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks