ADF STAFF
As COVID-19 continues to spread across Africa and the world, people will have to rely on a strict regimen of personal sanitation and social distancing practices to prevent becoming infected, at least until a vaccine or reliable medicinal treatment can be found.
The African Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and other health authorities recommend a series of steps that begins with diligent hand-washing.
Everyone should wash their hands thoroughly and frequently for at least 40 seconds with soap under running water. The washing should include both sides of the hands, the thumbs, the fingertips, and around and between the fingers.
Hands should be washed:
- After coughing, sneezing or using a tissue.
- After coming from outside and before touching anything in your home.
- Before eating.
- After visiting the toilet or any public place.
- After using any form of public transport.
- After caring for or touching a sick person.
- When dirty.
- After touching any unsanitized surface.
Also, always avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Viruses are easily contracted when people touch their faces with unclean hands.
If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand rub or sanitizer should be rubbed all over the hands. The most effective sanitizers will have more than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol.
Finally, for as long as COVID-19 continues to spread, people should avoid shaking hands when greeting others. Consider a nod or bow instead.
Comments are closed.