Currently, there are already more than 33.5 million COVID-19 cases worldwide. There are places like Macau and Greenland where COVID-19 seems to have been eliminated. In other countries like India and Russia, numbers are still increasing. Europe, meanwhile, is said to be experiencing a second wave of infections.

Amidst all this, one thing is certain: SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for the global pandemic, is still here. It is, therefore, essential for people to exercise prudence and continue protecting themselves and others from COVID-19. This includes following the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) and medical authorities in Australia.

Below are 10 medically approved ways by which you can protect yourself from COVID-19:

Main Contents

• • • • 1. Wash your hands properly
      • 2. Put on a face mask
      • 3. Practice social distancing
      • 4. Don’t go on unnecessary trips
      • 5. Have a hand sanitiser on hand
      • 6. Avoid touching surfaces unnecessarily
      • 7. Disinfect personal items
      • 8. Wipe down doorknobs and handles
      • 9. Boost your immune system
      • 10. Adhere to public health guidelines

1. Wash your hands properly

Hand hygiene remains the No. 1 method of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Washing your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds is enough to kill pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. Soap breaks apart the layer of fat covering the virus, eventually killing it.

2. Put on a face mask

Wearing a face covering, mask, or shield protects both the wearer and other people. If you are sick and are out in public, wearing a mask prevents you from spreading germs. Conversely, it can also shield you from people who are unwell.

3. Practice social distancing

Social distancing is not just about keeping a safe distance from others according to WHO guidelines. It also includes avoiding crowds or settings where people congregate. The reason for this is that close contact enables the faster transmission of infection.

4. Don’t go on unnecessary trips

Although public health guidelines have eased, be smart and don’t go out on unnecessary trips. If you are considered high-risk, avoid going out to limit your exposure to pathogens. Try to do your bank or shopping transactions online whenever possible. Instead of going to a restaurant, order in whilst practising proper health protocols.

5. Have a hand sanitiser on hand

In the absence of soap and water, people can use hand sanitiser to disinfect their hands. However, for it to be effective, the hand sanitiser you use should be 62 to 70 per cent alcohol. You also need to keep it on your hands for at least 15 seconds. FeverMates hand sanitiser has 70 per cent ethanol, making it ideal for COVID-19 protection.

6. Avoid touching surfaces unnecessarily

Infected water droplets can be a source of transmission, so people need to avoid touching surfaces. The novel coronavirus can survive for up to 72 hours on steel surfaces. If you use public transportation, you need to avoid contact with steel handles and knobs.

For this, the Fever Mates custom brass hand distancer can be quite useful. It is one of the many Australian medical accessories designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You can use it to push doors, buttons, and keypads without touching the surface directly.

7. Disinfect personal items

People are also advised to disinfect personal items after getting home. Use disinfecting wipes to sanitise your laptop, cell phone, purse, wallet, etc. Clean your eyeglasses and sunglasses using the appropriate cleanser.

8. Wipe down doorknobs and handles

Make sure to wipe down door handles at home and your vehicle after venturing outside. Doing this will prevent you from contaminating these surfaces that others at home will also be touching. Make sure you wash your hands with soap and warm water afterward.

9. Boost your immune system

A strong immune system is necessary to reduce your chances of contracting the disease, whether it's COVID-19 or something else. To do this, ensure that you:

• Eat nutritious food.
• Exercise regularly at home.
• Get enough sleep.
• Avoid or manage stress.

10. Adhere to public health guidelines

Australian states and territories each have their own public health guidelines. Since these are meant to protect the general populace from COVID-19, do your best to follow them.

These are just some steps you can take to avoid contracting COVID-19. Some of these may already be second nature to you, just like wearing emergency medical IDs. Continue implementing them to prevent or minimise exposure to the novel coronavirus.

You can also shop for Mediband products to further protect yourself from COVID-19.