10 Tips to Protect Yourself Against Coronavirus When Leaving the House

Even when in quarantine, many of us still need to go out to do errands, such as grocery shopping, buying medicine, and paying bills. When you have to leave your home, practice these useful tips to protect yourself against coronavirus when leaving the house.

1.  Stop Using Your Fingertips

Most people are accustomed to using their fingertips when pressing buttons such as in ATMs, elevators, and walk signs. But, with the current situation the world is in, this habit needs to stop. When going out, be mindful and use other parts of your body.

For example, you can use your knuckles instead when entering your pin code in the ATM. You can use your hips or shoulders to push doors. When switching the light, you can use either of your knuckles and elbows, whichever is easier. If you really need to use your hand, use something to wrap the object to protect your hand. For example, use your jacket when opening doorknobs.

2.  Be Mindful of Your Phone

While it’s good to disinfect your phone with sanitary wipes, it’s still better you are careful where you will put or use it. For example, avoid using your phone when going to a public restroom. Leave it in your purse or coat and use it only when you are done washing your hands. The lesser you expose your phone, the lesser the chances are of transferring germs to it.

When you’re in a place with a shared surface, such as in a restaurant, put a napkin on top of the table and lay your phone there. It will save you from cleaning your phone more often.

3.  Always Keep Your Distance

An effective way to protect yourself from the coronavirus illness is to keep your distance from others. You should be at least six feet away from people outside your household. This applies to everywhere outside your house, be it the grocery store, atm lines, going walks, and waiting for your food to go.

4.  Be Careful When Shopping

A lot of people have contracted the coronavirus disease when doing groceries. Bringing your own plastic bag or tote provides protection as it will refrain you from using public shopping carts and baskets. However, some stores do not allow this so talk first with the local store what its guidelines are.

If you need to use the store’s carts and baskets, wash your hands properly before you leave home to protect other people as well. Bring sanitary wipes and use them to clean the shopping cart or basket before use. Upon getting home, wash your hands again properly or better yet, take a bath to make sure you are completely clean.

5.  Wash Hands Immediately After Getting Home

Regardless of where you have been, it’s essential that you wash your hands immediately after you get home. Make sure not to touch anything as the coronavirus can thrive on surfaces for long periods of time. Washing your hands should take at least 20 seconds to ensure that you have cleaned every area.

Scrub your hands thoroughly and count at least five seconds when washing between the fingers, around the wrists, the knuckles, and your nails. 20 seconds may seem like a long time, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

6.  Choose the Automatic Option

The good news is, many buildings today have automatic buttons to make things more convenient for people with mobility issues. You can easily press these buttons using your foot, forearm, or hip and wait for the doors to open. At home, it’s recommended that you purchase an automatic dispenser so there is a lower chance of transferring germs.

7.  Change How You Greet People

Being in quarantine also means that we have to keep our distance even from people we are close to. When you see a friend or a neighbor, avoid giving them a hug, a peck on the cheek, and even a handshake. A simple “Hi!” and wave from a safe distance is enough to greet them. Remember, social distancing is not only to protect you but other people as well. You can check on them through the phone or through social media.

8.  Don’t Use Your Bare Hands When Sorting Produce

When grocery shopping, refrain from using your bare hands when sorting fresh fruit and vegetables. Always remember that viruses thrive on objects for a really long time. By using gloves or even plastic, you are both protecting yourself and other people from contamination.

Viruses on objects can easily cling to your skin when you come in direct contact with them. You can spread them on other things and possibly even your body, where the virus can enter your system.

Of course, you’ll never know what kind of virus might be on your hands, so it’s best to keep yourself protected. Protect yourself with medical-grade nitrile gloves that you can use for multiple purposes.

These gloves are often used in hospitals and medical examinations for safety and sanitary purposes. They fully cover the hands and wrist and prevent bacteria from entering the gloves, and they don’t rip easily when handling objects. Always keep a box of these gloves in your car and home.

9.  Don’t Forget About Your Home and Car

After coming home, do not forget to attend to your home and car. Clean and disinfect both inside and outside of your vehicle as both viruses and bacteria can easily spread through objects. Clean and sanitize your home regularly as well to control the spread of germs.

10.              Bring Sanitary Wipes, Hand Sanitizer, and Extra Napkins

When going out, always have disinfectants with you. While proper handwashing is highly recommended, it’s not all the time that soap and water are available. Extra napkins and sanitary wipes are useful when you need to wipe your hands as well as surfaces and objects in public places. Hand sanitizers that contain 75% alcohol, like those supplied in https://www.becleanse.com/, are ideal for proper hand hygiene.