Currently, lockdowns in many European countries are causing the infection rates to fall or to remain at a steady level. To ensure that the numbers do not rise again after the lockdowns, it is important to follow strict hygiene practices. Here’s how to protect yourself and others, and when sanitisers should be used.*
Keep your distance and ventilate regularly
We are not defenseless against infection. There are simple measure we can take to reduce the risk of infection:
- Keep your distance: stay at least 1.50 metres away from other people
- Observe hygiene rules: wash your hands regularly, sanitise them when water and soap are not nearby, sneeze and cough into the crook of your arm.
- Wear masks in public: covering the mouth and nose reduces the emission of aerosols.
- Ventilate: ventilation helps to reduce the concentration of virus-containing aerosols.
Avoiding contacts
The virus spreads from person to person, so contacts should be avoided or reduced:
- Avoid private meetings.
- Work from home if possible.
- Avoid public transport.
- Sanitise your hands after going by bus or train.
- Wear a mask over your mouth and nose in all places where the minimum distance to others cannot be maintained.
- Choose off-peak times to run errands when there are fewer people around
- Use the shopping trolley as a spacer in the supermarket.
- Sanitise your hands after shopping.
Furthermore, we advise you to use the coronavirus warning app (local names vary). These apps inform users if they have come into contact with a person who has tested positive for Corona, If there is a risk that you have been exposed, you will be asked to isolate yourself as a precaution. In this way, the app helps to detect and break chains of infection more quickly.
What to do in case of contact
After an encounter with a positively tested person, you must go into quarantine. This means that you should not leave the house and must isolate yourself completely from other people, even from your family. Therefore you must stay in a separate room - not entered by anyone else.
If you notice symptoms such as a cold, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, cough, difficulty breathing, facial pain or headache, this may indicate a Coronavirus infection. This may be accompanied by fever and general fatigue.
Other possible symptoms include: abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, diarrhea, muscle and joint complaints, sleep disturbances, restlessness and daytime tiredness. Loss of smell and taste are also typical, especially bitter and sweet foods are not recognised.
What to do in case of a positive test?
If you test positive, rest at home and try and follow this guidance:
- Take it easy on yourself physically
- Measure your body temperature regularly
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Avoid alcohol
- Air your home
- Taking antipyretics such as aspirin may relieve symptoms
- If symptoms worsen and you experience shortness of breath, call your doctor for advice or go to hospital
- If contact with people in your household is unavoidable, wear a mask.
Also important: use your own bathroom/toilet - if possible. Air the bathroom after use, rinse the sink or/and shower/bathtub well and sanitise the surfaces with alcohol-based sanitising wipes.
Please keep in mind: There has been progress in the treatment of Coronavirus and the vaccination programs have begun across Europe. But one thing always remains: hygiene measures are the foundation of infection control.
*The article is based on the recommendations of the German Society for Hospital Hygiene and the German Society for Hygiene, Environmental Medicine and Preventive Medicine.
