After a period of widespread quarantine, when people begin to return to the streets and there is an increase in social interactions, some precautions are of paramount importance to ensure that the rate of disease transmission remains low.
In the case of COVID-19, WHO states that the main forms of transmission continue to be direct contact with infected people, as well as inhalation of respiratory particles of infected people. Therefore, the most important precautions that should be maintained after quarantine are:
- COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that is mainly transmitted by droplets released by sneezing and coughing.
- Thus.
- The use of a mask in public places is very important to prevent these particles from spreading and being inhaled by others.
- Especially in enclosed environments.
- Such as markets.
- Cafes or buses for example.
The mask should be worn by all people who sneeze or cough, but it should also be worn by people without symptoms, as cases of people who transmitted the virus have been reported until a few days before the first symptoms of the infection appear.
Frequent hand washing is another practice that should be continued after quarantine, as in addition to helping to control the transmission of the new coronavirus, it also helps prevent many other diseases that can be transmitted by the hands.
Transmission of the disease occurs when you touch your hands on a contaminated surface and then take them to your eyes, nose or mouth, which have thin mucous membranes that allow viruses and bacteria to penetrate the body more easily.
Therefore, hand washing should be maintained frequently and especially after being in a public place with other people, such as after shopping at the supermarket. If you can’t wash your hands with soap and water, another alternative is to disinfect your hands with an alcoholic gel or other disinfectant.
According to a study in Japan [1], the risk of getting the new coronavirus appears to be 19 times higher indoors. Therefore, whenever possible, you should choose to practice outdoor activities, avoiding closed places such as cinemas, shops or shopping centers.
If you need to enter, the ideal is to go as little as possible, put on a mask, avoid touching your face with your hands, stand 2 meters from other people and wash your hands after leaving the room.
Another very important care is to keep the social distance of at least 2 meters. This distance ensures that particles that are released by coughing or sneezing cannot spread as quickly among people.
Distance should be respected mainly in enclosed areas, but can also be maintained in outdoor environments, especially when people do not wear protective masks.