Coronavirus Protection & Prevention

With coronavirus top of mind for most of the country, and as cases are being reported around the world, its normal to feel worried, but best to stay informed. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to believe that the risk of acquiring this virus in the United States is low.

For information on treating respiratory symptoms and when to seek care, please call the COVID-19 Carson City Health & Human Services Hot Line at (775) 434-1988.

Carson Tahoe Health Chief Medical Officer Allen Fink, DO, MHA, FACEP has put together some tips to protect yourself and stay healthy.

Protection & Prevention

Protection against novel coronavirus (CoVid19) is much like preventing transmission of the flu. There are everyday preventive actions you can take and make part of your everyday routine:

• Avoid close contact with symptomatic persons if an outbreak occurs you will want to avoid crowds to minimize your risk of catching the disease.
• Containing the flu is our best defense so please stay home if you are sick.
• Practice good cough etiquette- Cough etiquette is a series of actions to take if you are coughing or sneezing, which are designed to reduce the spread of respiratory illness to others. … Sneeze, blow your nose or cough into a disposable tissue, and discard the tissue immediately into a bin, then wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces- We still don’t know exactly how long the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can survive on surfaces. But Stephen Morse, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Medical Center, says what we know from other coronaviruses is that most household cleaners — such as bleach wipes or alcohol — will kill them. Even wiping down surfaces with soap and water should do the trick because this coronavirus has a lipid envelope around it — like a coat that keeps the RNA inside the viral particle. And soap is a detergent that can break down lipids.
• PRACTICE GOOD HAND HYGIENE-the best ways to protect yourself against infection from COVID-19 — or cold or flu, for that matter – is good old-fashioned hand hygiene. Washing your hands frequently, as well as avoiding touching your face, eyes, and nose, is a tried-and-true way to cut down on respiratory infections. Studies have shown that good and frequent hand-washing will decrease the risk of transmission of these viruses. You can use the alcohol-based hand gels, or soap and water. It doesn’t need to be any kind of antibacterial soap. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds – about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.

Additional Information

• Washoe County Health District: https://www.washoecounty.us/health/programs-and-services/communicable-diseases-and-epidemiology/educational_materials/COVID-19.php
• World Health Organization: https://www.who.int