How to Stop the Spread of Covid-19

METHODS

1Practicing Healthy Habits

2Taking Precautions When You’re Sick

3Ditching Unsanitary Habits

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Questions & Answers

Tips and Warnings

Related Articles

References
Co-authored by Ni-Cheng Liang, MD
Last Updated: November 11, 2020 References

With all the information buzzing around about COVID-19, it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed
and confused. Thankfully, there are a lot of easy ways to prevent and stop the spread of the virus,
whether you’re at home or out and about. No matter where you live, there are plenty of ways you
can make your home and community safer and healthier during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method 1
Practicing Healthy Habits
1.

1
Stay at home if you can. Although it’s a simple solution, avoiding contact with other
people is an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Make an effort to stay at
home when you can, and avoid making trips unless you absolutely have to.[1]
 You can always stay connected by calling or video chatting with friends
and family.[2]
2.
2
Wear a mask or face covering before going out in public.[3] Slip on a medical mask
or face covering before you go grocery shopping, or enter any public area. If you
unknowingly have the virus, a mask can prevent you from spreading the illness to other
people. Similarly, masks can protect you from picking up the virus from other people.[4]
 Some people with COVID-19 don’t always show symptoms. Masks can
provide a lot of help when it comes to this.
3.

3
Distance yourself physically from other people. Germs can travel long distances,
which makes social distancing especially important. Make an effort to stand a safe
distance—6 feet (1.8 m) is recommended in the U.S.—away from others, whether
you’re shopping or going for a walk around the neighborhood.[5] While this may seem a
bit excessive, you can protect both yourself and others by keeping your distance.[6]
 In some places, like grocery stores, you won’t realistically be able to
distance yourself from everyone around you. Just wear a mask and do
the best that you can!
 Do your best to social distance wherever you go, whether you're
indoors or outdoors.
4.

4
Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze. Don’t sneeze or cough into the air—
this allows the virus to spread very easily. Instead, cough or sneeze into your elbow,
which helps keep the germs contained.[7] Additionally, you can sneeze or cough into a
tissue and then throw that tissue out. After you’ve sneezed or coughed, always wash
your hands thoroughly.[8]
5.
 5
Wash your hands frequently throughout the day.[9] Lather your hands with soap and
rinse them in warm water for 20 seconds. Get in the habit of washing your hands before
eating food, after you’ve coughed or sneezed, and after you’ve used the bathroom. If
you wash your hands often, you’re less likely to spread COVID-19 to other people.[10]
 Hand sanitizers are a great alternative if you’re in a rush. Look for
products with at least 60% ethanol/ethyl alcohol, which ensures that the
germs will be destroyed.
6.

6
Sanitize high-touch surfaces each day. Think about the places in your home that are
touched by a lot of people, like doorknobs, countertops, and tables. Each day, sanitize
these surfaces with disinfectant, so you won’t pick up any unwanted germs.[11]

7. 7
Practice healthy habits to keep your immune system strong. In addition to
preventing the spread of disease, you can develop healthy habits to keep your immune
system working its best.[12] These include:[13]
 Getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night
 Eating nutritious fruits and vegetables each day
 Doing at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week
 Relaxing and practicing mindfulness to reduce stress.
 Regularly connecting with friends and family on the phone or with
video calls.
Method 2
Taking Precautions When You’re Sick
1.
1
Quarantine yourself for at least 10 days. Stay at home when you’re sick, so you don’t
risk passing the virus on to anyone else. Keep track of how long you’ve quarantined—if
you’ve been at home for 10 days and you haven’t had a fever for at least 1 day, then
you can return to your usual routine.[14]
 Your fever has to have gone away on its own without the help of any
medication.
 Ask friends or family members to pick up food for you so you don’t
leave your home while you recuperate.[15] Or, order delivery.
2.

2
Separate yourself from the rest of your household if you’re sick. Designate a
specific area of your home to be “yours” if you come down with COVID-19. If
possible, designate a specific bathroom for yourself so you won’t be spreading germs to
anyone around you. Encourage the other people in your household to keep their
distance so you don’t risk spreading any germs.[16]
 As you recover, practice the same healthy habits you’d normally
practice, like covering your coughs and sneezes and sanitizing your
hands regularly.
3.

3
Wear a mask and wash your hands often. Even though you’re stuck at home, wear a
mask when you’re near other household members so you don’t spread as many germs.
As an extra precaution, don’t use or touch anything that other people in your household
may use, like cups, silverware, or bedding. Whether you live alone or with other people,
get in the habit of washing your hands often, using warm water and soap for 20
 seconds. Additionally, cover all of your sneezes and coughs with a tissue, or direct them
into your elbow if you're not wearing a mask. [17]
 Keep hand sanitizer close by so you can always keep your hands clean.
4.

4
Don’t snuggle with pets when you’re sick. As wonderful as it is to spend time with
your pet, your furry friend may collect some of your germs on their fur, which can be
spread to other members of your family. To be safe, ask a roommate or family member
to care for the pet while you recover.[18]
Method 3
Ditching Unsanitary Habits
1.

1
Keep your hands away from your face. Your eyes, nose, and mouth are major ways
you can get infected with COVID-19, especially if you’re rubbing those areas with your
hands. If you touch your face often, try out different habits that keep your hands
distracted, like knitting, using a fidget spinner, or squeezing a stress ball. If your hair
gets in your face a lot, tie it back so you’re less likely to be touching it.[19]
 If you’re less likely to catch COVID-19, you’ll be less likely to spread
it as well.
 Glasses that don’t fit properly may also cause you to touch your face.
 If you really have to itch your face, use a tissue to get the job done.
2.

2
 Don't touch germ-infested surfaces. Whether you’re in public or at home, you’ll
likely run into a lot of surfaces or spaces that pick up a lot of different germs. If you
can, touch these surfaces with a tissue so you won’t pick up as many germs in the long
run. If you do have to touch these surfaces, wash or sanitize your hands immediately
after.[20]
3.

3
Avoid shaking hands or hugging anyone in greeting. Unfortunately, handshakes,
hugs, and high-fives allow germs to spread pretty easily, and aren’t the greatest option
when you’re meeting up with someone. Instead, think of some hands-free ways you can
greet your friends and loved ones, like offering a wave or bumping elbows.[21]
Method 4
Debunking Popular Myths
1.

1
Accept that any person can come down with COVID-19. There are plenty of rumors
going around when it comes to who can and can’t catch the virus. It’s important to
remember that any person can come down with COVID-19, regardless of their age,
gender identity, race, or ethnicity.[22]
2.

2
Remind yourself that there are no approved cures for COVID-19. It’s important to
keep a positive attitude during the outbreak, but you don’t want to put any faith in false
facts. Don't believe any claims you see about products that can cure COVID-19, as none
have been proven or approved.[23]
  If you test positive for COVID-19, always follow your doctor’s
recommendations.
3.

3
Don’t worry about spreading COVID-19 through your shoes. There’s little evidence
to prove that the virus can be tracked into your home through your shoes.[24] Instead,
follow usual health practices to keep safe, like washing your hands, covering your nose
and mouth when you sneeze, and wearing a mask when you go outside.[25]
 You may want to store your shoes elsewhere if you have young kids at
home who will likely be crawling or touching the ground a lot. This
way, they won’t touch any of the dirt that’s on your shoes.
4.

4
Trust that COVID-19 can’t be spread through common pests. House flies and
mosquitoes may be pesky, uninvited guests around your home, but they won’t be
bringing the COVID-19 virus with them when they enter. Still, make an effort to stay
extra safe and healthy around your home by washing your hands often and sanitizing
any surfaces in your home that people touch a lot, like countertops or tables.[26]
5.

5
Don’t expect extra sunlight to protect you from COVID-19. While sunlight comes
with its share of health benefits, it won’t give you a get-out-of-jail-free card when it
comes to the virus. Instead, practice healthy habits both at home and when you’re out
and about, which can help reduce your risk of spreading COVID-19.[27]
  For instance, wash your hands frequently while you’re at home, and
make an effort not to touch your face.
Community Q&A
 Question
Do masks help reduce the spread of COVID-19?

Ni-Cheng Liang, MD
Board Certified Pulmonologist
Expert Answer

Absolutely! You should wear a mask whenever you go out in public and when you know
you'll be interacting with other people who aren't a part of your household.
Not Helpful 0Helpful 1
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Tips
 Donate blood to help medical professionals care for other patients.[28]
 Wait for a vaccine to be released. There are currently no vaccines available right now, but
there are several under development.[29]
 You can disinfect your groceries for extra peace of mind, but you don’t realistically have
to do this. Instead, be sure to wash your hands after you’ve unpacked your groceries.[30]
Warnings
 Currently, there’s no federally approved vaccine for COVID-19 yet anywhere in the
world. If you hear organizations claiming that they have a vaccine, report them to the
FDA by emailing FDA-COVID-19-Fraudulent-Products@fda.hhs.gov.[31]
 Drying your hands with a hand dryer won’t automatically “sanitize” or “disinfect” your
hands. Instead, stay healthy by washing your hands thoroughly and using hand sanitizer.
[32]