COVID-19 has been making headlines all over the world for three years now. At that time, the world understood more about the virus.
The most common symptoms of the virus come in the form of fever, dry cough, and extreme fatigue. However, there are other symptoms associated with the virus as well. These include a runny nose, a sore throat, headaches, and muscle aches. In severe cases, the virus can lead to pneumonia, which can be fatal.
If you don’t want your family members to become infected with the virus, there are some things you can do to ensure their safety.
Disinfect Surfaces in Your Home
Researchers have found that the virus can survive on particular surfaces for 72 hours. This means that if someone in your family is infected with the virus, they can spread it by touching surfaces in your home, and then you can become infected by touching those surfaces.
To prevent this from happening, you should regularly disinfect all home surfaces. This includes countertops, doorknobs, light switches, toilets, faucets, and sinks. You should also disinfect any surface that has been touched by someone who is sick.
You can disinfect surfaces by using a bleach solution or a disinfectant. Alcohol also works as a disinfectant.
Wash Your Hands Often
Washing your hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus. You should wash your hands often with soap and water for a minute. If you can’t wash your hands, you should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
You should wash your hands:
- After you go outside
- After you sneeze, cough, or blow your nose
- Before you eat or prepare food
- After you use the restroom
Washing your hands with soap kills the virus because it breaks down the virus’s outer layer. The same goes for alcohol.
Avoid Crowded Areas
It’s best to avoid crowded areas if you don’t want to become infected with the virus. It’s because it’s easier for the virus to spread when more people are in one place.
If you have to go to a crowded area, try to keep a distance of six feet from other people. You should also wear a face mask to protect yourself.
Get Vaccinated
One of the best ways to protect yourself from the virus is to get vaccinated. The vaccine is available for free through the government.
The vaccine is most effective when given to people at high risk for the virus, such as health care workers and people over the age of 65. There are also vaccines available to children right now. Here are the most common vaccines available to people:
Pfizer
It’s a two-dose vaccine that is given 21 days apart. It is available to people 16 years of age and older. The vaccine is unique because it uses messenger RNA (mRNA). It’s known to be quite effective against the virus and its variants.
Moderna
It’s a two-dose vaccine that is given 28 days apart. It is available to people 18 years of age and older. The vaccine uses lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver the mRNA.
Johnson & Johnson (Janssen)
This one-dose vaccine is available to people 18 years of age and older. The vaccine uses a weakened version of the adenovirus, which causes the common cold. It’s known to be effective in protecting seniors compared to other viruses. Additionally, it’s considered to be the most effective vaccine, but it’s pretty rare.
AstraZeneca
It’s a two-dose vaccine that is given 12 weeks apart. It is available to people 18 years of age and older. The vaccine uses an adenovirus that has been weakened. It’s considered effective, but there have been some reports of severe side effects, such as blood clots.
There are also a few other vaccines in development. These include vaccines from Novavax, Sanofi Pasteur, and CureVac.
Get Tested Regularly
If you are exposed to the virus or think you might have it, you should get tested. The safest play to get tested is in your local family clinic. They should have all sorts of test kits prepared and can help you with treatment if you have the virus.
You should also get tested for virus symptoms, such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Symptoms usually appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
There are two types of tests available: viral and antibody. Viral tests can tell if you currently have the virus. Antibody tests can tell if you have had the virus in the past.
You can also get a rapid test in about 15 minutes. However, these tests are not as accurate as the other two tests.
COVID-19 is a dangerous virus and one that can quickly spread. However, there are ways to protect yourself and your family. Following these simple tips can help ensure that your family stays safe from the virus.
