How to Best Protect Yourself During the Coronavirus Outbreak

It’s a confusing and scary time at the moment, for individuals and businesses everywhere. What matters most is that you’re aware of the appropriate measures to take to protect yourself and those around you and getting through this challenging time in the best possible way.

Stay Informed

News about the virus is changing and evolving daily. Be sure always to check the latest information every day to ensure that you’re aware of the best methods to protect yourself, and what is happening in your region and your country.

Check Individual Locations Ahead of Time

If you are planning to head out to particular places, you need to do your research before you travel outside. Be sure to check the specific guidelines for your intended place, whether it’s a restaurant, public space, or anything similar. This is because individual establishments will have their own unique rules and precautions, so always check them before you go anywhere physically.

Take the Right Measures for Your Business

Protecting yourself during this time isn’t just about your personal life. If you’re a business manager or owner, then there are many other protection methods and complications you need to consider, too. Be sure to understand the latest government guidelines for the operation of your specific business, and also look into essential methods such as crisis management consulting to protect your business’s reputation, and those operating within it.

Wash Your Hands

You will hear this one a lot, but that’s because it’s essential to do so. Good hygiene practises should always be maintained, but in light of the recent outbreak, be sure to wash your hands more mindfully, for at least 20 seconds.

Don’t Ignore Symptoms

While a lot of widespread panic may be resulting in a lot of people with mild, unrelated symptoms to fear the worst, be sure to avoid panicking and calmly view any symptoms. The main symptoms for coronavirus to pay attention to are:

  • A dry cough
  • High temperature
  • Shortness of breath

While coronavirus symptoms have been likened to cold and flu symptoms, it’s essential to pay attention to difficulty breathing and a relentless dry cough being the most apparent symptoms. This means if you feel a little flu-like but don’t have a cough or shortness of breath, don’t immediately panic about the potential for coronavirus and pay attention to progressive symptoms accordingly. If you feel even a little unwell, it’s safest to stay at home and isolate yourself. You can find the latest guidance regarding symptoms on the NHS website.

Be Mindful of Others

If you are a healthy individual, then it may be that you don’t realise that you’re carrying symptoms that can be passed to more vulnerable members of society. These include the elderly, those with weak immune systems that can be brought on through hereditary illnesses, cancer, or cancer-related treatments, and other long-term respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), so you should always take precautions for the sake of others if you need to go out, get a face mask for shops and public transport and always have social distancing in mind.

Cancel Any Big Plans

It may be the last thing that you want to do, but social distancing and social isolation are paramount during this time. If plans can be rescheduled, then do so, for the safety of yourself and others. Cancellation is for a good reason, and social arrangements can easily be remade at any time during the future when it’s safe to do so.