Now that the number of coronavirus infections in the Netherlands is increasing, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) is calling on people to take precautions. With a few simple actions you can reduce the chance that you get the virus, or spread it further if you have the virus among the members without knowing it.
1. Sneeze or cough not in your hand, but in your elbow
The corona virus spreads through cough and sneeze drops. They cannot live outside the body for a very long time, but they can stay for a little while.
If you sneeze or cough in your hand and then touch others (indirectly), they can pick up the virus if the virus particles end up in their mouth, nose or eyes.
2. Sneeze or cough in a paper handkerchief
And then throw that handkerchief away immediately.
3. Stop shaking hands
Prime Minister Mark Rutte made this call on Monday evening. Thus, virus particles cannot be spread directly from hand to hand.
4. Always wash your hands regularly (and well)
Pathogens can easily be spread through the hands. Therefore, wash your hands regularly. “Do this if your hands have become dirty, if you have prepared food, after a visit to the toilet or after a cough or sneeze,” RIVM said.
Those who want to do this well first wet their hands, and then rub their hands with soap. The top and bottom are now covered with soap. Make sure your fingertips are well lathered.
Also take your wrists and rub the soap well between your fingers. After this you rinse all the soap again under the tap.
Make sure you dry your hands well, also between the fingers. This entire ritual should last around twenty seconds, advises the Red Cross.
Even after blowing the nose, playing outside, changing a child, stroking animals and a cleaning session, it is advisable to wash your hands.
5. If you live in Noord-Brabant, work (if possible) from home
The RIVM specifically chose this province, because the number of infections there is currently the largest.
6. If you live in Noord-Brabant and you have mild airway complaints, then stay at home as a precaution
The chance that you have contracted the corona virus is still very small, also in Brabant. But the RIVM would like to take the certain for the uncertain.
Follow the latest developments regarding the virus in our live blog.
The coronavirus in short
- The virus spreads mainly through cough and sneeze drops that hang in the air for a short time. Anyone who shows no symptoms is hardly a risk of infection.
- An infected person infects two to three others on average. However, this figure is falling due to all precautions.
- The vast majority have mild (flu-like) symptoms.
- Almost all deaths concern older or already sick people.
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