What precautions can be taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19?

COVID-19 Prevention Measures

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, implement comprehensive precautions including hand hygiene, mask wearing, physical distancing of at least 2 meters, avoiding gatherings, and proper respiratory etiquette. 1

Personal Hygiene Measures

• Clean hands frequently by washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after using the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose 1
• When hand washing isn't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol 1
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands 1
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissues when coughing or sneezing, or do so into your elbow 1
• Wear a face mask to protect others, especially in public settings 1
• Asymptomatic individuals who test positive should wear masks for at least 10 days from their initial positive test 2

Physical Distancing and Environmental Controls

• Maintain a physical separation zone of at least 2 meters (6 feet) from others whenever possible 1
• Avoid large gatherings or meetings of 10 people or more 1
• Limit social contacts and stay home when feeling sick 1
• Bring food and water from home and do not share with others 1
• Drive to destinations alone when possible - avoid carpooling 1
• Wipe down interiors and door handles of vehicles, and handles of shared equipment with disinfectant 1
• Improve ventilation in indoor spaces to reduce airborne transmission risk 3

Screening and Monitoring

• Implement verbal screening and temperature checks at workplaces and public facilities 1
• Key screening questions should include:
  • Presence of fever, cough, or difficulty breathing in the past 24 hours
  • Contact with a known COVID-19 case in the past 14 days 1
• Isolate immediately if symptoms develop or after exposure to a confirmed case 1, 3

Isolation and Quarantine Protocols

• If symptomatic or testing positive, isolate for at least 5 days 3
• If a household member is infected, the entire household should quarantine for 14 days 1
• Case identification and contact tracing are essential for containing spread 1

Special Considerations for Different Settings

Workplace Settings

• Establish clearly defined safety plans with designated zones to minimize contact 1
• Screen workers before allowing entry to facilities 1
• Secure entrance and egress with only essential personnel allowed access 1
• Implement proper disinfection protocols for shared surfaces and tools 1

Healthcare Settings

• Healthcare workers should use high-filtration masks (N95), goggles, and gowns when in direct contact with infected patients 1
• Place suspected patients in isolation rooms when available 1
• Use either disposable or dedicated equipment for suspected cases 1
• Avoid contaminating environmental surfaces such as door handles 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Don't assume that droplets cannot travel beyond 2 meters - studies show they can travel up to 8 meters in some cases 4
• Avoid removing masks prematurely, especially in healthcare or high-risk settings 2
• Don't neglect environmental cleaning, as COVID-19 patients can contaminate their surroundings 5
• Recognize that both droplet and airborne transmission routes are possible 4
• Don't assume that a persistent positive test after 10 days necessarily indicates ongoing infectivity 2

Evidence-Based Effectiveness

• Implementation of control measures such as lockdowns and social distancing has been shown to significantly reduce case numbers 1
• Data from cities with lockdown measures showed approximately 37% fewer cases compared to cities without such measures 1
• Early implementation of preventive measures is critical - studies suggest implementing control measures just one week earlier could have prevented approximately 67% of cases in some regions 1