Minimizing Your Risk of Infection
Even staying home your risk of infections is not zero but there are things that increase risk, some that don’t make a big difference and things you can do to decrease risk.
More infected people in a population means more possibilities for contact with virus from people who are symptomatic or asymptomatic
Virus Transmission--The Science
To be infected by a virus you have to be exposed to the virus (the virus has to be present in the room, someone who is positive with symptoms or who is shedding virus without symptoms)
And
The virus has to get inside your body (breathe it in or rub it in your eyes or mouth with unwashed hands)
And
There has to be enough virus in your body to cause an infection (a lot of virus in a short time, or small amount of virus over a long period of time)
Anything that increases or decrease one of those will change your risk
What to Avoid
- Physical contact with droplets from someone known to be positive for COVID 19 (cough or sneeze or elbow bump)
- Long periods in closed spaces with other people even with face covering (non medical)
- Contact with surfaces exposed to virus (desktops, keyboards, door knobs, bathroom surfaces)
- Going to work when sick—an uncovered cough or sneeze from an infected person can infect an entire room
- Environments that are enclosed, with poor air circulation and high density of people (movie theaters, restaurants, classrooms, event venues?)
Decreasing Your Risk
- Measures that track and isolate infected people (and their contacts) reduce the risk that someone uninfected will come into contact with them)
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue and discarding it immediately
- Hand washing for at least 20 seconds and often
- Avoid touching face (especially eyes and mouth)
- Clean surfaces regularly
- Stay at least 6 feet apart in well ventilated areas for short periods of time
- Avoiding things that increase risk
Indoor enclosed environments, where you are in close contact with people, account for 85% of ALL infections.
Things That Probably Don’t Make a Big Difference to Risk
- Outdoor activities like walking, biking or hiking (not in groups)
- Going to the grocery store (wash hands before and after, stand 6 feet apart, keep the trip short)
- Short–<5min–close conversation without a face mask (but why stand that close anyway, personal space is important)
****A special note on face covering****
(assuming you don’t have enough N95 masks to wear one daily. If you do, please donate them to a health care facility.)
- Most face coverings used by the public will not prevent viral infection if the viral load is high
- Correctly wearing a face covering can be helpful if you have to be in an enclosed space with other people for more than a few minutes or in close proximity (store clerk, receptionist)
- It is best o avoid this situation in the first place wherever possible
- Don’t allow the presence of face coverings to give you a false sense of security.
- Remember A small amount of viral exposure over a long time = a large amount of viral exposure.
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