Coronavirus has been seen in more than 30 countries. The newly discovered virus can spread from person to person and health officials recommend simple steps to avoid becoming infected.

Coronavirus: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

So, how can you prevent spreading or catching a virus?

Avoid touching your face, your mouth, your nose and your eyes as this is a possible route of the virus to enter and cause infection.

If you cough or sneeze and you don’t put your hand to your mouth and you touch surfaces, the virus can survive for several hours outside the body.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

So it’s important that you wash your hands effectively.

How to wash your hands:

• take some soap
• create a lather
• clean the back of your hands and in between your fingers, the end of your fingers, your thumb (germs are present around nail area and on the back of the hands). Again, your palms. Your wrist and the top of your hand again.
• rinse the soap off with water
• turn off the tap with a tissue to prevent cross-contamination
• discard the tissue into a bin.

Source: CDC, NHS