Sunday 26 / January / 2025
It has been a challenging year so far, full of anxiety about health and safety. While there are signs of improvement, the pandemic is still ongoing, which means that it's important to continue to take proactive steps to help protect you and your family from COVID-19 - as well as from the flu and other illnesses.
Here are some easy methods for tracking COVID-19 levels and additional steps to help protect you and your family from the spread of the virus and other illness-causing germs.
Know the risks in your own community
Just as you rely on weather reports for warnings about safety hazards where you live, wouldn't it be great if there were a free, easy-to-use tool showing the local incidence levels for the flu and COVID-19? Knowing the level of risk right where you live can help you make informed decisions to stay vigilant and to help keep your family safe and healthy.
Prioritise cleaning and disinfecting your home
Cleaning and disinfecting your home is one of the best ways to help protect your family from illness-causing germs. While you may think your home looks clean, the truth is that decluttering does not equal disinfection, and even a clean looking home may contain illness-causing bacteria and viruses.
To reduce viruses and bacteria in your home, focus on disinfecting high-touch surfaces and spaces with heavy traffic. Here are the top three areas to prioritize:
* Conquer that kitchen
In the study mentioned above, kitchen cloths were the most contaminated, with 86% having moderate or heavy bacterial growth, with kitchen taps the second-most contaminated (52%). Swap out kitchen towels and cloths frequently, and use laundry sanitizer to get rid of lingering bacteria.
Additionally, look to regularly clean and disinfect all other high-touch objects and surfaces in the kitchen, such as light switches, cabinet doors, drawer and fridge handles, faucets, countertops and trash containers.
* Banish bathroom germs
Between the high traffic and the moist environment that germs love, your home bathroom is a space that needs extra care. Make sure that disinfecting the sink, counter, bathtub, faucet, shower area, doorknob and toilet handle are all a part of your cleaning and disinfecting game plan.
* Don't forget electronics
Check manufacturers' websites for your electronic items such as phones, remotes, game consoles, tablets and computers to follow their instructions on safe cleaning and disinfecting of those frequently used items - then plan to clean and disinfect them often.
Take precautions prior to and during travel
While more individuals are slowly opening their circles and thinking about travel in anticipation of a decrease in COVID cases, it's important that people don't let their guard down too soon and continue to take precautions if they do decide to travel during the pandemic.
When in transit, make sure you are vigilant of your surroundings and frequently touched areas, such as seats and handrails, turnstiles, bathroom faucets and buttons on vending machines and elevators.
