To facemask or not to facemask? That is the question! Current Public Health England advice doesn’t stipulate that you need to wear a face mask in order to prevent the spread of the virus, but of course whether you choose to do so is completely up to you. Many of our students and colleagues from the Far East choose to wear face masks for cultural and health reasons that began way before this latest virus, so while it’s not an official preventative measure all students should feel comfortable to make their own choice to wear – or not wear – a face mask.
Whether or not you choose to do so, to reduce the risk of spreading this or other conditions with similar symptoms, such as flu, read our top tips below:
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
This one is simple – the best way to avoid getting sick is to keep washing your hands. Yes, hand sanitisers do help in preventing some germs, but the most effective method is good old soap and water and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds a go. If it helps, there’s a few songs that have the perfect 20-second chorus to sing along to here, so you can keep yourself entertained while you keep count too!
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
This one is a bit more tricky – even reading that probably makes you automatically want to touch your face, right? But if you want to avoid getting sick, you should try to avoid transferring any nasty germs you’ve picked up throughout the day into your system and keep your hands away from your face as much a possible.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick
This is a bit of a given, but we know it can be hard if you share a house or live in close proximity to a lot of people. If someone you know is showing any kind of symptoms it’s best to keep them at arms length until they get better, and you’ll reduce your risk of catching anything from them – FaceTime will probably be your best friend for the time being!
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it in the bin
Again, it sounds like common sense but how many of us actually do this when we’re sick? Keep a pack of tissues on hand so if you feel a cough or sneeze coming, you can grab it and save the people around you from spreading your germs to them. And don’t forget to throw it straight in the bin – don’t reuse the same tissue please!
Want to know more information on Coronavirus? Read our FAQ’s for our all our advice and most up-to-date information.