Updated: How To Protect Your Family From COVID-19

What We Know About COVID-19

• It survives on plastic and metal for as long as 4 days.
• It survives on cardboard and paper for 24 hours.
• It transmits via touch, not air.
• An infected person will on average infect at least 2 others.
• Older and sicker people are more likely to suffer complications and death as a result of contracting COVID-19.
• Younger people aged 5 to 55 are more likely to be infected, will still see significant complications, and die.

How To Protect Yourself

Learn To Wash Your Hands Properly

• Apply soap and water
  • Ordinary soap is fine, it does not need to be anti-bacterial.
  • Hand sanitiser is for visibly clean hands, it’s not appropriate for soiled hands.
• Palm of both hands
• Back of left hand
• Back of right hand
• In between fingers
• Left thumb
• Right thumb
• Left wrist
• Right wrist
• Left fingernails
• Right fingernails
• Rinse with clean water

Cleaning Effectively

Surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected daily. This includes;

• Door knobs and key holes
• Cupboard and drawer handles
• Tables
• Hard chairs
• Taps and faucets
• Shower doors
• Kitchen sinks
• Oven knobs
• Fridge and freezer door handles
• Work desks
• Light switches
• Toilets, including toilet seats and flush buttons

Hard surfaces can be cleaned with;

• Anti-bacterial disinfectant; this includes surface sprays like ‘Spray & Wipe’ and others labelled “kills 99.9% of germs”.
  • Remove all visible dirt, if any.
  • Spray with disinfectant.
  • Leave for 10 minutes.
• Household bleach (1/2 cup) and water (4 litres)
  • Remove all visible dirt, if any.
  • Wipe with bleach solution.
  • Leave for 10 minutes.

You can use isopropyl alcohol with a concentration of 70%+, however we recommend keeping it as hand sanitiser if the above options are readily available.

Soft furnishings will be protected by users having previously washed their hands. If soiled, wash as per manufacturers instructions.

As for computer equipment and electronics;

Mobile phones, monitors, TVs, laptop touchpads;

• Wipe with household strength surface cleaner (e.g. spray and wipe) on a paper towel.
• Reapply after 5 minutes.
• Wipe with clean water on paper towel.
• Do not submerse.
• Do not use alcohol based cleaner.
• Do not use ammonia.

Remote controls, mice, trackballs, microwave control panels;

• Wipe with household strength surface cleaner (e.g. spray and wipe) or 70% alcohol on a paper towel.
• Reapply after 5 minutes.
• Wipe with clean water on paper towel.
• Do not submerse.
• Do not use ammonia.

Protect Yourself At Home

• Wash your hands regularly for no less than 20 seconds, covering all parts of your hands, fingers, and wrists.
• Avoid touching your face, eyes, mouth, nose.
• Sneeze into your elbow, or a clean tissue.
• Regularly wipe down surfaces and door handles with paper towels, water, and disinfectant.
• Wash your hands with soap and water immediately upon entering your home.

Protect Yourself In Public

• Remove covers from phones to make them easier to clean
• Remove unnecessary key rings and keys to make them easier to clean
• Take a small packet of tissues in case you need to cough
• Take a small container of hand sanitiser
• Avoid touching doors, buttons, handrails
• Use no-touch payment methods
• Keep at least 1.5 meters away (two arm’s length) from others.
• Stay at home unless absolutely necessary.

High Risk Workers

People who work in occupation where they must touch people should take further precautions. These occupations include; health care workers, child and adult care workers, police, teachers, hairdressers.

Immediately upon coming home;

• Place bag, keys, phone in a basket or box.
• Change out of clothes, placing them directly in washer.
• Wipe keys and phone with disinfectant.
• Shower thoroughly with soap and water.

Protect Your Food

• Wash fruit and vegetables with water and dish soap (2 drops per 4 litres of water).
  • Fill clean bucket with water and dish soap.
  • Place fruit and vegetables in bucket.
  • Leave for 10 minutes.
  • Empty bucket, rinse bucket and fruits and vegetables with clean water.
• Packaged food;
  • Plastic & metal: Clean with disinfectant (see ‘Cleaning Effectively’).
  • Paper & cardboard: Leave untouched for 24 hours.

Protect Your Physical Health

• Maintain an exercise schedule, even if it means modifying your workout.
• Spend some time outdoors, even if it’s just the back yard or balcony.
• If you previously had a more active or physically demanding job, you may need to reduce your calorie intake.
• Shower and change clothes daily.

Protect Your Mental Health

• Turn off rolling 24 hour a day news coverage of COVID-19.
• Phone or video-chat with friends and family to have a more holistic experience.
• Talk to your psychiatrist about maintaining your visitation health through tele-health.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain your daily schedule, especially sleep and wake-up times.
• Give yourself a purpose to stay active;
  • Learn new skills.
  • Perfect your skills.
  • Refactor your resume.
  • Read non-fiction and instructive books.
  • Learn first-aid.
  • Read.
  • Sew masks for those in need.

Protect Yourself At Work

• Leave work tools at work, including pens, laptops, and paperwork.
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Confirm your union representative’s contact details.

Protect The People You Love

• Learn to wave hello, rather than shaking hands.
• Keep at least 1.5 meters away (two arm’s length) from others.
• Stay at home unless absolutely necessary.
• Phone your older relatives and neighbours regularly to make sure they are well.

Protect Your Pets

Pets are not able to contract COVID-19.

• Confirm your veterinary clinic is still open, and if hours have changed.
• Maintain vaccination schedules.
• If an appointment is needed, ask about their physical distancing procedures.
• Keep your pets exercise schedules.
• Ensure pets have sufficient food supplies.
• Revisit your pet’s emergency plan and first aid kit.

Protect Your Doctor, Dentist, Health Service

• Confirm your standing appointments are still happening.
• Ring your doctor’s clinic the day prior;
  • Ask if it is possible to do a phone consultation.
  • Ask about precautions to be taken before entering the clinic.
  • Ask about sending scripts directly to your pharmacist.

Protect Our Health System

• Avoid DIY and home improvements that have a risk of injury.
• Drink responsibly.
• Don’t leave the house unless absolutely necessary.
• Do not mix cleaning products.
• Read and follow the instructions on cleaning products.
• Do not hoard prescription medications.
• Store medicines and poisons securely.

Emergencies

Medical emergencies should be treated as usual.

• You should still ring 000 if you have;
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Severe injuries
  • Severe pain
  • Suspected poisoning

Housing emergencies should be treated as usual. Contact the Homelessness Gateway to be connected with a homelessness support service.

Domestic and family abuse should be treated as usual.

• If you are in immediate risk of harm, call 000.
• If you require counselling or other support, visit SA Government’s domestic and family violence and sexual assault support services page for contact details.

Mental health emergencies should be treated as usual.

• If someone is in immediate risk of harm, ring 000 or 13 14 65.
• If they are not in immediate risk of harm, but still need immediate assistance, ring 13 14 65.