Coronavirus tips for apartment residents
As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic escalates here are some useful tips for staying safe in apartments.
While it’s highly unlikely the virus will cause serious health problems in most cases it’s becoming increasingly important to slow the rate of infection so emergency medical centres won’t be overwhelmed.
People living in apartments where common area interactions are often unavoidable need to take extra precautions to play their part.
Some quick tips
- Practice sensible hygiene – don’t shake hands, wash your hands often with soap and water, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze
- Avoid close contact with others where you can – don’t touch others (no handshakes), avoid common areas such as building gyms, common rooms and common area bathrooms, avoid touching door handles, lift buttons and common area surfaces with your hands (you’ll then touch your face)
- If you are confirmed with the virus, socially isolate for 14 days and notify your building team immediately so they can clean common areas
- And look out for your neighbours – you can stay in touch with them via email, phone and Internet. If you don’t know your immediate neighbours reach out to them using this neighbour invite so you can stay in contact virtually.
Monitor the latest official advice from Health.gov.au
Connect with your neighbours to offer help and support using this neighbour invite.
How it spreads
According to Health.gov.au the virus is most likely spread through:
- close contact with an infectious person
- contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze
- touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables) that have cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face
Avoiding infection
Everyone should practise good hygiene to protect against infections. Good hygiene includes:
- washing your hands often with soap and water
- using a tissue and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze
- avoiding close contact with others, such as touching
Surgical masks
Surgical masks are only helpful in preventing people who have coronavirus disease from spreading it to others. If you are well, you do not need to wear a surgical mask as there is little evidence supporting the widespread use of surgical masks in healthy people to prevent transmission in public. Find out more about the use of surgical masks.
Isolation
If you have the virus it’s critical you self-isolate to avoid infecting others.
Do not go to public places, such as work, school, shopping centres, childcare or university. If possible, ask other people to get food and other necessities for you and leave them at your front door.
Only people who usually live with you should be in your home. Do not let in visitors.
You do not need to wear a mask in your home.
If you need to leave home to seek medical attention, wear a surgical mask (if you have one) to protect others.
To find out more, read the Health.gov.au home isolation information sheet.
Source: https://www.health.gov.au
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