Best practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19 from Durham Region Public Health Department

Information below is an excerpt from Durham Region’s Health Department as of 17-Mar-2020. Please continue to visit the Durham Region Health Department website for the most up to date information.

To reduce the spread of germs, including COVID-19 and the flu we recommend that you:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer when hands are not visibly dirty.

• Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or elbow and encourage others to do the same.

• Wash your hands after handling nose and throat secretions (e.g. after throwing out used facial tissues).

• Avoid touching your face and clean hands before touching eyes, nose or mouth.

• Clean and disinfect surfaces, especially those that are high-touch areas.

• Do not share water bottles, straws, eating utensils, cigarettes, toothbrushes, toys or anything else that has been in contact with saliva, nose or throat secretions.

• If you are ill, stay at home and keep yourself away from others.

• Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

• If you are ill and must visit a health care provider, call ahead or tell them right away when you arrive that you have a respiratory illness and wear a mask while waiting to be seen.

For more information and the most up-to-date advice visit the Durham Region Health Department here.