Help keep you and your family, friends, and community safe with these eight steps recommended by the World Health Organization.
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses.
Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, a cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately.
Why? Authorities will have the most current info about your area. Calling in advance will allow health care providers to direct you to the right health facility and help prevent spread other infections.
Follow advice given by your local healthcare provider and gov't on how to protect yourself from COVID-19.
Why? National/local authorities will have the most current info on COVID-19's spread in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.
Travelled in the past 14 days to a high risk area? Stay at home until you recover if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose.
Avoiding contact with others will help everyone - AND help protect you from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
The most important advice? Don't panic - the coronavirus is a serious global pandemic. However, the vast majority of people who contract it will experience symptoms similar to a bad cold or flu.