Prevent corona virus: How to protect yourself against the corona virus

Around 64,600 people in Germany are now infected with the corona virus (as of March 31, 2020). In view of the increasing number of corona cases, the federal government aims to slow the outbreak. Here you can find out which measures you can take to protect yourself.

The three important protection tips

ü  Frequent and thorough washing of hands is the best protection. If you can't wash your hands, use a disinfectant gel.

ü  Keep one to two meters away from people with flu symptoms.

ü  Correct etiquette: Sneeze into the crook of your arm or a disposable handkerchief, turning away from other people (then throw away the disposable handkerchief).

Also good to know:

ü  A mouthguard is unnecessary in most cases and usually doesn't help against infection (see below). However, it protects others if you become ill yourself. Virologists are therefore now advising to wear simple mouthguards in public so as not to endanger risk groups.

ü  Disinfectants (sprays, gels, wipes, etc.) only make sense if they are at least limited virucidal or against enveloped viruses (such as Covid-19). However, some disinfectants are only effective against bacteria and are therefore not suitable for protecting against the corona virus.

ü  If you develop flu symptoms, call your doctor and avoid the public for safety reasons. Don't go to a doctor's office unannounced: you could infect others.

Disinfectant: Four alternatives for effective hand hygiene

Corona Virus Protection: The Current Situation

The risk of contracting the new disease in Germany is increasing. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) now describes the risk to the health of the population in Germany overall as high. However, this risk varies from region to region. A good 64,000 infections have been registered so far (as of March 31, 2020).

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently classified the (health) risk associated with the virus in the EU and the UK as moderate / moderate for the general population and only for the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions high on. However, the EDCD's last risk assessment was some days ago.

Prevent corona virus: when you are at risk

Special care should be taken if you return from a trip from a risk area and develop flu symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath or fever within 14 days. This also applies if you have only had contact with someone who has previously been in a risk area.

According to the RKI, symptoms of the coronavirus mainly include fever, cough, runny nose and sore throat, some patients have difficulty breathing. If the course is severe, the virus can lead to pneumonia. The RKI writes that some sufferers also suffer from diarrhea. The incubation period - i.e. the time between infection and the onset of the disease - is up to 14 days according to the current information.

In the event of suspicion, you should call your doctor and discuss how to proceed. If possible, do not go directly to the practice: you could infect other patients.