How Can You Prevent the Spread of the Coronavirus Disease?

How does the coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV) spread?
People will be infected by the coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV). When an infected person coughs or exhales, the virus may cause human-to-human infection through droplets generated by the mouth and nose. The droplets will attach to objects and surfaces around the infected person. Other people may be infected with viruses after touching contaminated objects or surfaces and then touching their eyes, nose, and mouth. If you inhale the droplets generated when an infected person coughs or exhales, you may also be infected with the virus. Therefore, be sure to keep more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from the infected person.

What are the symptoms of the coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV)?
The most common symptoms are fever, fatigue, and dry cough. Some infected people may experience pain, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and slow. Some infected people do not experience any symptoms and do not experience any discomfort. Most infected people (about 80%) can recover without special treatment. About one-sixth of infected people develop severe illness, producing symptoms of breathlessness. The elderly and people with underlying health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical advice.

How to distinguish the coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV) from ordinary flu?
The signs and symptoms of the coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV) infected person are no different from those infected with the common cold, and can only be distinguished after laboratory testing to determine the type of virus.
Can the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV) spread through the air?
Current research results show that the virus is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets, rather than through the air.

How to protect yourself and prevent the spread of disease?
You can take some simple precautions to reduce the chance of infection or transmission of the coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV), including:
• Frequently wash your hands carefully with alcohol-free disposable hand sanitizer or with soap and water. Reasons: Alcohol-free hand sanitizer or soap and water can eliminate viruses on your hands.
• Keep at least 1 meter (3 feet) away from people who cough or sneeze. Reasons: When a person coughs or sneezes, the nose and mouth will spray droplets that may contain viruses. If you are too close and the person who coughs is already infected with the virus, you may inhale droplets containing the virus.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Reasons: The virus may be contaminated when the hand touches the surface of many objects. Once infected, the virus will spread to the eyes, nose, and mouth through your hands, and then enter your body, causing infection.
• Make sure you and the people around you maintain good respiratory hygiene habits. When you cough or sneeze, you should bend your elbows or cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, then immediately discard the used tissue. Reasons: droplets can spread viruses. Keeping good respiratory hygiene habits can keep people around you away from colds, flu and 2019 coronavirus.
• If you feel unwell, please rest at home. If you have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, please call a medical phone in advance for treatment. You should follow the instructions of the local health department.
Reasons: National and local authorities have the latest epidemic situation in your area. If you make a medical call in advance, the medical service provider can quickly match you to the appropriate medical institution. This will not only protect yourself, but also help prevent the virus from spreading and infecting others.
• Pay attention to the latest hot spots of the coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV) (cities or areas where the epidemic is spreading heavily). Try to avoid visiting these areas, especially the elderly or people with diabetes, heart disease or lung disease. Reasons: There is a greater chance of infection in these areas.

My body is healthy and I have no symptoms of infection. Do I need to wear a mask?
WHO recommends that people without respiratory symptoms do not necessarily wear medical masks, because there is no evidence that wearing medical masks can protect uninfected people.
However, due to different cultural customs in different places, people may wear masks in some countries. If you want to use a mask, you should wear it correctly, remove it, dispose of it, and clean your hands after removing the mask. For more information, please log in to view the WHO Community Mask User Guide.

What is my chance of contracting the coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV)?
The chance of infection depends on where you are, and more specifically, whether there is an outbreak in your area.
For most people in most places, the risk of infection remains low. However, 2019 coronavirus disease is spreading in cities or regions around the world. People living or temporarily staying in these areas are at higher risk of infection. Whenever there are newly confirmed cases, governments and health departments of various countries will take effective measures. Therefore, please be sure to observe all local restrictions on travel, activities or large gatherings. Cooperating with disease control will reduce the risk of infection or transmission of the coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV). The experience of China and some other countries shows that we can control the epidemic and stop the spread of the virus. Unfortunately, the epidemic may quickly break out everywhere. Therefore, be sure to pay attention to the epidemic situation in your area or the area you plan to visit. WHO will release the latest situation of the global coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV) outbreak every day.