COVID-19: What You Need To Know To Protect Your Family From Coronavirus & Delta Variant
Despite the fact that it feels like we have been facing off with the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, the Delta variant, and COVID-19 for a long time, there still is so much we don’t know. With conflicting information out there and constant media coverage, it’s not easy to find balanced, helpful or tactical information. Here’s our guide to what you need to know to protect yourself and your family from SARS-CoV-2. And we’re here to help – if you have questions, get in touch or find more information on our Coronavirus Resources Page.
How Force of Nature Can Help
Our EPA-registered disinfectant kills 99.9% of germs and is just as effective as bleach when used as directed. Force of Nature is on the EPA’s List N, the disinfectants approved for use against SARS-CoV-2. EPA expects all products on List N to kill all strains and variants of SARS-CoV-2. Refer to the CDC for additional guidance here.
More great news: Force of Nature provides hospital-grade disinfecting at home and is free of allergens, irritants, and toxic chemicals, so you can feel good using it around small children and pets.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Protecting Yourself From Coronavirus (COVID-19) & the Delta Variant
Don’t Panic!
Coronavirus, Covid-19 and the Delta variant are here – and it looks like they may be for a while. While that is scary, there are things you can focus on as you transition to a new normal that will actually help you protect yourself and your family from contracting COVID-19, which we’ll get to in this article. It’s best to stick to getting your information from trusted sources like the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) instead of dubious sources in social media.
Do Wash Your Hands Frequently (And Effectively!)
The CDC equates handwashing to a vaccine you can give yourself. It’s the single most powerful way you can protect yourself against viruses like COVID-19, the flu and more.
Proper hand washing requires warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, roughly the time it takes to sing the birthday song twice through. Make sure to clean even the back of your hands, between your fingers and under your nail tips thoroughly.
You should wash your hands at a minimum:
- Before you eat
- After you use the bathroom
- After you blow your nose, cough or sneeze – then throw the tissue in the trash instead of putting it back into your pocket or purse.
Do Clean Your Hands On-The-Go
The CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer that contains 60% (or greater) of alcohol. Our travel bottles of Force of Nature are a convenient, on-the-go option for the high-touch germy surfaces you encounter like door handles, elevator buttons and stair rails.
Do Clean High-Touch Areas In Your Home
Think your toilet seat is germy? Your phone is probably worse. Cut down on germ exposure and transfer inside your home by wiping down commonly touched surfaces with a toxin-free disinfectant like Force of Nature. Here’s our list of areas to hit:
- Doorknobs
- Cabinet and Drawer Pulls
- Faucets and Handles
- Toilet Handles
- Fridge Door Handles
- Remote Controls
- Tablets and eReaders
- Phones and Smartwatches
- Handbags (especially the bottom)
- Car Keys
- Light Switches
For more info on this topic, check out our post on the 10 Germiest Areas In Your Home And How To Clean Them.
Don’t Go To Work Or School Sick
If you don’t feel well, stay home. This is always a good rule of thumb, but it’s important to do what you can to limit exposing others to germs, even if you don’t have COVID-19.
Know CDC, State & Local Guidelines for Masks & Vaccines
The CDC updates their site as they get new data in and form new guidance for Covid-19 protection. They also keep their social profiles updated, so if you don’t want to keep checking their site, follow them on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Local and state guidance for masks and vaccines are evolving as well, so it can help to stay on top of those too.
For when you wear a mask, the CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering to reduce the transmission of respiratory droplets, which is the easiest way to spread SARS-CoV-2. Cloth face coverings are not the same as surgical masks or N95 respirators, which are critical supplies for health workers and first responders and unnecessary for most of us.
Top Face Covering Tips:
Here’s how to wear your cloth face covering like a pro. Children under 2 years old or people living with conditions that make it hard to breath or may become unconscious or otherwise unable to remove their mask unassisted should not wear a face covering.
- Wash your hands first!
- Put it over your face and mouth and secure it under your chin.
- Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face (no cheek gaps!) This video is helpful for a hack if yours is a bit loose.
- Make sure you can breathe easily.
- Don’t put it under your chin or on your forehead- this exposes you to the germs that are on the outside of the mask.
- Continue to maintain a social distance (6 feet) from others you don’t live with.
- Use hand sanitizer if you can’t wash your hands.
- Take your cloth face covering off carefully, handling only the ear loops or ties.
- Fold the mask in half so that the outside is now touching itself and you can see only the side of the mask that was formerly against your face. Don’t touch the outside of the mask.
- Wash your mask in hot water and detergent.
- Wash your hands immediately after removing and before touching your face, nose, eyes or any surface.
Most of All: Do Consider Others
While COVID-19 is serious, it’s particularly worrisome for vulnerable populations like those with other serious respiratory illnesses or are in otherwise poor health. Simple actions like washing your hands, wearing a cloth face covering, and covering your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze are the most powerful ways you can help protect those that need it most. Also, preserving resources for those who are truly in need is something we can all do to help.
Learn More
At Force of Nature, we’re real people – we get how scary this outbreak of COVID-19 is for our customers. We’re using Force of Nature in our own homes to cut down on viruses and bacteria. We’ll be here to support you through this time. If you have any questions, reach out to us by phone, email or social media and we will do our best to help!
