Your guide to lockdown safety

Ettione Ferreira 24th March 2020

President Ramaphosa has called for a 21-day national lockdown due to the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are a few precautions that could help keep you and your family safe from the virus:

Wash hands

Keep those hands nice and clean! Wash thoroughly with soap and water (only use hand sanitiser of above 60% when you have no source of water). Thoroughly means you have to really get in there, take your time, get in between the fingers and scrub those palms. Viruses can hide in the smallest corners so make sure you got all of it! If you are a parent, try to create a nursery rhyme or game to make it seem more like a fun thing to do.

It might be a good idea to keep these rules in place for the rest of your lives and not just during the lockdown. Wash hands, be clean, keep healthy.

Bless you, now use a tissue…

When you sneeze or cough, use a tissue to cover your nose/mouth area. Once you are done, throw that tissue straight into the bin. If you don’t have a tissue, do not – we repeat – DO NOT use your hand to cover your mouth, rather use your arm by bending it and coughing/sneezing into the bent part near your elbow.

Step away from the human.

We know it can be hard to fight the urge to stand on top of someone else in the queue at the tills – you know so you’re super ready to pack out those groceries just for in case someone pushes in. Please try and fight the urge and stand one metre away from your fellow citizens. Most shops have started to place little markers on the floor where you can stand to ensure you keep a safe distance from the other people. Don’t lose it, use it!

Don’t touch the face

Okay, so this is easier said than done – especially if you have tiny hairs that keep tickling your face or sinus making your eyes and nose itch. Just try your best to not touch your face if you haven’t washed or sanitised your hand properly.

Check yo’self before you wreck yo’self

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) then go get tested. Better safe than sorry! If you test positive, quarantine yourself immediately and ask your family or friends who you have been in contact with to go get tested – not everyone displays symptoms and it can take around five days to even show any symptoms. If you think you might have the virus or want more information you can call the helpline: 0800 111 132.

Rule of thumb: keep check the news and stay informed. Do not read any information that your friends and family send along which has no link to a reputable source such as a news organisation that you know, the government or the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Department of Health has also launched this really nifty Whatsapp line: just add 060 012 3456 to your contact list, then go onto your WhatsApp and type: Hi. You will then receive a list of options with emoji’s next to it. Message them with the emoji that is next to the information you require.