COVID-19 (coronavirus) advice for the UQ community - HEALTH - Keeping safe
What is the appropriate cough and sneeze etiquette?
- When coughing or sneezing, use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth.
- Germs can live for several hours on tissues - dispose of your tissue straight away.
- If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow - NOT your hand.
- After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose, wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitizer.
We keep being told that washing our hands is good practice. What is the most effective way?
Frequently washing your hands, especially before eating and after going to the toilet, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of illness or contamination from things you may have touched.
Basic soap and water is as good for cleaning your hands as any hand disinfectant or sanitiser.
It should take about 20 seconds to wash your hands adequately (see steps 1-9 below). Otherwise, the remaining bacteria will grow and can double in number in less than 20 minutes. If your technique is poor then your hands will not be clean.
The 10 steps of good hand-washing:
- Thoroughly wet hands
- Apply soap or cleanser
- Rub your hands palm to palm
- Rub your palms over back of each hand, interlacing your fingers
- Rub palm to palm with interlaced fingers
- Circle tips of fingers into the opposite palm
- Clean your thumbs
- Clean your wrists
- Rinse thoroughly
- Pat dry, preferably with disposable paper towels.
- Make sure you clean under rings too, that’s where many germs hide.
Practice other good health habits as well:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before you eat or prepare food; after using public touchscreens and surfaces in public spaces; after you cough or sneeze; and after using the toilet.
- Sneeze or cough into a sleeve/elbow, or cover your nose and mouth with a tissue. Throw the tissue in the bin.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Should I wear gloves?
No, the World Health Organisation does not recommend wearing gloves in the community, because this can increase transmission to others through touching contaminated surfaces when gloves are not removed, and hands are not cleaned thoroughly following removal of gloves.
Regular hand washing, use of hand sanitiser as well as avoiding physical contact with others and surfaces is the best way to reduce virus transmission.
Are water fountains and bubblers safe to use?
UQ public drinking water supplies are safe to drink, however the surfaces around the fountain including the spout and button/lever could pose a transmission risk for COVID-19 and other germs.
It is recommended that you not place your mouth on the spout of a water fountain. Test the water flow and let the water run for a few seconds before drinking without putting your mouth or lips on the spout. When filling up your water bottle at the drink fountain, ensure the spout of your drink bottle does not contact the fountain head or bubbler.
If the fountain requires you to push a button or lever, clean the surface first or use your knuckle or elbow. If you do use your fingers/thumb, avoid touching your face until you clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.