Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani is a health science professor and researcher at Indiana's Ball State University and he has just released a list of behaviors to adopt — or, rather, avoid — to decrease your chances of contracting COVID-19 (or any other illness).
“In general, we tend to ignore unhealthy and unsanitary behaviors in the guise of other peoples’ choice, personality type, family habits, or culture," said Khubchandani in a press release. “During and after the current pandemic crisis, we need greater awareness, collective action, and common civic behaviors driven by scientific evidence on transmission of emerging infectious disease agents such as coronaviruses. We must also not hesitate from educating or questioning family members, colleagues, and the general public on behaviors that pose danger to self and the society.”
Basically, stop doing these 13 gross things to become a healthier person and contribute to a healthier society. Most of them seem fairly common sense. Hopefully you weren't doing a ton of them before, you slob.
- Don't forget to shower. Khubchandani says you have to take regular showers. While people are sheltering in place, some may neglect daily routines, but showering is a must because COVID-19 can live on surfaces for days.
- Don’t wear the same clothes for many days. Do laundry frequently.
- Don't bite your nails, suck your thumb or rub your eyes.
- Don't scratch your head, face or body.
- Don't eat fruits and vegetables immediately in (grocery) aisles, stores or the car and make sure you wash them before you do eat them.
- Don’t litter the inside and around your house. This could increase risk for household members, while littering around the community can burden the sanitation workers. Recent instances of people throwing used masks and gloves in public places will increase risk for waste management workers and trash pickers.
- Don't leave trash in you car. Dispose of leftovers and edibles, trash, masks and gloves.
- Maintain hygiene while growing your hair, beard, or nails or using hair and face accessories.
- Don't forget to cover your face when you sneeze or cough.
- Don't forget to wash your hands after using restrooms, coming back from public places, after grocery shopping, pumping gas, using elevators or using high-traffic door knobs or electric switches.
- Don't forget to clean your desk space, cell phone and computer devices.
- Don’t rely on carry-out or delivery as your sole source of food for every meal every day, and be sure to eat enough and consume healthy foods.
- Don’t reuse wipes, masks, gloves and personal care devices without cleaning them.
