Now that West Virginia and Ohio are surrounded by the coronavirus, it is  more important than ever to know how to protect yourself, and how to behave in the event of a West Virginia outbreak. 

The CDC released a Flu/Coronavirus Prevention Report on March 9 which recommends staying home when you are sick (any time you are running a low fever and showing other symptoms or any time you have a high fever); avoiding touching your face as much as possible; cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and objects regularly; washing your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and water (remember to use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available); and getting a flu shot (while it will not prevent the coronavirus, it will help keep your immune system up). 

It is also important to remember to eat healthy, and get 8 to 9 hours of sleep every night, as this will strengthen your immune system. Now is a great time to increase your vitamin-C intake; you can do this by taking supplements or eating citrus. Many people also recommend drinking elderberry juice to  strengthen your immune system; however, make sure you get it from a safe source (preferably from a store, and never from an individual), because elderberry is poisonous if not cooked at the correct temperature for the right amount of time.

While learning how to prevent the coronavirus is important, it is also important to learn how to behave now and in the event of a coronavirus outbreak in West Virginia. Here are some general behavior protocols: Do not stockpile. We are all scared for ourselves and our families, but there are other people out there, some who may need the resources you are hoarding more than you do. When shopping for hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, bottled water, and food with a long shelf life, never take more than you and your family need. Do not buy or wear masks if no one in your family is sick. Wearing masks does not protect you from contracting either the flu or the coronavirus; however, it does prevent people with a cough from spreading germs through the air. So for your own benefit don’t waste the masks. 

Remain calm. While the outbreak  is scary, it is very important to remain calm because panic creates mass hysteria. It is important to understand that hysteria causes society to break down, which prevents people who are sick from getting the care they need, and causes the virus to spread more. 

Monitor yourself and your family for symptoms. To prevent further spread of the coronavirus, if you or anyone in your family begins to display symptoms, seek medical attention ASAP after developing a fever.  However, it is important to remember that hospitals and doctors’ offices will be contagion hot spots, so avoid these areas if you are healthy.