Based on information gathered from the Oregon Public Health Authority, here are tips to help reduce the risk of spreading illnesses such as COVID-19 and influenza:
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched.
• Take care of your overall health. Staying current on your vaccinations, including flu vaccine, eating well and exercising all help your body stay resilient.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Call your healthcare provider before going in if you feel sick and need medical care. Calling helps reduce person-to-person contact and avoids unnecessarily inundating hospitals.
Helpful sources
• The Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 web page.
• The Oregon Department of Education’s COVID-19 resources for schools.
• The Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission’s COVID-19 higher education resources web page.
Call 211.
Disinfectants to use against COVID-19
Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill with the appropriate disinfectant product.
Consumers using these disinfectants on an enveloped emerging virus should follow the directions for use on the product’s master label.
How to Use the List
• Locate the EPA Registration Number on the disinfectant
• Look for that number on List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2
• Click on a product’s Registration Number
• Look for the Emerging Viral Pathogens Claims section on the master label
• Look for the Enveloped Virus information in the chart to find which organism’s directions for use you should follow. Go to the product label and follow the directions for use against the listed organism
• View the list of EPA-registered disinfectant products at epa.gov/pesticide-registration