Preventive Measures

While there is no preventative vaccine or antiviral treatment for COVID-19, there are many easy preventative measures you can take to help protect yourself and others from respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, and from the spread of infection in general.

1. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands; it’s one of the most important things you can do.

2. Wash your hands often with soap and water or an antiseptic hand sanitizer. Lather and scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds and don’t forget the backs, between fingers, and under the nails. Pay particular attention and wash your hands after you touch doorknobs and elevator buttons.

3. Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, the virus spreads through mucus and saliva droplets that can be directly inhaled or picked up by touching contaminated surfaces (followed by touching your eyes, nose, or mouth). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a safe distance of at least one metre. The Government of Canada recommends maintaining a distance of 2 metres from others.

4. Cover your cough and sneezes with tissues or the inside of your elbow. Throw out any used tissues in a closed trash bin. If you sneeze or cough into your hands, you may contaminate surfaces that other people touch.

5. Avoid sharing personal items with others (i.e., utensils and drinking glasses).

6. Avoid touching ramps, doors and other surfaces in public places.

7. Avoid unnecessary visits to clinics and hospitals and stay home if you’re not feeling well. If you have a fever, you should contact your health care professional.

8. Wear a mask if you’re coughing, sneezing or have a runny nose and you really need to go out - it can reduce the risk of others getting sick.

9. Last but not least avoid travelling in confined modes of transportation like planes, trains and buses. Now is not be a good time for a cruise.

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We’ve also received questions about wearing gloves and/or masks to avoid catching COVID-19.

• Gloves can be worn but you should avoid touching your face with contaminated gloves.

• Some surgical masks may be too loose, may not have an air filter, or they may leave the eyes exposed.

• The most effective masks are “N95” because they block 95% of small particles.

• Wash your hands before putting a mask on, and every time you touch it, to avoid transferring viruses to the mask.

• Masks become less effective the longer you wear them – especially if they become damp from your breath – so change them regularly.

• Remove masks from the back because the front might be contaminated.

Click here to get your Myeloma Canada mask.

Keep our community safe

COVID-19 News & Updates