One way to slow the spread of viruses is social distancing. There are practical things you can do, to protect those more susceptible to the virus.
Households
Practice good hand and cough/sneeze hygiene
Avoid handshaking and other physical greetings
Regularly clean shared high-touch surfaces, such as tables, kitchen benches and doorknobs Increase the amount of fresh air by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning
Buy more goods and services online so you limit visits to the shop
Consider what travel and outings are necessary, both individual and family, and go to open places such as parks
Social distancing in the workplace
To reduce the spread of germs in the workplace:
Stay at home if you are sick
Consider if large gatherings can be rescheduled, staggered or cancelled
Stop handshaking and other physical greetings
Hold meetings via video conferencing or phone call
Reconsider non-essential business travel
Defer large face-to-face meetings
Hold essential meetings outside in the open air if possible
Promote good hand and cough/sneeze hygiene and provide hand sanitisers for all staff and workers
Take lunch outside rather than in the lunch room
Clean and disinfect shared high-touch surfaces regularly
Consider opening windows and adjusting air conditioning for more fresh air Limit food handling and shared food in the workplace
Promote strictest hygiene among food preparation (canteen) staff and their close contacts
Social distancing in schools
To reduce the spread of germs or viruses in schools:
If your child is sick, do not send them to school (or childcare)
Clean hands when entering school and at regular intervals
Defer activities that lead to mixing between classes and years
Avoid queuing, handholding and assemblies
Promote a regular handwashing schedule
Clean and disinfect shared high-touch surfaces regularly
Conduct lessons outdoors where possible
Consider opening windows and adjusting conditioning for more fresh air
Promote strictest hygiene among food preparation (canteen) staff and their close contacts
Who is most at risk
In Australia, the people most at risk of getting the virus are those who have:
recently been in in a high risk country or region (mainland China, Iran, Italy or Korea) been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19
Based on what we know about coronaviruses, those most at risk of serious infection are:
people with compromised immune systems (such as people who have cancer) elderly people Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (as they have higher rates of chronic illness) people with chronic medical conditions people in group residential settings people in detention facilities
How it spreads
The virus can spread from person to person through:
Close contact with an infectious person (including in the 24 hours before they started showing symptoms)
Contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables)
That have cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face
To learn more about social distancing and avoiding public gatherings and visits to vulnerable groups, please visit the Department of Health's website below: