The virus has been found to remain viable (‘alive’) for different lengths of time depending on the type of surface. The more porous the surface (clothing, paper, material, etc), the shorter the ‘viability’ (lifespan) from a couple of hours to a couple of days. The smoother the surface (stainless steel, marble, countertops, floors, glass, mirrors, etc), the longer the viability, from several days to as long as 3 weeks. So, if you touch one of those surfaces, and that surface has NOT been cleaned or disinfected and HAS virus particles on it, then you will carry away some of those virus particles on your hand. Washing your hands will thoroughly ensure that any COVID19 virus that was transferred from the surface you touch (whether porous or smooth) will be washed off your hands.

Washing your hands is the most important step when removing virus that may be transferred from a surface you’ve touched. But an additional caution is to then NOT touch your hands to your face in case you forgot to wash, couldn’t wash, or didn’t wash long enough. That’s because the virus COULD be transmitted INTO your body through your eyes, nose, or mouth. So, DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE. WASH your hands first, THEN use the anti-viral disinfectant if you have it, but don't worry if you don't, because it's only an added safeguard...the soap will do the trick.

WEARING GLOVES WILL PROBABLY NOT HELP because you'll carry virus on the glove, and then you have to be EXTRA careful to remove the gloves CORRECTLY or else the virus particle will fly out to whatever you're near...including YOU. Here are some of the riskiest things to touch: other people; pump handles at gas pumps; door handles entering or exiting buildings and rooms; elevator buttons; toilet seats; flush handles on toilets; hot and cold spigots on sinks; sinks....got it?

Virus particles are microscopic. That means you need a microscope to see them. They are SO small that 20 MILLION can fit on the head of a pin. They are so tiny and so light that a virus can float for a distance in the air, so when a person simply BREATHES, virus particles may be travelling along with the air molecules until gravity pulls them to earth (virus particles have weight, so they sink to earth...they do NOT float along int we air we breathe, and you CANNOT get infected by just going outside).  So being CLOSE to someone could be enough to infect you. But the mask YOU wear is a barrier, the mask THEY wear is a barrier, while BOTH masks offer DUAL protection in case one of you is infected but is asymptomatic.

This accomplishes 3 things:

1. it turns your head AWAY from the front,
2. it puts your mouth into a more enclosed pocket that will catch more of what flies out of your mouth, and
3. it keeps your hands clean!

• Plain soap and water are the best way to clean a surface….cleaning carries away virus and bacteria with dirt, oil and residue that accumulates over time. Soap is made of fatty acids that bind one end of its chemical structure to fats (like oil or grease) while the other end of its chemical structure clings to water. The fatty acid in the soap binds to the oil and grease which clings to dirt and residue and bacteria and virus. Rinsing with water carries away the oil, grease, bacteria and virus along with the water. Simply washes it away. Soap also weakens the cell wall of certain (most) bacteria and neutralizes its ability to reproduce. So, for bacteria, soap serves a dual purpose.
• Isopropyl alcohol [CH 3 CHOHCH 3] denatures (breaks up) the proteins that make up the wall of the virus, thereby ‘killing’ it. So, after cleaning you should disinfect with isopropyl alcohol.
• Common hypochlorite bleach (most common being Clorox) [NaOCl or CaOCl] adds an oxygen molecule to the protein sheath that protects the virus so the virus is no longer able to reproduce, effectively killing it. If you don’t have isopropyl alcohol, use bleach.
• Hydrogen Peroxide [H2O2] is a bleaching agent, and like hypochlorite bleach (Clorox), it adds an oxygen molecule to the protein wall that protects the virus so the virus is no longer able to reproduce. Dead. If you don’t have isopropyl alcohol or Clorox, use Hydrogen Peroxide.

This will probably be the most stressful time you will ever face in your life. A theoretically deadly virus that could kill you…right out of the movies. Personal isolation while being thrust into continuous, close proximity with the same people for hours, days and weeks at a time. Minimal stimulation unless YOU make it; exercise, reading, watching movies and television shows….but the little things each of us does will start to drive everyone crazy unless we each take steps to actively maintain social connections. Our mental health depends on keeping in close touch with friends, relatives, and those who mean something to us, because NOW they will mean even more. But we have the electronic means to do so, not only with phone and text, but by using face-time on numerous applications. Take advantage of them all….Keep In Touch.

This is for social-distancing. Sure, these are friends, but you still don’t know where each of them has been each day of their lives. Play it Safe by remaining a Safe 6’ apart. If you're going to eat 'together', STAY 6' apart. You can still socialize. But you're running a risk......

This goes back to earlier cautions: maintain social-distancing (you don’t need to be close enough to shake someone else’s hand); you don’t know if that other person has touched a surface that is infected and didn’t wash his or her hands; you don’t need to be touching a surface (the other person’s hands) that might be contaminated.

We take Freedom very seriously in America, and Freedom means you can generally do whatever you want. But with Freedom comes responsibility, and that includes a responsibility to the rest of society to keep others safe (you are NOT Free to put others in danger). That means you need to put on a mask to stop YOUR germs from flying around if you’re sick, which is why other people always say “cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze”, cuz it stops your germs from flying around and infecting other people…..Get it?

If you feel sick, you have an obligation to the rest of the world to isolate yourself from everyone so you don’t spread whatever you might have to anyone else. Doesn’t matter if its COVID19 or the common cold, you need to consider the health of everyone else. It’s not All About You. Without other people in the world, you’d have nothing. No job, no money, no clothes, no roads to drive on or a car to drive, no gas to put in the car or food to put on your table…you owe who you are to everyone. If you feel sick…help those who helped you, and Self-Isolate.

Symptoms can show up anywhere from 5 to 14 days, and MIGHT include fever (not all viruses include a fever), tiredness, dry cough.....some people also experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and even diarrhea. Severe symptoms (hopefully by then you're in a hospital) shortness of breath,

This virus is very contagious, BUT: 60% of the people are asymptomatic (which means 40% show signs they're sick); 80% don't need treatment (which means 20% need to get treated); 3 of those 20 people become seriously ill and need hospitalization because of difficulty breathing.... and they might die, especially if they have pre-existing conditions like heart disease, lung disease, or weak immune systems. You just don’t know how it’s going to react in YOUR body or that of your next door neighbor. So it’s up to EACH of us to do what’s best for society and get tested if you continue to feel sick after 3 to 4 days. Testing is supposed to be FREE. Go to a University, County or state-run Emergency Rom and there’s no cost. It's FREE. Just DO it. Find out more from the World Health Organization.

Don’t wait until the time comes and you HAVE to know. Because NOW is the time you need to FIND OUT where you have to go if you need to get tested. You need to be able to know where to go and how to get there….NOW.