Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public from WHO

Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority.

Protect yourself and others from COVID-19

If COVID-19 is spreading in your community, stay safe by taking some simple precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds, cleaning your hands, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue. Check local advice where you live and work. Do it all!

You also find out more about WHO's recommendations for getting vaccinated on our public advice page on COVID-19 vaccines.

What to do to keep yourself and others safe from COVID-19

Maintain at least a 1-metre distance between yourself and others to reduce your risk of infection when they cough, sneeze or speak. Maintain an even greater distance between yourself and others when indoors. The further away, the better.

Make wearing a mask a normal part of being around other people. The appropriate use, storage and cleaning or disposal are essential to make masks as effective as possible.

Here are the basics of how to wear a mask:

- Clean your hands before you put your mask on, as well as before and after you take it off, and after you touch it at any time.

- Make sure it covers both your nose, mouth and chin.

- When you take off a mask, store it in a clean plastic bag, and every day either wash it if it’s a fabric mask, or dispose of a medical mask in a trash bin.

- Don’t use masks with valves.

How to make your environment safer

Avoid the 3Cs: spaces that are closed, crowded or involve close contact.

- Outbreaks have been reported in restaurants, choir practices, fitness classes, nightclubs, offices and places of worship where people have gathered, often in crowded indoor settings where they talk loudly, shout, breathe heavily or sing.

- The risks of getting COVID-19 are higher in crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces where infected people spend long periods of time together in close proximity. These environments are where the virus appears to spread by respiratory droplets or aerosols more efficiently, so taking precautions is even more important.

Meet people outside. Outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor ones, particularly if indoor spaces are small and without outdoor air coming in.

For more information on how to hold events like family gatherings, children’s football games and family occasions, read our Q&A on small public gatherings.

Avoid crowded or indoor settings but if you can’t, then take precautions:

- Open a window. Increase the amount of ‘natural ventilation’ when indoors.

- WHO has published Q&As on ventilation and air conditioning for both the general public and people who manage public spaces and buildings.

- Wear a mask.

Don’t forget the basics of good hygiene

- Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. This eliminates germs including viruses that may be on your hands.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and infect you.

- Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately into a closed bin and wash your hands. By following good ‘respiratory hygiene’, you protect the people around you from viruses, which cause colds, flu and COVID-19.

- Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently especially those which are regularly touched, such as door handles, faucets and phone screens.

What to do if you feel unwell

- Know the full range of symptoms of COVID-19. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Other symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include loss of taste or smell, aches and pains, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, red eyes, diarrhoea, or a skin rash.

- Stay home and self-isolate even if you have minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever, until you recover. Call your health care provider or hotline for advice. Have someone bring you supplies. If you need to leave your house or have someone near you, wear a medical mask to avoid infecting others.

- If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately. Call by telephone first, if you can and follow the directions of your local health authority.

- Keep up to date on the latest information from trusted sources, such as WHO or your local and national health authorities. Local and national authorities and public health units are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

Protect yourself and others from COVID-19

COVID-19 symptoms and fluProtect yourself and others from getting sick

Home care for COVID-19

Source:WHO

  • Friday, 08:25 13/08/2021

Hot News

The 8th news | HaUI-TV

The 8th news | HaUI-TV

Thứ Năm, 13:19 17/12/2020
HaUI join force to support flood-stricken Central Vietnam

HaUI join force to support flood-stricken Central Vietnam

Thứ Bảy, 08:04 28/11/2020
IT Festival 2020 to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers' Day

IT Festival 2020 to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers' Day

Thứ Ba, 10:50 17/11/2020
HaUI held the Graduation Ceremony & Degree Awarding Ceremony for 3455 Graduates of 2020

HaUI held the Graduation Ceremony & Degree Awarding Ceremony for 3455 Graduates of 2020

Chủ Nhật, 15:17 15/11/2020
"Greeting Card Designing" contest to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers' Day

"Greeting Card Designing" contest to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers' Day

Thứ Bảy, 10:57 14/11/2020

Related news

Week for the Environment: Nurturing Green Seeds - Sowing Hope

Week for the Environment: Nurturing Green Seeds - Sowing Hope

Thứ Ba, 18:47 19/03/2024
Hanoi University of Industry Supports Xuan Dinh High School Students in Admission Journey

Hanoi University of Industry Supports Xuan Dinh High School Students in Admission Journey

Thứ Ba, 08:06 19/03/2024
MoU signing ceremony between LETCO Company and Hanoi College Of Industrial Economics

MoU signing ceremony between LETCO Company and Hanoi College Of Industrial Economics

Thứ Tư, 14:37 13/03/2024
Career Orientation for 12th- grade students at Quang Trung High School - Hà Đông

Career Orientation for 12th- grade students at Quang Trung High School - Hà Đông

Thứ Sáu, 14:10 08/03/2024
Expanding Employment Opportunities for Students majoring in Network Engineering and Information Security in Japan

Expanding Employment Opportunities for Students majoring in Network Engineering and Information Security in Japan

Thứ Sáu, 10:55 08/03/2024
Job opportunities workshop at Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn)

Job opportunities workshop at Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn)

Thứ Năm, 16:36 01/04/2021
Job opportunities workshop at DC GLOBAL

Job opportunities workshop at DC GLOBAL

Thứ Năm, 13:40 25/03/2021
Job opportunities workshop at Suntory Pepsico Vietnam

Job opportunities workshop at Suntory Pepsico Vietnam

Thứ Năm, 11:33 25/03/2021
The finale "HaUI MC Talents" contest

The finale "HaUI MC Talents" contest

Thứ Năm, 09:58 25/03/2021
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public from WHO

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public from WHO

Thứ Năm, 08:28 31/12/2020

Video