Washing hands can keep you healthy and prevent the spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections from one person to the next. Germs can spread from other people or surfaces when you:

• Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Prepare or eat food and drinks with unwashed hands
• Touch a contaminated surface or objects
• Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into hands and then touch other people’s hands or common objects

Key Times to Wash Hands

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet · After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

You can help prevent yourself from getting and spreading the coronavirus–and other respiratory illnesses–by following these steps: Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve, not your hands.
• Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.

Practice social distancing because COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with others. It is important that you and the people around you wear a mask when in public and particularly when it is difficult to stay 6 feet away from others consistently.

Choose outdoor activities and places where it is easy to stay 6 feet apart, like parks and open air-facilities. Look for physical barriers, like plexiglass screens or modified layouts, that help you keep your distance from others.

Use visual reminders – like signs, chair arrangements, markings on the floor, or arrows – to help remind you to keep your distance from others.