With the coronavirus epidemic spreading further and claiming more lives each day, the panic and fear of having to be quarantined has caused people to stock up on everyday items such as toilet paper and bottles of water. This increase in demand for objects combined with many factories in China shutting down because of coronavirus has led to a shortage of these items. Stores such as Costco have begun limiting the purchase of toilet paper to only two items per customer, while local stores such as the 99¢ Store have been running out of hand sanitizer. Instead of creating panic and stocking up on items to prevent the spread of the sickness, there are better ways to remain as safe as possible. Here are five tips to keep in mind to help stay safe.

Make sure to wash your hands regularly with alcohol-based soap and water. Instead of a cursory rinse, it is important to wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before rinsing them off.
One of the most important ways to prevent yourself from catching the coronavirus is to keep your hands away from your face, specifically your eyes, nose, and mouth area since the coronavirus can travel from your hands to your face.
According to the World Health Organization, coronavirus spreads through the water droplets one produces when speaking, sneezing, or coughing. These droplets can only travel around 1 meter, however, so it is important to keep your distance from those infected from the virus as much as possible.
The virus can settle and survive on non-living objects like tabletops and phone screens. Therefore, cleaning surfaces like tables regularly can help prevent the spread of the virus. Additionally, you should avoid touching surfaces in public areas such as railings or doorknobs as much as possible.
Do not panic if you suspect that you may have coronavirus. Please call the Ventura County Public Health Communicable Diseases office at 805-981-5101.
Stay up to date on information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html