COVID-19 Prevention: Today's Google Doodle is a gentle reminder to wear masks and control the spread of coronavirus

With the COVID pandemic wreaking havoc in the world, today's Google doodle is dedicated to reminding people about taking preventive measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. The doodle has presented the letters of the word G-o-o-g-l-e wearing face masks and placed at a distance from each other, both of which are essential to control the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The doodle says, " Wear a mask. Save lives. Wear a face cover. Wash your hands. Keep a safe distance".

When you click on the Google doodle, you will be redirected to the page that talks about the preventive measure of COVID-19.

With no vaccine for the virus yet, we all know the only way to stop the spread of the virus is by taking the preventive measures.

Here is a detailed list of preventive steps that we all should take to protect ourselves and others from the deadly virus:

A sneeze can produce around 40,000 droplets, which can travel up to 6 feet. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends maintaining a distance of 3 feet (1 meter) between yourself and others.

If you are wearing a mask and stand at a distance from others, the chances of you contracting the virus from a sneeze and cough droplets reduce.

These droplets can have COVID-19 virus, if the person is infected, which can also infect you if you are standing close to the person.

We touch multiple objects and surfaces every day. And in the present scenario, we don't know which object/surface is contaminated by the coronavirus. The best way to keep your hands clean is by washing them thoroughly and frequently. It is recommended to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

Using hand sanitizer with at least 70 per cent alcohol is the second-best option to keep your hands clean. But it is recommended to use hand sanitizer only in situations where using soap and water is not possible.

List of situations when it's absolutely important to wash your hands by CDC:

Before eating or preparing food

Before touching your face

After using the restroom

After leaving a public place

After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

After handling your mask

After changing a diaper

After caring for someone sick

After touching animals or pets

It's difficult to maintain social distancing in crowded areas, which increases your chances of coming in close contact with someone who might be infected with the novel coronavirus infection.

People should wear mask, especially where social distancing is not possible. Mask are an effective tool in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Our hands touch multiple surfaces and thus can pick up the virus easily. Contaminated hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, mouth and nose if you have a habit of touching your face.

Highly touched surfaces like counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, phones, keyboards and bedside tables should be disinfected every day.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow while you cough or sneeze. Make sure to dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash your hands after that.

Following the good respiratory hygiene can help protect you and people around from cold, flu and COVID 19 virus.

With unlocking, people have started travelling, but it's still recommended only to go out when it's absolutely urgent. Travelling puts you at risk of catching the virus.

Skin-to-skin contact increases the possibility of transmission from one person to another. Thus, do not hug or shake hands with people.

Do not share personal items like makeup, phone, comb. Do not eat in the same utensil or use the same straw. It's very important to teach your kids about these things as they often don't pay much attention.

It's important to wash fresh fruits and vegetables under running water when you get them from the market. Packed items can be sanitised with the help of a cloth and sanitizer. They can even be washed under running water and kept aside for sometime before use. Do not forget to wash the grocery bag.

Stay at home and self-isolate yourself if you have symptoms such as headache, cough, fever. Self-isolate until you recover. Do not leave your house and wear a mask even while talking to someone in your own house. If you are infected with the virus, not coming in contact with other people can save them from getting infected.

If your symptoms do not go away and you have difficulty in breathing, seek medical help immediately. Do not visit the doctor, rather take a telephonic/video appointment. You can call the local medical authority as they will provide you with the best advice.