A pandemic is an epidemic that has spread throughout an entire area, such as a country, continent, or throughout the world. In the case of the coronavirus, the answer to, “what is a pandemic?” is that it’s a virus that has spread across the entire globe. While many people don’t understand the difference between pandemic and epidemic, in the case of the coronavirus, it’s vital to understand that the answer to “what is a pandemic?” is different from the answer to “what is an epidemic?”

If you’re searching for how to prevent a virus to keep you and the people you care about safe, you’re doing the right thing. It’s much easier to work toward preventing viruses than it is to fight them off once they’ve been acquired. As you search for how to prevent viruses, you’ll find that most of the tips for keeping yourself safe are simple.

Your best line of defence is simply to wash your hands often, with soap and hot water. Wash for 20 to 30 seconds (singing happy birthday twice is a great way to ensure that you’re washing your hands long enough).

When you don’t have access to a sink and warm water, using hand sanitizer is better than nothing. Use an alcohol-based sanitizer and rub it into your hands until they are fully dry. Don’t use hand sanitizer to replace regular handwashing. It’s not nearly as good at killing the coronavirus as soap and water.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. When the virus gets on your hands, it doesn’t immediately enter your body. For most people, it enters through the eyes, nose or mouth. Avoiding touching these parts of your body (especially when you’re in public) can go a long way toward preventing viruses.

Stay home as much as possible. Even if you’re not in an area with a shelter in place order, one of the best answers to how to avoid viruses is simply to stay put. When you stay home, you’re not giving viruses the chance to enter the body.

Get plenty of fresh air and sunlight into your home. When it’s warm enough, open the windows. Sunlight and fresh air can help to reduce the amount of the virus that stays in your home.

When you’re searching for how to avoid viruses, it can be tempting to go over the top in trying to sanitize everything in your home. Know that no matter how well you clean, you’ll never be able to have your house become the germ-free mecca of your dreams. Instead, practice common sense. Stay home when you can, seek medical attention (call first) if you get sick, and be sure to wash your hands as much as possible