Eighty percent of all infectious diseases are transmitted through touch, so it’s important to take precautions, particularly touching surfaces with countless viruses and bacteria. Here is a useful list of 10 things you can do to reduce your exposure to viruses like Covid19 and human influenza.  This information (modified) comes from James Robb, MD FCAP a medical doctor and researcher from UC San Diego who worked on coronaviruses as a professor of pathology since the 1970s.

Date: February 26, 2020
Subject: What I am doing for the upcoming COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

Dear Colleagues, as some of you may recall, when I was a professor of pathology at the University of California San Diego, I was one of the first molecular virologists in the world to work on coronaviruses (the 1970s). I was the first to demonstrate the number of genes the virus contained. Since then, I have kept up with the coronavirus field and its multiple clinical transfers into the human population (e.g., SARS, MERS), from different animal sources.

The current projections for its expansion in the US are only probable, due to continued insufficient worldwide data, but it is most likely to be widespread in the US by mid to late March and April.

Here is what I have done and the precautions that I take and will take. These are the same precautions I currently use during our influenza seasons, except for the mask and gloves.

1) NO HANDSHAKING!

Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump, etc.

2) Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator buttons, etc.

3) Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.

4) Open doors with your closed fist or hip

Do not grasp the handle with your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.

5) Use disinfectant wipes

Use them at stores when they are available, including wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.

6) Hand washing

Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that involves locations where other people have been.Wash hands after handling money (coins and dollar bills).

7) Avoid touching your face

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth with your hands until cleaned/sterilized by hand washing or alcohol wash.

8) Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home's entrances. AND in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you can't immediately wash your hands.

9) Preventive measures during sneezing or coughing

If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!

10)  Reduce social contacts

When local community transmission is confirmed in your area avoid mass gathering spots (eg. shopping malls, movie theatres, sporting events). Shop for groceries at off-peak times. Do not visit the hospital as a "guest" or "visitor" if you do not have to.

Finally, if Covid19 is in your area use N95 rated masks and gloves if contacting others whose health status is unknown.

Many of these tips are easy to use and may reduce your contact with Covid19 deposited on surfaces that you may come in to contact with.