Valley City  (CCHD) City County Health District Office in Valley City passes along health information concerning the Coronoavirus.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person–between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

To protect yourself, wash your hands often. Here’s how:
1. Wet your hand and put soap on them.
2. Rub your hands together, then rub your thumbs, then rub the backs of your hands, then fold your hands together and rub up and down, then rub your fingernails. Do this for at least 20 seconds, about the length of time it takes to sing Yankee Doodle or Happy Birthday.
3. Rinse your hands well. Note that washing hands does not kill germs but rather it removes most of them if done properly and washes them down the sink. Soap is a surfactant, a slippery substance that, when combined with lots of running water, causes germs (bacteria and viruses ) to slide off of your hands.
4. Dry your hands.

Actually, soap and water reduces germ count better than alcohol based hand cleaners that don’t wash away the germs.

If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

For more information on covid-19 (the coronavirus) go to www.health.nd.gov and click on coronavirus/more information.