Let’s Talk Coronavirus

While the word coronavirus has become increasingly well known over the past year due to COVID-19, it doesn’t exclusively refer to SARS-CoV-2 — the virus we’ve been dealing with for a large portion of 2020.

Turns out, there are seven known coronaviruses that can infect people — including the common cold, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician and professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, encourages Prevention readers to follow CDC guidelines to protect themselves not only from COVID-19, but also from the common cold and flu this season.

• Get vaccinated against the flu.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid attending large gatherings.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water thoroughly and frequently. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with viruses.
• Maintain a six-foot distance from people outside of your household.
• Wear a face mask when you cannot maintain a six-foot distance from others.