Hygiene Rules You Should Follow to Reduce Virus Spread

After lockdown, dinners and gatherings may lack spontaneity, however new hygiene rules must be adopted to make those reunions safe for everyone. A medical epidemiologist and hygienist shares some tips in this regard.

It will be great to meet with our loved onesagain to grab a snack or have drinks together or maybe a dinner. However,with the constant threat of the Covid-19, we will definitely need to respect some sanitary rules. Alexis Hautemanière, epidemiologist and hygienist at the Avranches hospital Center, gives us his recommendations.

WEAR A MASK WHILE PREPARING

No surprise thatit is recommendedto wash your hands and wear a facemaskwhen preparing food, drinks or snacks. The expert says that even if there’s no study to prove that food can be a way of contamination, there’s a probability that food might transfer viruses. “When you prepare your meals, you breathe and touch the food; if you are a carrier of the virus, you will contaminate everyone around you”, insists Alexis Hautemanière. Also, make sure to wash your hands once everything is done.

HYDROALCOHOLIC GEL AT THE ENTRANCE

It is better to invite your friends to clean their hands as soon as they arrive. The expert recommends keeping your mask on your face until you are ready to drink your first glass. It is advisable to forget any hugs or kisses to greet anyone. "Stay at least a meter away, ideally two meters from each other," says the epidemiologist and hygienist.

HOT FOOD WILL DO YOU A FAVOR

Opt for baked or reheated dishes: “The virus likes cool, cold and humidity, while heat beyond 60 degreeskills it,” confirms Alexis Hautemanière. Therefore, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, are to be avoided.

TO EACH HIS/HEROWN APPETIZERS BOWL

The purpose is to avoid sharing food or snacks from the same bowl or any othercontainer. Also,do not touch food after having brought your fingers to your mouth. If there’s a sauce served as well, make sure not to dip the snack/food twice in a row. The doctor emphasizes the importance of having eachhis/her own glass.

AVOID WALKING AROUND THE ROOM

“If you carry the virus and move around, you might spread it on the surfaces where you put your hands on. If someone else puts their hands on the same surface, they will get quickly contaminated when they touch their face.” An experiment published on Wednesday May 13^thin the American journal Pnas, statesthat the micro droplets of saliva generated by speech can remain suspended in the air of a closed room for more than 10 minutes.

DISINFECT SURFACES AFTER GUESTS HAVE LEFT

Once the gathering is over, clean and disinfect the surfaces touched during dinner, "use a standard detergent, which is effective in eliminating the virus. No need to use bleach, for example,” says the expert.