Recently, the official website of the CDC released the “Compilation of Public Prevention Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia due to Novel Coronavirus Infection (I)”, which is intended to inform the public of various ways to prevent novel pneumonia, which are shared below. Guidelines for prevention of pneumonia from novel coronavirus infection at home I. Daily prevention (a) Avoid going to areas where the disease is prevalent. (ii) Reduce visits to crowded public places, such as public baths, hot springs, theaters, Internet cafes, KTVs, shopping malls, stations, airports, docks, etc. (iii) Do not touch, buy and eat wild animals, avoid going to markets selling live animals (poultry, seafood, wild animals, etc.), and fully cook poultry meat and eggs before consumption. (d) Keep your living room clean, open windows regularly and ventilate frequently. (v) Maintain hand hygiene. When returning from a public place, after coughing and covering your hands, before and after meals, wash your hands with hand sanitizer or soap in running water, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer; avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes with your hands when you are not sure if your hands are clean; cover your mouth and nose with your elbows and clothes when sneezing or coughing. (vi) Wear medical surgical masks or N95 masks when going out to public places, seeking medical treatment and taking public transportation. (vii) Take the initiative to do health monitoring of individuals and family members, and take temperature promptly if there is fever. II. Recommendations in case of suspicious symptoms If suspicious symptoms of novel pneumonia appear, including fever, cough, sore throat, chest tightness, dyspnea, mild nausea, fatigue, slightly poor mental health, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, headache, heartburn, conjunctivitis, mild muscle pain in the limbs or lower back, etc., the following recommendations are made: (i) Avoid going to crowded places, and avoid taking public transportation such as subways and buses. (ii) You should seek medical attention promptly according to your condition, and take the initiative to inform your doctor of your condition, your travel and residence history in the endemic area, and the relevant people you have contacted during the visit. (iii) Family members of the patient should wear masks and keep a distance from other family members who are asymptomatic. Pneumonia prevention guidelines for novel coronavirus infection in persons with a history of residence and travel in endemic areas of the disease If a person has a history of residence and travel in endemic areas of the disease, such as Wuhan, within two weeks, the following is recommended: (a) Register with your village branch or community as soon as possible and reduce your activities outside, especially avoiding crowded public places. (ii) Perform self-monitoring of health status for 14 consecutive days, starting from the time of leaving the area where the disease is endemic, twice a day (taking body temperature). When conditions permit, try to live alone or in a single room with good ventilation and minimize close contact with family members. (c) If suspicious symptoms appear, seek prompt medical attention according to the condition. Guidelines for medical observation at home for close contacts of cases Close contacts of confirmed cases of novel pneumonia should be placed under medical observation for 14 days from the last day of contact with the patient. During the home observation period, they need to maintain contact with the medical observer and need to understand the key points of observation and care of the disease, and to master hand washing, ventilation, protection and disinfection measures for home prophylaxis. Specific recommendations during medical observation at home are as follows: (i) Place close contacts in a single, well-ventilated room and refuse all visits. (ii) Limit activities of close contacts and minimize shared areas for activities of close contacts and family members. Ensure that shared areas (kitchen, bathroom, etc.) are well ventilated (keep windows open). (iii) Family members should live in different rooms, and if conditions do not allow, keep at least 1 meter distance from close contacts. Breastfeeding mothers can continue to breastfeed their babies. (iv) Other family members should wear masks when entering the living space of close contacts, masks need to be close to the face, and do not touch and adjust the masks in the living space. The mask must be replaced immediately when it becomes wet and dirty due to secretions. Wash hands after removing and discarding the mask. (e) Hands need to be cleaned after any direct contact with close contacts or after leaving the living space of close contacts. Hands should also be cleaned after preparing food, before and after meals. (f) When washing hands with soap and water, it is best to use disposable hand wipes. If not, wipe with a clean towel, which needs to be replaced when it becomes wet. (vii) Materials used to cover the mouth and nose during occasional coughing or sneezing can be discarded directly or washed properly after use (e.g., wash handkerchiefs with plain soap/detergent and water). (viii) Family members should minimize contact with close contacts and their supplies. For example, avoid sharing toothbrushes, cigarettes, utensils, meals, drinks, towels, bath towels, bed sheets, etc. Tableware should be washed with detergent and water after use. (ix) Recommend the use of chlorinated disinfectants and peracetic acid disinfectants. Clean and disinfect items frequently touched by family members, such as bedside tables, bed frames and other bedroom furniture, frequently every day. Clean and disinfect bathroom and toilet surfaces at least once a day. (j) Use ordinary laundry soap and water to wash clothing, bed sheets, bath towels and washcloths of close contacts, or use a washing machine with 60-90°C hot water and ordinary household laundry detergent, and then completely dry the above items. Place bedding used by close contacts in a laundry bag. Do not shake the laundry to avoid direct contact with skin and your own clothes. (xi) Wear disposable gloves and protective clothing (such as plastic aprons) before cleaning and touching surfaces of objects, clothing or bedding contaminated by secretions from close contacts. Clean and disinfect hands before wearing gloves and after taking off gloves. (xii) If a close contact of a confirmed case develops suspicious symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. Specific guidance is recommended as follows: 1. On the way to the hospital, the patient should wear a medical surgical mask or N95 mask. 2. If possible, avoid taking public transportation to the hospital and open the windows of the car on the way. Wear a mask at all times and maintain hand hygiene at all times. Stay as far away from other people as possible (at least 1 meter) when on the road and in the hospital. 4. If the road contaminates the transportation, it is recommended to disinfect all surfaces contaminated by respiratory secretions or body fluids with chlorine disinfectant or peracetic acid disinfectant. Content source: Dr. You Lai Reference: CDC “Compendium of Public Prevention Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia from Novel Coronavirus Infections