But how can people make sure that everyone in the home is taking the best possible action to protect themselves from the virus and delay further spreading?

How to keep the home safe from COVID-19

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a clean household is one way to help keep COVID-19 at bay. Americans should follow the below advice:

Clean hands at the door and at regular intervalsCreate habits and reminders to avoid touching their face and cover coughs and sneezesDisinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, and handrails regularlyIncrease ventilation by opening windows or adjusting the air conditioning

For those with underlying health conditions, COVID-19 can be more severe, so protecting the vulnerable at home is imperative safe. These conditions could include, but are not limited to, heart, lung, kidney disease, diabetes and those that suppress the immune system. The elderly are also more at risk.

Advice from the CDC is as follows:

Have healthy people in the household conduct themselves as if they were a significant risk to the person with underlying conditions. For example, wash hands frequently before interacting with the person, such as by feeding or caring for the personIf possible, provide a protected space for vulnerable household membersEnsure all utensils and surfaces are cleaned regularly

For households with sick family members, taking extra precautions can help delay or prevent the spread of the virus.

If there is a sick person in the home, do the following:

Give sick members their own room if possible, and keep the door closedHave only one family member care for themConsider providing additional protections or more intensive care for household members over 65 years old or with underlying conditions

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19, as it is officially named by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a novel coronavirus that has not been previously identified—according to the CDC, coronaviruses that commonly circulate among humans cause mild illness, like the common cold. The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China.

From already reported illnesses, we know that patients suffer from mild symptoms through to severe illness. There have been numerous deaths confirmed as resulting from COVID-19. Symptoms to watch out for, according to CDC, include:

FeverCoughShortness of breath

The symptoms might appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus.