5 Ways To Keep Your Car COVID-19 Free

The COVID-19 virus has become a prominent part of our lives today. With the global lock down and quarantines in effect, the awareness of this threat has become heightened like nothing we have experienced in recent history.  

With so many different theories and changing information related to COVID-19, confusion about what the virus is and how to protect yourself from it has spread at a rate far faster than the virus itself. The threat of the spread has brought forth the demand for knowledge of how to fight off this invisible scourge. 

Luckily, this is not the first time we have dealt with viruses that are transmitted in the same fashion as COVID-19. While this virus is not unlike viruses we have seen before, COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in a way that is stealthier than we have experienced in the past. Traveling in the public is necessary for those that need to travel to work and to purchase food, and the spread from asymptomatic people has caused much alarm.

When you travel to and from your home, you may naturally become exposed to a virus. If you are exposed, there are ways to placate and stave off infection. The traditional ways to keep the flu and the cold at bay, seem to be effective against the COVID-19 virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have released general guidelines for staying healthy during this pandemic scare. 

What is COVID-19?

In order to better understand COVID-19, you will need to learn exactly what COVID-19 is and how it spreads. You may remember when the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak invaded China in 2003. SARS emerged from the bat caves of China and spread to 70 countries around the globe. SARS is clinically referred to as CoV-2 and is also a novel coronavirus. The MERS, and now the COVID-19 viruses, are relatives of SARS. CO equals corona, VI equals virus and the D is for disease. The “19” is a reference to the year when the virus was first discovered, 2019.

Coronaviruses are a rather large family of viruses that were originally seen in bats in mainland China. Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan Institute of Virology spent 16 years researching coronaviruses in the Chinese bat population. 

The new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) is more prolific because it is showing to be asymptomatic—having little or no symptoms—in a majority of cases. The virus has spread so rapidly because there are people that have little or no symptoms that are actually infectious to others. With most viruses like the cold, flu, or other coronaviruses, when a person is infected, they become physically ill and tend to stay out of the public to recover. 

The widely asymptomatic nature of COVID-19 is largely to blame for its spread and the reason that the lockdown has been enacted. This is also the reason to be vigilant against the spread of the virus. Use the following methods to keep your car free of COVID-19. 

1. Keep hand sanitizer handy.

Hand sanitizer with an alcohol base that is 70% pure is known to kill the COVID-19 on contact. If you cannot keep hand sanitizer on your person, keep sanitizer in your vehicle and use it when you enter your vehicle and before you touch your steering wheel. Washing your hands for 20 seconds is the CDC recommendation for eliminating the spread of the virus. 

2. Disinfect your interior. 

The surfaces in the interior of your vehicle can carry the virus and allow it to spread to those that make contact with it. The virus spreads after touching infected surfaces and then touching the nose, eyes, or mouth. A study published by The New England Journal of Medicine shows that COVID-19 can last on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 72 hours. Disinfect the entire interior of your vehicle with bleach wipes or disinfectant spray to kill traces of the virus. 

3. Wash your car frequently. 

Just as the interior of your car needs to be disinfected from the virus, the exterior of your vehicle needs to be cleaned regularly to keep it free from coronavirus. You can never be sure if your car has been touched by someone that is infected; so, stay safe by frequently washing your car. Since hard surfaces hold the virus longer, a good washing will help to ward off COVID-19. 

4. Wear protective gear.

Covering your face and hands is the best way to keep the illness from creeping into your body while out in public. Using CDC approved masks, and disposable latex gloves are the recommended way to protect yourself during the spread of the pandemic.

5. Set protocols for passengers.

If you are traveling in your vehicle with your family or friends, make sure they are cognizant of the precautions you are taking to stay safe. Inform them of the protocols that you have implemented and urge them to sanitize and protect themselves while in your car. 

Conclusion

We are not exactly sure what the future will hold, but we as a people are stronger than the COVID-19 virus. Just as we have seen versions of the coronavirus in the past, we will rise above COVID-19. Disinfect your vehicle and sanitize your hands before you enter the vehicle. If you feel that you are compromised and feel you need an extra level of protection, find the proper mask and gloves to help keep the virus from entering your system.