I have attached a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocol for the best practices for keeping you and your family safe and healthy during this time.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Most importantly are the following recommendations:Wash your hands. Bar soap works fine. I sing the Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star song to make sure I wash for the required amount of time. (When you do this you will recognize how long it really takes to have clean hands.)

• Wash your hands. Bar soap works fine. I sing the Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star song to make sure I wash for the required amount of time. (When you do this you will recognize how long it really takes to have clean hands.)
• Wash your children’s hands. Have them sing too-it makes it more fun!
• Disinfect your phone twice a day. You can wipe it down with those Lysol wipes. Remember, your phone is ALWAYS on you. It is picking up germs everywhere you set it down and then you put it up to your face.
• Be reasonable about attending public gatherings. What does this mean? Don’t have a toddler birthday party right now. Don’t go to a big meeting/ party with lots of people you don’t know. Stay home if you can. Be reasonable.
• What if I work with the public? A mask is not going to help you. In fact, it will make things worse. The mask will accumulate germs on the outside and soak through to your face! Why do we wear them in dentistry? We are constantly bombarded with wet spray from the work that we do. That is why we change our masks 10-15-20 times a day. A single mask on my face all day would be a massive hazard to me. Gloves would help you. If you handle money, some disposable gloves will help you – just don’t touch your face, wipe your hair, or adjust your glasses with them on. Use them as a reminder NOT to touch your face. Finally, I would recommend that you buy some Clorox or Lysol wipes and wipe down your workspace a couple of times a day.
• What if I feel sick? Don’t panic. If you feel flu-like symptoms, it is reasonable to cancel all appointments, not go to work, and you should call your physician. A mask still won’t help you, but it might help others. Again, it won’t help keep you from being sick. But if you are already sick, a mask will help you not spread your germs and any disease. Don’t wear one mask all day! If you are sick, wear the mask for short periods of time when you MUST interact with people. The mask will still accumulate germs and soak through, which could make you catch another illness and compound your current sickness.
• Should I be afraid? If you are a normal and healthy person between the ages of 5 and 65- you should be fine. You might catch this at some point and it will be unpleasant, but it will pass and you will be back to your normal life. It is prudent to follow the guidelines laid out about social distancing to protect our friends with health issues.

If you have a compromised immune system (perhaps you have uncontrolled diabetes, are undergoing cancer treatment, you are elderly, or you have AIDS) then this is a big deal and should be treated as such. If you think you fall into the category of immune compromised, call your physician and talk to them about your risks and what you should do.