So true. Leave the masks for fit tested and trained Healthcare workers who know how to use them, will have massively high exposure and who you will need to care for your loved ones who become seriously ill and need additional support.
All masks are also not equal, you need to know which ones are appropriate. Many people are buying and wearing inappropriate masks and are falsely reassured.
If you're out in the community then you need to:
1) undertake regular and good hand hygiene (I can post videos if you'd like). With this virus either alcohol gel (at least 70%) or soap and water are effective. Please don't use water alone. Practice this now, it's a good habit during any winter season.
Make sure you do this after being on public transport, after handling money etc
2) minimise face touching. This is no where near as easy as you think. Most studies show that people will unconsciously face touch about 60 times as hour. Eye rubbing is the worst for transmission but you can reduce it through practice. It may be time to be aware of your habits.
3) contact distancing. Evidence so far indicates spread is droplet based, this is normal for Coronaviruses. The advice therefore is to try and stay 2m apart to reduce exposure.
It is not an easy thing to maintain distance and is probably not necessary right now but start thinking about how close you get to people.
On public transport you will have little choice, but it may be time to stop hugging as a normal part of greeting and cheek kissing. Some are suggesting that elbow bumps should be the new normal
If you share your space consider moving furniture to position it that little bit further apart.
4) carry tissues. It's the winter season, there are already lots of viruses out there. May sure you contain sneezes, cough into elbows to reduce and contamination. Ensure that you dispose of tissues and they dont sit around in pockets and bags. Make sure you decontaminate your hands after every event. Again this is general good practice and now is the time to start.
5) Finally and most importantly keep up if you can with the ever changing situation so you know if you are in a situation where you should be self isolating, if you've travelled to somewhere where you need to possibly alter you behaviour on return and adhere to public health requests.
Self isolating doesn't work if you do it apart from when you need to walk the dog etc. There's a lot at stake here so please understand you're being asked to do things that disrupt your life for a purpose. Your impact matters