The entire world has slowed down since the outbreak of a highly contagious
virus, i.e., Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Extensive efforts are being made to reduce disease transmission, optimize the
management strategy to reduce deaths and to come up with a vaccine as a preventive
measure. Though several scientists across the globe are working tirelessly for
developing an effective vaccine, it may still take several months to launch it
successfully in the market. The behavioural interventions like maintenance of physical
distancing (at least one meter), hand hygiene and cough etiquette, and use of personal
protective equipment (PPE) are the currently available effective strategies to break the
chain of disease transmission. All these interventions have been implemented at the
population and individual level with or without linking with regulations. Based on the
risk of exposure, provision and use of appropriate PPE is the need of the hour. The
healthcare professionals working in COVID-19 areas have been recommended to use
full PPE, which includes gloves, N-95 face masks, face shields, goggles, full-body
gowns, and shoe covers. The general population has been asked to use homemade or
triple-layered surgical masks in addition to the maintenance of physical distancing and
hand hygiene. There are other additional strategies or measures which may or may not
prevent the COVID-19 transmission. This chapter attempts to clarify the important and
effective measures for the prevention of COVID-19 at the individual and community
levels. It also tried to demystify the myths related to COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19, Diet, Disinfection, Face mask, Face shield, Filtering
facepiece, Gloves, Hand hygiene, Home quarantine, Hydroxychloroquine,
Institutional quarantine, N95 mask, Pandemic, Personal protective equipment,
Physical distancing, Prevention, Sanitization, Screening, Transmission, Travel.
