A shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) around the world is forcing people to get creative to protect themselves - and Kiwis are no exception.
A video sent to Newshub from the weekend shows a person who's just finished shopping at a supermarket. They're dressed in orange coveralls, a safety helmet and what appears to be a gas mask.
They're also wearing a full-body-sized plastic bag as an outer layer for extra protection.
"One must always wear the correct attire when shopping during the virus," said the person who sent the video in.
They're not the only ones taking extra precautions against the coronavirus pandemic. One overseas image shows a person at the supermarket dressed in scuba equipment.
And another set of photos shows shoppers wearing a bizarre array of homemade PPE, including plastic bags, beaks, and plastic bottle face-masks.
How can I protect myself?
COVID-19 is spread through the droplets disseminated when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is advising doctors that the virus is also likely to be present in other bodily fluids such as blood, urine and faeces.
Hand hygiene is regarded as the most important line of defence. Wash hands frequently with soap and water. A hand sanitiser can be kept on your person and used between washes.
Other ways to protect yourself include:
- avoid touching the mouth, nose and eyes with unwashed hands
- washing your hands before eating
- carrying a hand sanitiser at all times
- being particularly mindful of touching your face after using public transport or going to the airport
- carry tissues at all times to cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing (then dispose of it)
- not eating shared or communal food
- avoiding shaking hands, kissing cheeks
- regularly cleaning and sanitise commonly used surfaces and items, such as phones and keys
- avoiding close contact with people suffering from or showing symptoms of acute respiratory infection
- seeking medical attention if you feel unwell.
