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It’s been all over the news, and it’s affecting the lives of millions of people. The novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has been devastating communities, industries, and families around the world and has everyone adjusting to a “new normal.” As governments make extreme moves to curb the spread of this dangerous virus, ordinary people find themselves sequestered from family members, work, and social functions.

With all the confusing (and sometimes misleading) news about COVID-19 hitting the media, how do you know what the best steps are in protecting yourself and your loved ones from a virus that so little is known about? In an effort to provide our customers with easy-to-understand information on COVID-19, we’ve outlined key facts about the virus as well as steps you can take to minimize the risk of getting sick.

What Is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is one variation in a family of viruses — called coronaviruses — that are common not only in people, but other species of animals such as cattle, cats, bats, and dogs. Although they do occasionally jump from one species to another in a process called zoonosis, coronaviruses tend to contain themselves within a single species. More research is being done regarding COVID-19 and cross-species spread — scientists who are moving quickly to identify its origins suspect it came from an open-air animal market, and a tiger in a New York zoo has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Some researchers even suspect it is a previously unrecognized bat virus that has made the transition from infecting bats to herd animals – and finally, to humans.

Older adults are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19, along with those who suffer from pre-existing health conditions such as immune system deficiencies , heart disease and lung disease. That being said, anyone can be a carrier of the virus and pass it on to a higher-risk individual, without ever having presented symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms?

Regardless of its source, COVID-19 should be taken seriously by everyone. Similar to the flu, COVID-19 has a variety of side effects that do not discriminate based on age, ethnicity, or location. A recent study has shown that the median incubation phase is estimated to be 5.1 days, and 97.5% of people with symptoms will have got them within 11.5 days of exposure. Symptoms consist of:

• Fever
• Chronic pain or pressure in the chest area
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Dizziness and confusion
• Bluish-colored lips or face

If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately and limit your interactions with other people. Although the above symptoms are comparable to those associated with the common flu, it is important that anyone exhibiting them take steps to make sure whatever they have doesn’t get passed on to someone else.

For more information on COVID-19, visit the Center for Disease Control’s website.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

In order to minimize your day-to-day exposure to COVID-19, follow the steps suggested by the CDC:

• Practice social distancing: If feasible, reduce your contact with other people. Stay at home as much as possible, avoid social events, and try to stay at least six feet away from others in a public space.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently: Wash your hands after physical contact with others, after touching items in public places, and before and after preparing food. Wash your hands and face before going to bed.
• Minimize contact: Avoid touching your face, and don’t let strangers come into physical contact with you. It’s now recommended that everyone wear face masks or cover their mouths with an alternative option when out in public. This can help minimize the spread of germs from one person to another.
• Be prepared: Carry hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol) with you at all times, and use it after coming into contact with people and common objects like credit card machines, cash, and door handles. You can also carry cleaning wipes to wipe down any public surfaces before making contact (i.e. self checkout stations, grocery carts, etc.)
• Take precaution: If you are caring for someone who has already been infected, you should both wear face masks and dispose of them regularly. Be sure to follow all of the above steps before and after coming in contact with the infected person.

How the Spry Pure Pillow Can Help

The average pillow has a bad habit of collecting viruses, mold, and other particulates, simply due to a its stitched seams.As long as a pillow is doing what it’s supposed to be doing (providing comfort and support for our heads), most of us never consider what a standard pillow is made of and how it can negatively impact our health.

The Spry Pure pillow will not only give your head and neck the comfort and support they need, but can also help protect you against viruses, like the one responsible for COVID-19, and other harmful pathogens.

• Pneumapure^® Filtration: A normal pillow absorbs pretty much everything that touches it, from body oil to saliva to particulates like dust, sweat, and skin cells. The Spry Pure pillow blocks all of these with its innovative Pneumapure filtration design, offering full pathogen protection from viruses and bacteria, allowing only clean air to pass through the pillow. With the Spry Pure pillow, there’s no more worrying about what’s going on underneath your head while you sleep at night!
• Pureshield^TM: Using a special material with Pureshield technology, the Spry Pure pillow has a water-resistant, breathable barrier that blocks even the smallest particulates from getting inside. Dust mites, dirt, oil, and viruses are all easily deflected by Pureshield, and you don’t even need to throw it in the washer to clean it — simply wipe off the surface with a mild, non-toxic cleaning solution, and your Spry Pure pillow is ready for another night of healthy sleep support.
• Safeweld^TM Seams: Hermetically-sealed seams is another layer of virus protection on each Spry Pure pillow. Safeweld seams not only make for a stitch-free, air-tight barrier, but it also ensures that the pillow will never fall apart due to extended use.
• Hypoallergenic Material:The material used for the Spry Pure pillow is hypoallergenic, making it the perfect pillow for those suffering from allergies, seasonal illnesses, or sensitive skin.

Treat Yourself to the Clean Sleep You Deserve

Replacing your current pillow with Spry Pure is just one important step in making sure you are virus-free and healthy during these trying times. Protect yourself and your family by visiting Spry’s online store today, where you can find high-quality pillows crafted for use by adults and children. In response to COVID-19, we’ve also made our Spry Medical Pillow (previously only available to hospitals) available to the public at a significantly reduced cost.

Contact us if you’re interested in learning more about not only our Pure pillows, but also our moldable Spry Recovery^® pillow, designed to provide custom support where you need it the most. We look forward to hearing from you!