COUDERSPORT — The Potter County Department of Emergency Services is asking people to limit contact with the elderly and their neighbors.

Elderly residents are most susceptible to COVID-19. Emergency officials are recommending staying in touch with neighbors and the elderly via telephone, face time, social media and similar ways.

Always use common-sense prevention measures provided by the Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Precautions include no handshaking, using only one’s knuckles to touch light switches, elevator buttons and so on. Gasoline dispensers should be listed with a paper towel or disposable glove.

Open doors with your closed fist or hip — do not grasp the handle with your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door, which is especially important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.

Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are available, including wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.

Wash hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from any activity that involves locations where other people have been.

Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home’s entrances and in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you can’t immediately wash your hands.

If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more.

For information and updates related to novel coronavirus, visit the Department of Health website at www.health.pa.gov or Facebook and Twitter.