* We wash our hands because it reduces the chances for infection from something we recently touched (also reduces the chance we'll spread a still-incubating infection by touching things!)
* We don't touch our face because mucus membranes are where the virus enters (and leaves!) the body, reducing the chance of infection.
* We wear masks because a common vector is water droplets from coughs entering (or leaving!) the lungs and this reduces the chance of such a droplet leaving an infected person's lungs and entering a healthy body.
* We avoid large crowds because the fewer people we are near, the lower the chance someone healthy will be near someone who is infected.
* We avoid travel to reduce the chance of an infection being introduced into a region where it doesn't exist yet.
* We test pervasively because when people know they are infected, or that people near them are infected, they are much (!) more likely to follow the rules above. (And also because it allows for better public planning and resource allocation, e.g. moving health care resources around to places we know are emerging as hotspots.)
Etc... It all adds up. And if we're lucky the simple/cheap versions of this strategy will be enough to contain it. It seems to have been true in Korea.
In the US? I'm not hopeful, honestly.
- don't go to unnecessary crowded events if you can
- start meal prep for medium term food storage (~1 month) if possible
- wear face masks if you have them