'Access to water is paramount in the prevention of COVID-19.'

ATLANTA — Thorough hand washing is one of the best practices for prevention of the novel coronavirus.

To make sure everyone has access to water over the next two months, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an administrative order to halt water service termination for any Watershed Management customer due to non-payment.

“The health and wellbeing of Atlanta residents is at the forefront of everything we do as a city,” Mayor Bottoms said in a news release. “Access to water is paramount in the prevention of COVID-19 or any infectious health threat and no one should be deprived of this fundamental resource because of an inability to pay.”

The administrative order is effective immediately.

The Georgia Department of Public Health has listed some best practices to follow:

Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, runny nose, and difficulty breathing. The symptoms can appear within two to 14 days after exposure.

Those considered at risk for contracting the virus are individuals who have traveled to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 or individuals in close contact with a person infected with the illness.

In Georgia, the risk of contracting COVID-19 remains low, according to officials. At 11Alive, we’re focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the virus. To see our full coverage, visit our coronavirus section, here: www.11Alive.com/Coronavirus.