This week’s article is all about maintaining Social Distancing and some tips for how to do that the best you can.
How to maintain social distance during the coronavirus crisis
Maintaining Social Distance is hard and can be confusing. Trying to stay at home as much as possible is best, but you’ll likely need to make a trip to the grocery store or pharmacy or leave your home at some point. Here are some tips for that.
Make a game plan when going out
Designate just one person to be your errand-runner to limit your outside exposures, and make a list of items you may need from the store:
- Prescription medicines (consider mail order options)
- Canned foods — fruits, veggies, beans
- Dry goods — breads, pastas, nut butters
- Frozen foods — meats, veggies, fruits
- Soap and/or EPA-approved disinfectants
- Laundry detergent
- Trash bags
When you’re out
- Do your best to avoid coming within less than six feet of others
- Wipe handles on carts or baskets while shopping
- You don’t have to have gloves or a mask — just wash your hands frequently while you’re out and avoid touching your face
When you get back home
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Thoroughly wash produce before putting it in your kitchen
- Try to clean and disinfect everything you touch — doorknobs, light switches, keys, phone, keyboards, remotes, etc.
Extended Family, Friends, and Guests
- Please, do your best not to allow guests over right now
- If you need to house a family member or friend, avoid shared living spaces as much as you can
- If they need to enter shared living spaces, ask them to keep six feet of distance
If someone in your home gets sick
- First, consult your doctor
- Isolate them in another room and ask them to use a separate restroom
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces every day
- Avoid sharing items with them
- Continue to wash your hands frequently
- Ask them to wear a face mask if they have one
Pets
- Supervise your pet in your backyard
- It’s OK to play with them outside — just keep your distance from other humans
- If you’re sick, ask someone you live with to take care of them while you recover
- If you must care for them while you’re sick, wash your hands frequently
Note: Recommendations for Covid-19 may change as officials learn more, so monitor your local health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for updates.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/
