Taking Care in the Age of Coronavirus
Things have changed. I mean, they have really, REALLY changed. Over the weekend Downtown resembled a ghost town, harkening back to the days before local efforts began to revitalize the city.
And that’s a good thing. It means people are taking seriously the need to participate in social distancing – a necessary precaution in order to flatten the curve and slow the rate of infection.
But what if we or someone we love still gets sick? Despite all our efforts to self-isolate for the greater good of the community, what if COVID-19 hits home?
The CDC has some guidelines.
- Stay home. Don’t go to work, school, or any other public places. (If you do have to go out, don’t use public transportation or any kind of ride sharing.)
- Be hyperaware of your symptoms. Monitor them and if they get worse, call your healthcare provider ASAP.
- If you do have to go see your doctor, call ahead with a head’s up. They need to know that you think you might have COVID-19.
- Rest and stay hydrated.
- For any medical emergency, call 911. Again, notify dispatch that you think you have COVID-19.
- If you cough or sneeze, cover with a tissue or your sleeve.
- Wash your hands! Use soap and hot water – 20 seconds at least. If using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, it must contain at least 60% alcohol.
- Stay away from others! If you are ill, isolate yourself in a room and use a separate bathroom if possible. If you have to be around others in the home, wear a face mask.
- Don’t share personal items with others in your home, like hand towels, glasses, dishware, bedding.
- Clean with a disinfectant all surfaces that are touched often like counters, doorknobs, tabletops, etc.
