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April 2020 Apr 2020

Recommendations

> Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds each time.

> Keeping 6+ feet of distance from others is key.

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

> Avoid close contact with people who are ill.

> Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

> Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.

> Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched.

> People who are high risk, which is people above the age of 65 or those with underlying health conditions, should avoid large groups of people as much as possible.

> Facilities that serve as establishments for high risk persons should restrict visitors, such as nursing homes and facilities that care of medically vulnerable children.

> Event organizers should urge anyone who is sick, or those who are sick, not to attend.

> Event organizers are encouraged to offer refunds to those who are high risk.

> Travelers returning from counties and US states impacted by COVID 19 should follow DHHS guidelines.

> It is also good practice to start being more aware of the number of times a day your hands touch an object or hard surface and then touch your face without being washed. Limiting the exposure of your nose, mouth and eyes to unwashed hands can help to protect from the spread of all germs and illnesses.

> Have a plan in case you need to miss work or other responsibilities due to personal illness or to care for a sick family member.

Help others and yourself…

Give blood, if you can

Or spread the word about the need for donations if you aren’t able to give. Either way, you’ll help blood banks nationwide meet the need for blood, platelets and plasma, which hasn’t gone down even though many blood drives have been canceled in areas where coronavirus cases are more common. And an important note: Coronavirus has not been shown to be transmitted through blood transfusion.

Visit www.redcrossblood.org/ to find a blood drive near you and read the latest Red Cross guidance for donating blood during the coronavirus pandemic.

Give money or food to food banks

People with low incomes, or whose work is being interrupted by cancellations of events, travel, or education due to coronavirus, will need more help than ever. Visit Feeding America’s site to find a food bank near you that could use donations of food, toiletries or money, and possibly volunteers.

Check on your neighbors

Call or text your neighbors (especially elderly neighbors) to make sure they’re doing okay. Ask if there is anything that they need (be it a box of tissues or a cup of sugar). If you have what they’re looking for, offer to leave it outside their front door so that they can pick it up without coming in direct contact with you. It sounds extreme, but this is actually a great (and safe) way to make sure that your more vulnerable neighbors have what they need.

If you feel comfortable going out, consider knocking on the door of any elderly neighbors and chatting through the screen or storm door just to offer a bit of comfort and reassurance.

Help people who shouldn’t leave home

Older adults, and people with serious illness or disability, should avoid public settings as much as possible because they’re more vulnerable to getting seriously ill from coronavirus. But they still need food and human interaction.

Help others at high risk avoid unnecessary trips to settings where they could be exposed to coronavirus, while still having human interaction. This includes your neighbors, relatives and friends who are older than 60, or have a compromised immune system, a chronic condition or a disability.

Offer to go grocery shopping or to the pharmacy for them, or to pick up books from the library. Spend some time with them, as long as you’re feeling well and avoid contact.

Help young children in need

More than a third of children in America are part of low-income families, and coronavirus-related closings and cancellations may hit them hard. Families whose children have serious medical conditions that are sending them to the hospital may be under extra stress because of coronavirus worries.

Find a local charity near you to give money or diapers and wipes to, so families with infants, toddlers and children with disabilities don’t have to spend as much on these essentials. Give, volunteer or gather donations for a children’s charity.

Strengthen the “health safety net” for low income and uninsured people

People who don’t have health insurance, or who might lose jobs or work hours because of coronavirus-related closures and cancellations, still need health care.

In fact, it’s important that they seek care for coronavirus symptoms and other health needs without having to worry about cost. If they wait to seek care, they may put others at risk, or need more expensive care than they would have if they had gone earlier.

Many of them will turn to federally qualified health centers, which serve people regardless of income or insurance status. Find one near you and learn what kinds of donations, supplies or volunteers it needs. These and other safety-net clinics may have special donation needs, such as masks and hand sanitizer, at this time.

Share information responsibly, and support those who create good information

Help trustworthy stories and explanations related to coronavirus reach more people, by seeking them out from reputable sources such as major media outlets, government agencies, hospitals and nonprofit health organizations.

Be wary of claims that sound too good to be true, or that are only being made on one site. Check the dates and origins of articles, videos and memes, and look at fact-checker sites before sharing something. Many news organizations that usually charge for access to their stories have lowered these “paywalls” for coronavirus content.

Connect with nature

Even if you’re avoiding crowds and events in enclosed spaces, you’re probably safe in the great outdoors, as long as you follow hygiene precautions like washing your hands thoroughly after touching things others might touch, and staying home if you feel sick.

So, go for a stroll in a park, a hike in the woods or a walk around the block to reduce stress. Sit in the sun or shade in the yard, patio or balcony. Plant a garden, whether it’s in the ground, a raised bed, in containers such as large flowerpots, or on a windowsill.

Use art, music and exercise to distract yourself and relieve stress

This is uncharted territory for all of us! Help yourself and others practice patience, kindness and understanding.

PLEASE BE KIND!