Tips to stay safe and healthy during COVID-19

Tips to keep yourself and those around you safe

Due to the recent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, it’s important now more than ever to look after yourself and those around you. Here are some tips to stay healthy, physically and mentally.

1. Avoid exposure

Reducing exposure means following imposed guidelines on quarantine and distancing yourself from others, especially when COVID-19 is spreading in your community. Stay at home if you are sick, except to receive urgent medical care.

2. Observe proper hand hygiene

Hygiene starts with yourself, so practice proper handwashing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the hands are the main pathways to germ transmission. Remember to wash between your fingers and under your nails. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands as the virus spreads easily this way. Key times to wash your hands include:

●       After blowing one’s nose, coughing or sneezing

●       After using the restroom

●       Before eating or preparing food

●       After contact with animals

●       Before and after providing care for someone in need of assistance (e.g. a child)

3. Sanitize your home

Keep your home neat and orderly by practicing regular cleaning and disinfecting, which both help prevent infection. Regularly clean frequently-touched surfaces, like tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, and sinks. Remove visible dirt on carpets and rugs before using appropriate cleaners.

Disinfecting means using chemicals like diluted household bleach and solutions with at least 70 percent rubbing alcohol to remove contamination. Remember to clean dirty surfaces with detergent or soap and water first before disinfecting.

4. Check-in on your loved ones

With technology literally at the palm of our hands, connecting with others is easier and more accessible. Talk to people, especially those you trust, about your concerns and worries. It is crucial, especially at a time like this, to keep in touch with your loved ones and see how they are doing.

In a pandemic like this, protecting ourselves and those around us can be summed up in simple habits that start with ourselves and in our own homes. Do your best to stay healthy, and use your time while on quarantine wisely and productively.

5. Make use of your health plan

Now is a crucial time to inquire on health plans. Having a health plan gives you a safety net to support treatment and hospital expenses in the future. As many insurance firms in the country are now offering assistance for COVID-19 patients, make sure you and your family have an insurance plan that covers healthcare, especially critical illnesses.

6. Take care of your mental health, too

Take occasional breaks from reading, watching and listening to COVID-19-related news, including social media. While it is good to stay updated and vigilant, repeatedly consuming content about the health crisis can be upsetting. Find time to unwind and focus on other activities that you enjoy too. Check out our recommendations on Things to Do at Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak to get your every day better.

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