From December 31, 2019 up to May 12, 2020, there are over 4 million global COVID-19 cases – 6.9% of which belong to the death rate segment. With this fast spread rate, people all over the world are understandably shaken. Some countries were able to flatten the curve, while most countries are still struggling.
Amidst the growing hysteria and ongoing pandemic, what can you do to keep your loved ones safe? Let’s list down the things you must do to ensure your family’s health and safety.
Practice Handwashing
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), washing hands for over twenty seconds (or sing the song ‘Happy Birthday’ twice) can restrict the transmission of coronavirus that can cause COVID-19 disease. After handwashing, pat-dry the hands with a clean tissue or dry towel to remove excess water.
Wash your hands when you come home from outdoors, such as buying from the grocery store, getting takeouts, or from having a walk in the park. This is because hands, especially fingertips, are the leading carriers of pathogens that can cause sickness not only to you but to your family as well.
Source: Pexels
Handwashing should also be practiced even if you are staying indoors. This means washing your hands before and after eating, after using the toilet, after disposing of the garbage, after touching your pets, after cleaning your house or doing household chores and the likes.
Proper Hand Sanitizing
If handwashing cannot be done at the moment, you can use hand sanitizer as a substitute. However, unlike handwashing that can lift and wash away dirt, oil, and other harmful microbes, hand sanitizers can only disinfect and reduce the number of germs on your hands. Still, they are beneficial and handy whenever you need to sanitize your hands for emergencies.
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What’s happening nowadays is that the supply of hand sanitizers in local markets and online stores is decreasing due to the ongoing global panic. Fortunately, there are several video tutorials and recipes you can find online which can guide you in customizing your hand sanitizer. As long as the formulation is at least 60 percent alcohol, it is good to go, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Wear Face Mask
According to WHO, individuals who are deemed healthy don’t have to use face masks, except for sick people or the ones who are caring for the sick, like doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers.
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Nevertheless, if you or any member of your family is sneezing or coughing, wearing a face mask is needed. This is a safety precaution to limit the spread of a possible coronavirus outbreak. Moreover, like hand sanitizers, the supply of face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) is decreasing and you must start looking for a reliable Linkhubs PPE supplier for your needs.
Stay Indoors
Staying indoors may be difficult for the whole family, but it is better to be safe than sorry. If you and other members of your household have nothing important to do outside, it would be best to just stay at home. Now is the perfect time to rekindle the relationship and bond with your loved ones.
Here is a list of fun activities that you can do together with your family while stuck in the confines of your home.
- Try baking or cooking with your kids
- Create do-it-yourself projects
- Have a movie marathon
- Do Saturday karaoke nights
- Try indoor gardening
- Read storybooks with your kids
- Play board games
- Have an indoor picnic or camping
- Conduct general house cleaning
- Reach out to your old friends
Observe Social Distancing
If it cannot be helped and you need to go outside, then be mindful of social distancing. This practice means keeping space between yourself and other people whenever you are outdoors. Social distancing is essential to follow since according to medical experts, the novel coronavirus can spread among individuals who are in close contact – about 1 to 2 meters – for a prolonged time.
Generally, the dispersion of COVID-19 disease happens when an infected individual talks, coughs, or sneezes, and the virus droplets transfer to other people who are in close range. Therefore, adhering to the social distancing method can avoid the spread of coronavirus disease since individuals can quickly transmit the virus, even before they know they are ill.
Conclusion
It is true that the COVID-19 disease has already penetrated most countries worldwide and has killed a significant number of people. What we can do is observe and practice safety precautions. Let’s support our front-line workers by following the state’s guidelines and keeping our family safe. Let’s help flatten the curve!
